Monthly Archives: August 2021

News

Ohio Division of Forestry To Conduct Virtual Open House

Presented By Atomic Speedway

(Columbus) — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry invites the public to attend its annual open house to learn about management plans for Ohio’s state forests. This year’s open house is scheduled for September 1st and will be held virtually.
 
“Ohio’s state forests are some of our greatest and most beautiful resources,” said Dan Balser, chief of the Division of Forestry. “We want to make sure the public knows that we are doing everything we can to preserve these lands and protect the wildlife that call them home.”
 
In addition to guidance on management activities, the Division of Forestry will also present a 10-year management plan for the 24 state forests in Ohio. Those forests cover more than 200,000 acres of the state.
 
The open house process provides an opportunity for the public to better understand, ask questions, and comment on Ohio’s state forest plans for sustainable forestry, which include recreation, treating invasive species, prescribed burning, and timber cruising and harvesting. The virtual meeting will be hosted on Microsoft Teams Live: 

Ohio’s State Forest Open House
Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021
6pm

To register for this open house event, or to comment on the plans, visit the Division of Forestry’s  webpage. You can also send an email to: DNR-stateforestworkplancomments@dnr.ohio.gov. A link to the Microsoft Teams Live event will then be emailed to you. This open house will be recorded for future viewing and reference.
 
Introductory presentation videos and the draft plans are posted on the Division of Forestry website at Forestry.ohiodnr.gov.  You can send your written feedback and questions to DNR-stateforestworkplancomments@dnr.ohio.gov prior to the event so that state forest managers can review and possibly discuss them during the virtual event. Comments will continue to be accepted up to 30 days after the open house and will be considered as plans are finalized.
 
The Division of Forestry promotes the wise use and sustainable management of Ohio’s public and private woodlands. To learn more about Ohio’s woodlands, visit Forestry.ohiodnr.gov. Follow us on Facebook @odnrforestry and on Instagram @odnrforestry (instagram.com/odnrforestry).

 

News

“Tecumseh!” Has Breakout Year

Presented By Classic Brands

Brandon Smith says audience support has been outstanding this summer. Watch to hear more.

Our Litter Media cameras sat down with Scioto Society CEO Brandon Smith as the season for the outdoor drama Tecumseh! was winding down, with their final 2021 show on Sunday, September 5th.

Smith said “Its been almost shocking, really, how many people have come through this summer. We were really anticipating doing very, very low crowds that averaged maybe 300-400 people per night, but it has certainly been more than that. In fact it might wind up being that we have the largest attendance in the past decade. So it has been a great summer. People have been happy to get out, people have been so nice to each other this year. We have a lot of family reunions at the theatre this year- people that haven’t seen their family in the last year are coming together and its been a wonderful experience.”

Smith also said the need for a smaller cast in the show has led to many positives, including them being of the most close-knit casts since he’s been back as the producer.

Smith also wanted to thank the community along with the Ross-Chillicothe Foundation, Ross-Chillicothe Convention & Visitors Bureau for their support, which was essential in them getting back on stage in 2021.

“Outdoor drama as an industry has led the way this year on how to reopen theaters, safely. Of the four to five big ones (outdoor shows) that opened this year, I believe all of those folks were having very high attendance”, Smith said. “With only one exception, none of the shows had anyone that got sick, which is incredible when you consider we are talking about hundreds of thousands of people going through these theatres. We all did it the right way. We did it slowly and deliberately and it has paid off.” 

Smith says theatres and sports events around the nation collaborated with each other on what was working for their returning to outdoor entertainment.

Sports

OHSAA State Soccer Final Headed To Lower.Com Field

Presented By McDonald’s, I’m Lovin’ It!

(Columbus) – The Ohio High School Athletic Association and Columbus Crew have announced an agreement to hold the OHSAA soccer state championship games at Lower.com Field for the next four years. 

The new world-class stadium sits on 12 acres in the Arena District of downtown Columbus and has a capacity for over 20,000 supporters. The venue includes a 220,000 square-foot canopy that covers all supporters during the match, providing shelter from weather conditions throughout the season.

“As a Club that is committed to championing soccer in our community and growing the game we love, we feel privileged to host a tournament that is a staple of Ohio high school sports here at Lower.com Field,” said Crew President & General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. “Having participated in Ohio high school soccer, hosting the final of this tournament resonates with me on a personal level. Historic Crew Stadium served as the venue for OHSAA state soccer championships for two decades, and we are proud to continue that tradition at our new home, where student athletes can experience what it’s like to play in a professional, state-of-the-art, world-class venue.”

The OHSAA soccer state championships had been hosted at the Crew’s former home, Historic Crew Stadium, since it opened in 1999. The 2021 OHSAA soccer state championship games will be played November 12 and 13.

“We are very thankful for the partnership with the Crew SC and their commitment to high school soccer in Ohio,” said Doug Ute, OHSAA Executive Director. “We are so excited for the schools and communities to conclude their season and play for a state championship at this amazing new venue. We watched as it was being built and hoped that we would have a chance to play our state championship games there.”

At 225 feet wide by 360 feet long, the surface of the pitch at Lower.com Field sits 22 feet below the concourse level. The SubAir system used in the pitch allows it to recover faster from adverse weather conditions, as it can increase the temperature of the pitch root zone by up to 28 degrees, allowing for events played in cold conditions to occur with less buildup that normally might affect the flow of the game. Additionally, the SubAir system can drain water from the pitch in three minutes, while gravity systems usually used in stadiums can take up to 60 minutes.

The Nordecke, the stadium’s supporters’ section, has a 37-degree rake – the steepest in Major League Soccer – and has a capacity for 3,364 supporters, making it the second-largest supporters’ section in MLS.

News

Farm To Plate Dinner To Benefit Pickaway Agriculture

Presented By McDonald’s, I’m Lovin’ It!

A celebration of agriculture will be the theme for the Farm To Plate dinner fundraiser to be held at the Pickaway County Agricultural and Event Center on September 9th. The event starts at 5:30pm with dinner at 6pm and features Comedian Lori Graves as the speaker.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Pickaway County Future Farmers of America Chapters along with the Pickaway County Community Foundation.

Tickets are $50 per person with Gold Sponsor of 8 seats for a reserved tables costing $750, Silver Sponsors of 8 seats are $500, Bronze Sponsors of 4 seats are $250 and Virtual Sponsors are $150.

Tickets can be purchased online on the following link, then go to their UPCOMING EVENTS SECTION. CLICK HERE:

News

Girls Scouts Team Up With Ohio State Parks

Presented By Hometown-Motors, Inc

(Columbus) – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), in collaboration with the Girl Scouts of the USA, is inviting girls to connect with nature during the third annual Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend.  Events will be held across the country and at Ohio State Parks on Sept. 11 and 12.

“We invite girl scouts of all ages to come out and explore the natural wonders our parks have to offer,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said.  “By exposing young girls to things like hiking, fishing, and archery, we are showing them the beauty of our natural world and encouraging them to strive for conservation of these precious resources.”

ODNR, along with the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), recognizes the importance of exposing girls to the outdoors.  A study done by the Girl Scout Research Institute in 2019 revealed that 70 percent of girls who were not already outdoor enthusiasts at the start of the study increased their confidence, interest, and commitment to the environment through Girl Scouts.

Events are free and open to Girl Scouts, families, and friends. The lessons from Ohio State Parks include: Stream Stomp/Creeking, Keep Our Beaches Beautiful, Milkweed Pod Hunt, She’s a Force of Nature, and more. You can find a full list of events at Ohio State Parks here.

Visit www.girlscouts.org/lovesstateparks to access the new interactive map of state parks and browse all events.

News

New Mgr Named For Rocky Fork, Paint Creek & Adams Lake State Parks

Presented By Atomic Speedway

(Georgetown)- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has named Cory Cover the new park manager at Rocky Fork, Paint Creek, and Adams Lake state parks. As park manager, Cover will be responsible for planning and managing the day-to-day operations of each location, as well as overseeing maintenance for facilities at all three state parks.

“I am looking forward to building relationships and working with the various partners at our parks” said Cover. “Together we can make the visitor experience better for every park user.”

Beginning as a corps member with ODNR’s Ohio Civilian Conservation Corps in 2000, Cover has gone on to build a strong law enforcement career. He has served as a watercraft officer on the Maumee River and since 2016, Cover has served as a Natural Resources Officer Sergeant covering a region that includes East Fork State Park.

Cover holds a Bachelor of Science degree in history from Liberty University, as well as two Associate degrees from Hocking College in recreation and wildlife. He currently lives in Brown County with his wife, Kristan, and four children.

Rocky Fork, Paint Creek, and Adams Lake State Park all offer boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, and more. To learn more about the parks visit ohiodnr.gov.

The ODNR Division of Parks and Watercraft provides exceptional outdoor recreation and boating opportunities by balancing outstanding customer service, education, and conservation of Ohio’s 75 state parks and waterways.

News

Public Hearing Scheduled For Dodson Creek Solar Farm In Highland County

Presented By Classic Brands

(Columbus) – The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) will hold a local public hearing regarding Dodson Creek Solar, LLC’s proposal to construct a 117 megawatt solar‑powered electric generation facility in Hamer and Dodson townships in Highland County. The hearing is scheduled for:

Nov. 10, 2021, at 5 p.m. 
Wharton Building 
Highland County Fairgrounds 
604 John Street 
Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

The purpose of the local public hearing is to allow individuals who are not parties to the case to provide sworn testimony regarding the proposed facility. Testimony will be limited to five minutes per witness, and the hearing transcript will become part of the case record considered by the OPSB.

Witnesses will register when they arrive at the hearing and will testify in the order in which they register. If a witness wishes to supplement their testimony with an exhibit, a copy of the document should be provided to the administrative law judge during the hearing.

Consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and the May 17, 2021 Ohio Department of Health order, unless otherwise specified by the facility, individuals who are not fully vaccinated should plan to wear a face covering and socially distance.

The Dodson Creek Solar project would consist of solar panel arrays and associated facilities located on approximately 1,429 acres. Included in the project would be electrical collection lines, inverters, a substation and switchyard, a generation interconnect line, weather stations, access roads, and perimeter fencing.

Additional information regarding the proposed solar facility is available on the OPSB website at www.OPSB.ohio.gov in case number 20-1814-EL-BGN.

Sports

Chillicothe Wins FAC Girls & Minford Takes SOC Boys Golf Match

Presented By McDonald’s, I’m Lovin’ It!

In Monday high school golf FAC Girls and SOC Boys league matches were played.

In the Frontier Athletic Conference Girls Match at Washington Court House, the Chillicothe Lady Cavs shot a team score of 207 to win Match #2 of the Girls Frontier Athletic Conference Golf season. Chillicothe’s Isabella Fischer and Miami Trace’s Libby Aleshire were co-medalist with 45’s. Alyssa Butler of Miami Trace was one stroke back while Julie Lemaster of Chillicothe shot a 47.

FAC Girls Match Team Scores:
Chillicothe- 207
Miami Trace- 213
McClain- 235
Jackson- 240
Washington CH- 263
Hillsboro- NA
Co-Medalist- Isabella Fischer of Chillicothe and Miami Trace’s Libby Aleshire (45)

In Boys SOC Golf Monday, Minford came away with the win with a 187. Kam Maple of Oak Hill took medal honors with a 38.

SOC Boys Match Team Scores:
Minford 187
Waverly 200
Oak Hill 206
Portsmouth West 217
Northwest 222
Medalist- Kam Maple of Oak Hill (38)

News

Ross County’s Union Township Shares COVID Funds With Area Schools

Presented By Rathkamp Financial

Union Township in Ross County has shared a large portion of their first round of COVID-19 money with local schools and other community entities. The American Recovery Act Funds came from the federal government, as approved by congress.

The $500,000 the township received, like comparable funds received by other local government entities, had to be used for items related to assisting in those government entities handling of the COVID-19 crisis.

Union Township Trustee Jeff Henness said- “Along with trustees Dave Bethel and Harold Bennett, we thought the best way we could help the community was through the school districts that our township serves.”

As a result, Union Township Trustees decided to give $120,000 each to Union Scioto Schools and Adena Local Schools for the purchase of new student Chrome Books and other computers. Ross County Christian Academy was given $70,000 and the Ross County Fairboard was given approximately $40,000. Ross Christian Academy’s money helped install touch-less lighting, which was also the case for monies given to the Ross County Fairgrounds. The remaining $150,000 was used by Union Township for EMS and Firehouse equipment purchases.

Union Township is anticipating another $1.2 million in funds coming their way in a second round of federal funding, which Henness says the rules for using those dollars is still being worked out at the federal level. Local governments will have until the year 2026 to use the money. Half of those funds will be received in 2021 and the other half in 2022.

In the case of townships, funds received are based on the size of the townships.