All posts by Dan Ramey

A broadcast veteran of 40 years, including radio stints in Waverly, Circleville, West Union, Chillicothe and Columbus, Dan returned to Chillicothe as host of “Dan & Mike in the Morning” for nearly 25 years. Dan was known as “The Voice of the Chillicothe Cavaliers” for 35 seasons and in 2013 was inducted into the CHS Athletic Hall of Fame.
Sports

Westfall Earns 49-35 Win at Huntington

Presented by Classic Brands

After a closely contested first half, the Westfall Mustangs pulled away from Huntington for a 49-35 road victory over the Huntsmen.

Following a few lead changes in the first period, Westfall’s Seth Gifford beat the buzzer with a put back to give Westfall a 14-13 advantage.

The second quarter was evenly played until the Mustangs’ Casey Cline drilled a three from the left wing as time expired, lifting the Mustangs to a 24-20 lead at the intermission.

Huntington came up empty on all but three possessions in the third period as Luke Lewis and Dalton Black combined for six points. Westfall took advantage with the defense setting up the offense to surge ahead 34-26.

“Our kids started getting comfortable with making shots” Christian Meister said of his Mustangs’ effort in the second half. Westfall hadn’t played a game in more than a week. “This was a good game to get back in the swing of things” said Meister.

The Mustangs began to distance themselves further outscoring Huntington 15-9 in the final period for the win.

Huntsmen Coach Kyle Bradley was impressed by Westfall’s guard play. “They make things tough with how they switch defensively… When they switched and went zone, we struggled with it and they forced a handful of turnovers in the second half, especially in the third quarter kinda went on a run and created that separation.”  

Westfall guard Tyler Shipley said his team gained confidence as the night progressed. “Our zone defense, 1-3-1, it worked well. We pushed offensively. Because we pushed, they played out of control. We were able to fluster them and good things happened from there.”

Westfall improves to 3-2 in the Scioto Valley Conference while the Huntsmen slipped to 0-5.

Cline led all scorers with 15 points and his Westfall teammates spread the wealth on a balanced attack. Tyler Shipley had 8 points, Brody Clark added 7, Gifford and Ashton Nunemaker had 6 points each. Trevor Wolfe chipped in 5 and Josh Layton had 2.

Seth McCloskey and Black were the only Huntsmen in double figures with 10 each, Lewis had 9 while Noah Potter, Wes brown and Matt Jordan each scored two apiece.

Westfall hosts conference leader Unioto Saturday while Huntington heads to Piketon.

Litter Media Extras:

Tyler Shipley is the McDonald’s Player of the Game.

The 2021 Huntington Athletic Hall of Fame: Left to right: Ariel Sams, Dylana Gragg Barker and Josh Newland. Dan Ramey/Litter Media

Huntington welcomed three new members into its Athletic Hall of Fame during the halftime break.

Enshrined were:

Dylana Gragg Barker (2016) a four-year letterman in Volleyball and three-year letterman in Basketball.

Josh Newkand (1995) a four-year letterman in Golf and two-time SVC Player of the Year.

Ariel Sams (2016) a four-year letterman in Basketball.

News

Adena Officials Give Health Update During Conference with Chillicothe Mayor

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

As cases of Covid-19 have increased in recent weeks, Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney hosted a Facebook Live broadcast Friday morning featuring leading officials of Adena Health System for an update on the System’s management of the pandemic.

Click on the photo to watch the entire Facebook Live presentation

The hour long conversation included Adena CEO Jeff Graham, Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Kirk Tucker and Chief Nursing Officer Molly Grooms.

Graham described as people have gotten back to a sense of normalcy going to the store an other public places, “you would never probably imagine that the pandemic is as bad as it is in the walls of our hospital.”

“In the last week… at the PACCAR Medical Education Center, we’ve had double lines, clear out and around Hospital Road, of people getting tested” explained Graham as more families are dealing with an increase of concern over the delta and omicron variants.

Tucker added the importance of receiving vaccination for Covid-19. and gave a sampling from the current hospitalization numbers. As of Friday, among those at Adena, only nine of 72 patients are vaccinated. Tucker says in addition, there are six patients in the intensive care unit on ventilators, none of them had been vaccinated.

“You can be fully vaccinated, boosted, gotten anyone one of the three vaccines available… can you get omicron? Yes. Absolutely” Tucker added “The difference is that instead of it being something that has the potential to progress with landing you in the ER because your oxygen levels begin to fall and your body can no longer oxygenate itself… you’re likely to be at home for five days with a headache, a fever, a cough, stuffy nose, sore throat, muscle aches and pains, fatigue and then it breaks and goes away.” Tucker says the same is true with the delta variant.

Adena has been seeing up to 180 patients infected with Covid per day. Grooms suggests if someone is experiencing symptoms, the testing center at the PACCAR MEC is the place to go. “Depending on the severity of how you’re feeling, that’s where you should start.” They’re currently testing Monday through Friday and Adena is receiving assistance from the Ohio National Guard which will help AHS extend the hours for the testing center. “We still have a lot of access within our own primary care” Grooms added. “We have a lot of support in our Urgent Cares for this testing… an if you feel you have the level of acuity and you need to see the emergency room, I’m not discouraging that from happening at all.”

Hear the entire conversation by clicking on the photo above.

Sports

Jackson Outlasts McClain in FAC Battle, 31-28

Presented by Rathkamp Financial

Jackson gets the leg up in the Frontier Athletic Conference standings improving to 2-0 after handing McClain its first loss on the season, 31-28.

“We won’t play a more tough team than McClain. Hats off to them because they’re well coached and those kids are physical” Max Morrow told Litter Media after the game. “We were down and we fought back… no one in this game was gonna get a big lead” said Morrow.

It was the fourth consecutive road game for McClain who entered the contest 3-0. The Tigers worked the inside game to reach the charity stripe early, sinking 5-of-6 free throws with a pair of field goals for an early 9-5 lead through the first period.

The second quarter was different. In fact, the fourth followed suit as McClain managed just four points in each. Jackson would take advantage.

In the second quarter, Jacob Winters was strong in the paint hitting three field goals to pull the Ironmen within three points. Meanwhile, the Tigers managed just two buckets, one each by Kendall Toney and Wesley Potts.

Before the half, Boston Campbell dropped in a couple of free throws and to give Jackson a 14-13 entering the intermission. The Tigers had gone empty five of their last six possessions to close out the period.

The two fought through a see-saw third with McClain regaining the lead 24-23. But as in the second, the Tigers had difficulty finding the basket in the 4th quarter.

The two clubs exchanged leads five times in the fourth with McClain going ahead 24-21 on a spin and shot by Bryson Badgley. Jackson closed the gap from the stripe, with Campbell knotting the score at 26. The sophomore guard drained the net from the corner on an assist by Holden Blankenship to send the Ironmen ahead 29-26. Tristan Prater and Winters combined for for two free throws to secure the lead and wouldn’t yield to the Tigers.

McClain was scoreless the final 5:29 following a bucket by Potts.

“Both teams shot the ball terribly, but both teams knew what the other was doing offensively” said Morrow.

The stat Joe Stewart had an issue with was his team’s 18 turnovers. “The fact is, we just didn’t get it off the defensive boards that we needed to.” The Tigers were patient offensively, but simply had trouble finding the bottom of the basket to get what they needed.

“We’re quite a bit better than we were a week ago in regard to patience in the offense, working for something good” said Stewart. “They contested everything, we just didn’t have enough answers on that end of the floor. The errors with the ball… We have nine offensive rebounds in the second half, if we just get some more shots, then we’ll have extra opportunities.”

Campbell led all scorers with 10 points for Jackson and was selected the McDonald’s Player of the Game. Badgley paced McClain with 9 points and had to sit for most of the fourth quarter after picking up a fourth foul inside 60 seconds of the period

Jackson plays Athens Saturday night and McClain will host Miami Trace in their home opener on Tuesday.

SCORING:

JACKSON (31): Boston Campbell 10, Jacob Winters 7, Tristan Prater 7, Nate Woodard 6, Evan Jarvis 1.

MCCLAIN (28): Bryson Badgley 9, Braden Wright 6, Kendall Toney 5, Wesley Potts 4, Seth Wise 2, Preston Saunders 2.

Other FAC Games:

Chillicothe 54, Miami Trace 48 (OT)

Washington 58, Hillsboro 51

News

Holidays on the Mountain Now Freed Admission, Donations Will Be Accepted

Presented by Atomic Speedway

News from Sugarloaf Mountain: Holidays on the Mountain is now a free event.

“After hearing from numerous people in the community that they simply didn’t have extra money to do a holiday event with their families, we’ve decided to make this a free event” explained Brandon Smith, President/CEO of The Scioto Society in a news release Saturday morning.

Previously, the producers of Tecumseh charged $20 per car for admission for the event. While admission to the remainder of the event will be free, donations will be accepted.

The event continues through Sunday and next weekend from 12pm-6pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Holidays on the Mountain” is something new at Sugarloaf Mountain, featuring The Timberworks Lumberjack Show with shows at 1pm, 3pm, and 4:30pm daily.

Smith adds “Enjoy seasonal food and drinks, try your hand at axe throwing with Southern Ohio Axe Throwing, enjoy classic holiday movies, shop our gift shop for unique gifts and more.”

(Logo from Scioto Society)
News

2021 Holiday Lights Competition Winners Announced

Presented by Rathkamp Financial

Entries in the Chillicothe Parks & Recreation Department’s annual Holiday Lights Contest were judged Thursday evening and here are your division winners.

Norman Rockwell Division (Traditional Display):

1st Place: Cathy and John Zangri, 330 Piatt Avenue.

2nd Place: Leonard and Trish Steyer, 629 Arch Street

3rd Place (TIE): Wahneda Dalton and Anthony Clark, 90 Sharon Road; James Glandon and Shannon Berry, 132 Grand Avenue

Clark Griswold Division (Wild Lights Display):

1st Place: Jason Adkins, Sr., 341 Clay Street

2nd Place: Randy Kelley, 694 Orange Street

3rd Place (TIE): Emily and Zachery Leasure, 637 Linn Street / John and Carol Welch, 132 Yaples Orchard

The winners of each division receive a free shelter house rental and five day passes to the Chillicothe Swimming Pool. Second place finishers receive a free shelter house rental and third place finishers will take home five day passes to the pool.

Part of the 2020 display by Cathy and John Zangri, winners of the Norman Rockwell Division. Dan Ramey/Litter Media
News

Thursday Brought Three More Local Winners in Ohio Vax-2-School Lottery

Presented by Classic Brands

Three more local students were announced as winners of $10,000 scholarships in the Ohio Vax-2-School lottery drawing Thursday.

Brogan Combs of Chillicothe, Abigail Mosley of Lancaster and Alexys Dray of Baltimore were among the 30 names released Thursday.

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.

Friday’s final drawing will bring the total to one hundred fifty $10,000 scholarship winners. At 7:30pm Friday, five $100,000 scholarships will be drawn as grand prize winners.

Sports

Football Coaching Landscape Changing in the FAC

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

The Frontier Athletic Conference coaching ranks will look different next football season.

Hillsboro’s Jack O’Rourke reportedly has resigned according to the Highland County Press, Chillicothe’s Doug Pryor has posted on Facebook he’s been non-renewed for the next season and McClain’s Jake Orr-Zody will not return under a separation agreement with Greenfield Exempted Village Schools effective December 1st.

O’Rourke compiled a 30-31 mark at with the Indians from 2016-2021, a stint which saw Hillsboro go 16-5 during the ’17 and ’18 seasons. He was named Ohio’s Division VI Coach of the Year in 2018.

Pryor stated in his post he’d been given the opportunity to reapply for the position and that he has.

Cavalier Football Head Coach Doug Pryor’s post on his Facebook Page, stating he’d been non-renewed.

It’s not uncommon for school districts to hire coaches on a year by year basis.

Pryor is 14-12 in three seasons with the Cavaliers after succeeding Ron Hinton who stepped down after the 2018 season. Pryor’s Cavs won the FAC Championship during the shortened season in 2020. Chillicothe just missed the playoffs this season going 5-4.

Chillicothe Head Coach Doug Pryor delivers his first pregame pep talk to the Cavaliers before facing Teays Valley to kick-off the 2019 football season. SEE THE PHOTO ALBUM HERE: http://bit.ly/2rKIeJa WATCH THE GAME HIGHLIGHT VIDEO HERE: https://youtu.be/1oLfgI51IBU

Last October, Orr-Zody was placed on administrative leave from the school district before the Tigers’ game with Miami Trace. He did not return to the sideline the remainder of the season.

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.