Monthly Archives: December 2021

News

Great Ohio Lodges Await Visitors for the Holidays

Presented by Hometown-Motors, Inc. & Accurate Heating, Cooling & Plumbing

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Thanksgiving leftovers are gone and it’s time to shift into holiday mode with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).  Great Ohio Lodges at Ohio’s state parks will be decked out with holiday cheer to help you celebrate family gatherings, business meetings, or festive getaways.
 

  
Salt Fork State Park Lodge


“There is a special kind of beauty at our Ohio State Park lodges during the holiday season,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said.  “The lights, the snow, the overall warmth of a fire burning in the hearth, they can all inspire fond holiday memories of years past and encourage families to make new ones that will last a lifetime.”

From Burr Oak to Maumee Bay, the halls of the lodges will be decked with holiday décor, ready to welcome visitors who want to get away this season.  More than 50,000 lights and 44 fully decorated trees will be on display at the Shawnee State Park lodge.  A full-size nativity scene and an all-natural Noah’s Ark will add to the holiday décor at the lodge. Want to see which tree is the finest? Shawnee also features a best in show tree selected by the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs.
 


Shawnee State Park Lodge


The festive fun continues with nearly two dozen trees decked out with all the holiday trimmings at Deer Creek State Park Lodge. And if the winter weather strikes visitors can seek refuge at one of two cozy fireplaces decorated by the area’s local garden clubs.

 

Deer Creek State Park Lodge


Seventy trees will light up the scene at the Hueston Woods Lodge and Conference Center.  The bow on top? The beautiful ribbon tree that stands over the lodge’s main dining room for all to enjoy.
 


Hueston Woods Lodge
 

New to the holiday offerings at our lodges this year is a chance to view more than 100 nutcrackers at Punderson Manor.  This impressive display is featured along with stunning trees and décor. If you don’t have your Christmas card photo yet, stop by and take one today!
 


Punderson Manor Lodge As you make your holiday plans, consider visiting one of our lodges for an overnight stay or for one of our special events.  There will be festive family programming every week through December concluding with New Year’s Eve parties and specials to ring in the New Year which can be found here. Activities include:

Maumee Bay Lodge
Winter Carnival
Dec. 27 – 30
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Mohican Lodge
Breakfast with Santa
Dec. 4, 18, 19, and 23
8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Punderson Manor
Breakfast with Santa
Dec. 5, 12, and 19
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Storytime with Ms. Claus
Dec. 11, 18
 7:00 p.m.

Christmas Open House Buffet
Dec. 19
 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Shawnee Lodge
Breakfast with Santa
Dec. 11  
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Christmas Open House Buffet
Dec. 5
12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.


Events will be added as the holiday seasons gets into full swing.  Keep up to date with everything happening here.  The lodges will also offer holiday add-on packages.  These will differ from lodge to lodge, but could include hot cocoa, campfire mugs, and other holiday-themed keepsakes.  To include an add-on or to plan your seasonal trip at one of the Great Ohio Lodges, visit the Ohio lodges website.

People looking for another way to celebrate Ohio State Parks this holiday season can shop ODNR’s online store.  You can give the gift of the great outdoors with the 2021 state parks ornament, park posters, gift cards, or an Ohio State Parks passport.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website ohiodnr.gov

News

Waverly Demo Leads to Road Closure Saturday

Presented by Classic Brands

UPDATE: Waverly Mayor Greg Kempton released a statement late Thursday afternoon of a change to the announced detour by the Ohio Department of Transportation (in our report below). Now, traffic will be maintained in a limited capacity on US 23 instead of a detour.

The historic Greenbaum Building will be demolished Saturday in Waverly, Ohio. Dan Ramey/Litter Media.

The village of Waverly is planning a one day full-closure of U.S. 23 at the intersection of S.R. 220 (Market Street) for a building demolition on Saturday, December 4 from 7 AM – 3 PM. 

U.S. 23 Southbound Detour – Traffic will be detoured via Clough Street, North Street, S.R. 220, and Ford Avenue.

U.S. 23 Northbound Detour – Traffic will be detoured via Lock Street, Second Street, and Clough Street.

Following demolition of the structure, U.S. 23 will reopen to traffic. Once all debris and equipment have been removed, S.R. 220 will also reopen.

Inquiries regarding this closure and associated operations should be directed to the village of Waverly at 740-947-5162

For more information contact: District 9 Public Information Office at 740-774-8834.

News

Chillicothe City Administration Building Closed Thursday & Friday

Presented by Rathkamp Financial

Due to a problem with the building’s boiler, the Chillicothe City Administration Building at 35 East Paint Street will be closed today and tomorrow.

In a release from Chillicothe Safety Services Director Jeff Carman’s office, workers are installing temporary heat, which necessitated the building’s closure.

The building is expected to reopen Monday, December 6th.

News

Journey to Bethlehem Coming to Chillicothe’s Calvary Baptist Church

Presented by Atomic Speedway & Chillicothe VAMC

Calvary Baptist Church announces that on December 10th and 11th, will be hosting “Journey To Bethlehem”, a drive thru nativity experience with live characters and carolers, beginning at 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. both evenings.

Calvary Baptist Church is located at 2486 Anderson Station Road, Chillicothe, Ohio.

News

Giving Tuesday Follow Up; How You Can Still Help

Presented by Classic Brands

On the heels of Cyber Monday, there were a number of Giving Tuesday events held by many non-profit organizations.

One locally was by Steve Huggins, a board member with the Ross County Humane Society. His fundraiser was closing in on $8,000 of the $10,000 goal. On the Ivy’s Facebook Page, it was announced a donor is matching up to $50,000 all to help towards the RCHS’ fund to build a new shelter for dogs. CLICK HERE TO DONATE

United Way of Ross County was accepting donations to help Ross County residents in need. To donate, please visit www.unitedwayross.org

Through its Project Christmas, Paper City Coffee accepted monetary donations for their mentoring project in order to purchase each teen in their program a gift and Christmas dinner. They’re also accepting toiletry donations to make kits for local high school students in need.

In Columbus, it was all about restoring The Mighty Morton Organ at the Ohio Theatre. The Columbus Association for Performing Arts (CAPA) raised more than $5,000 toward the goal of restoring the organ which has 2,454 pipes and four keyboards (that’s 244 keys). The organ has been played before approximately 1,000 films during CAPA’s Summer Movie Series. CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Have another? Tell us about it in the comments below.

News

ADAMH Write In Red – Red Ribbon Week Essay Contest Winners Announced

Presented by McDonald’s, I’m Lovin’ It! and Ross-Chillicothe Convention & Visitors Bureau

Twenty nine students from local school districts are recipients of awards from the Paint Valley Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board released Tuesday.

The students participated in the Write in Red – Red Ribbon Week Essay Contest held the week of October 25-29.

“Each year the students provide absolutely the best essays, touching our hearts and opening our eyes as we realize how the environment impacts their lives” noted Paint Valley ADAMH Board Executive Director Penny Dehner.

The Paint Valley ADAMH Board service area includes twenty two school districts in Fayette, Highland, Pickaway, Pike and Ross Counties. Seventeen of the school districts participated in the contest. One student from each county was selected to receive a $500 scholarship to any accredited college or university. Each were also awarded a $100 prize for winning their school’s contest.

Top winners include – Alekae Mikyl Wilson of Miami Trace Middle School (Fayette County); Jaeden Olivia Drury, Fairfield Middle School (Highland County); Reighlyn Byerly, Westfall High School (Pickaway County); Skyla Nichols, Western Middle School (Pike County) and Hannah Louise Balusick, Huntington High School (Ross County).

“Dehner adds “It’s so energizing to see our youth take a proactive stand against drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse by sharing their personal stories, doing research into relevant issues and explain their determination to remain drug free.”

Students winning their school’s contests and receiving $100 include – Jenna Martin, Adena HS; Lydia Beery, Adena MS; Andrea Cougill, Chillicothe HS; Katelyn Gray, Chillicothe MS; Kyla Poorman, Eastern HS; Makala Espericueta, Fairfield HS; Mia Snyder, Greenfield McClain HS; Cade Raike, Greenfield McClain MS; Sarah Newsome, Hillsboro HS; Malachi Aber, Hillsboro MS; Nicholas Ray Hughes, Huntington MS; Matalyn Magee, Lynchburg Clay MS; Kennedy C. Jenkins, Piketon HS; Briar Penwell, Piketon MS; Avery Baker, Southeastern HS; Ameryss Ware Southeastern MS; Elliott McHenry, Unioto HS; Brayden Botts, Unioto MS; Aiden Elliott, White Oak HS; Gabriel Ulrey, White Oak MS; Eric Patton, Waverly HS; Kacie R. Schuyler, Western HS; Grace Jenkins, Zane Trace HS.

News

Local Students Among Day 2 of Vax-2-School Scholarship Winners

Presented by Hometown-Motors, Inc. and Accurate Heating, Cooling & Plumbing

The State of Ohio’s Vax-2-School scholarship program produced some local recipients among the second day of announcements.

Those selected are drawn from a pool of Covid-19 vaccinated Ohio students aged 5-25 registered for $10,000 scholarships.

Tuesday’s announcements, made on the State’s promotional Twitter site #OhioVax2School, had some hits in South Central Ohio. Among them, Chillicothe’s Erin Kulhanek, Colsen Oyer of Jackson and Bryce Bennett from Washington Court House.

There will be a total of one hundred fifty $10,000 scholarships and $100,000 scholarships for five grand prize winners.