(Waverly) – People in and around Pike County will soon have a new place to learn how to stay safe on the water. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is building a new Boater Education Center at Lake White State Park.
“I’ve loved seeing more Ohioans on our lakes and rivers over the past few years, rediscovering an appreciation of the water,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “While boating can offer quality family time, new boaters mean more people need to learn the ins and outs of operating these vessels. We are excited to be able to provide that with this new education center.”
The new building will include a 2,020 square-foot park shelter with storage rooms, restrooms, patios, and a pavilion area. The building will host education courses for new boaters and will be available for community use. Classes will include topics such as operating safely, legal requirements, water sports, and what to do in a boating emergency. Anyone operating a boat in Ohio powered by more than 10 horsepower must provide proof of boater education. ODNR offers study guides to help people meet those requirements.
The new center is expected to be complete in the spring of 2022. Total cost is estimated at $852,400.
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
(Chillicothe) – State Route 220 in Pike County will be closed until further notice between U.S. 23 and North Street inside the village of Waverly due to potential hazardous debris from a structure.
(Photo: State Route 220 Closed in Pike County/ OHGO)
The road will remain closed until the structure can be demolished, tentatively scheduled for mid-December. During this closure, traffic will be detoured via local routes.
Questions regarding this closure should be referred to the Village of Waverly at 740-947-5162
(Columbus) — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine awarded 28 water infrastructure projects with nearly $44 million in financial support as part of the second round of funding offered through the new Ohio BUILDS water infrastructure grant program.
“It’s astonishing to me that there are communities in Ohio today where it’s difficult to get clean water. For our people to thrive and for our communities to grow, clean water and reliable infrastructure are an absolute must,” said Governor DeWine. “There is a tremendous need for water infrastructure upgrades all over our state, and through Ohio BUILDS, we’re funding projects that will be life-changing in some communities.”
Several area communities will benefit from Round Two of the Ohio BUILDS Project Drinking Water/Waste Water Infrastructure Projects.
(Photo: Chillicothe Wastewater Treatment Plant off Renick Avenue)
Chillicothe (Ross County, House District 92- Rep. Mark Johnson, Senate District 17- Senator Bob Peterson) will receive a $5 million grant to make needed repairs, update wastewater treatment capabilities to prepare for economic growth and address upcoming Ohio EPA regulatory requirements to reduce phosphorus discharges. The majority of the equipment at the Chillicothe Wastewater Treatment Plant is 35 years old and has reached the end of its useful life. Major renovations will include replacing most of the mechanical and electrical equipment, changing the biosolids digestion process to aerobic digestion process, and adding phosphorus removal. This project will benefit 22,000 people.
Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney told Litter Media’s Mike Smith the entire project will cost an estimated $40 million.
Leesburg (Highland County, House District 91- Rep. Shane Wilkin, Senate District 17- Senator Bob Peterson) will receive a $974,563 grant to replace 4,500 linear feet of watermain, install monitoring and water treatment plant components to assist in preventing depressurization, and replace old and faulty water meters. The watermain in the project area is cast iron and has exceeded its useful life, experiencing numerous breaks during the past year along State Route 28. The existing system lacks sufficient valves, therefore, when breaks occur in this area, the result is widespread water outages. This project will benefit 1,455 people.
Wilmington (Clinton County, House District 91- Rep. Shane Wilkin, Senate District 17- Senator Bob Peterson) will receive a $5 million grant to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant to meet new phosphorus discharge requirements to help improve the water quality in Lytle Creek and address deficiencies at the plant. The project consists of a 50 percent capacity expansion to the wastewater treatment plant, improvements to the treatment process, and conversion of existing tanks for solids handling. This project will benefit 12,400 people.
Logan (Hocking County, House District 78- Rep. Brian Stewart, Senate District 20- Senator Tim Schaffer) will receive a $250,000 grant to cover the planning and engineering design for a project that will replace 20,000 linear feet of sewer line, 1700 linear feet of storm sewer lines, 68 manholes, add 300 service connections, and five new catch basins. The city completed an extensive infiltration and inflow study after Ohio EPA issued a schedule of compliance to the sewer system serving. This project addresses the highest‐priority areas identified in the study. This project benefits 7,020 people.
Jackson (Jackson County, House District 93- Rep. Jason Stephens, Senate District 17- Senator Bob Peterson) will receive a $1.01 million grant for the Mill Street Area Sewer Extension Project, which will extend public sewer to approximately 24 households who do not currently have access to it. This project will bring reliable sewer infrastructure to unsewered residents with failing household sewage treatment systems on Mill Street, Putnam Street, Ohio Street, Summit Street and Crossin Street. This project will benefit 80 people.
Ashville (Pickaway County, House District 78- Rep. Brian Stewart, Senate District 20- Senator Tim Schaffer) will receive a $250,000 grant to cover the planning and engineering design for a sanitary sewer replacement project. The proposed improvements north of Church Street include replacing the aged sanitary sewer lines, providing an adequate storm sewer system, and to separate roof drains, sump pumps, and sanitary services. This project will benefit 4,500 people.
Pike County Board of Commissioners (Pickaway County, House District 91- Rep. Shane Wilkin, Senate District 17- Senator Bob Peterson) will receive a $400,000 grant to install new storm sewer lines, new manholes, and a new curb and gutter system on Waverly Gables Blvd. The stormwater drainage system on Waverly Gables Blvd. is more than 50 years old and is highly corroded due to the excessive amounts of salt used on the roadway. Pike County cannot allow failure of this system since the boulevard is the only way to access Pike County’s hospital. This project will benefit 27,088 people.
In an “every-penny-counts” campaign, every little bit makes a big difference.
That was the case over the weekend when 9-year-old Ethan Holbert raised $1,652 with his lemonade stand for the Garnet A. Wilson Library’s building campaign.
Ethan’s lemonade stand gained support as the afternoon his campaign continued throughout the day Saturday. Photos courtesy Amanda Holbert via Facebook.
Natosha Massie, Director of the library told Litter Media “Ethan’s an avid reader. He and his mom saw the sign for our building project and said he wanted to help.”
Massie says the library has been working towards a goal of $3.4 million and over the last few years has managed to raise $1.1 million. The pandemic has slowed fundraising efforts, but Massie hopes Holbert’s event will help re-energize the campaign. “He raised it all in just five hours work… it’s pretty amazing!”
The library purchased three acres of land behind the Waverly Kroger and the Pike County Service Center along Ohio 335 to be closer to Bristol Village for its residents. That’s where Holbert saw the sign which led to an inquiry by his mother Amanda to ask how they could help.
Mayor Greg Kempton waived the permit for Ethan to set up a tent and sell lemonade, which drew the interest of many passersby, including Kempton and the Waverly Police Department. By the end of the day, he Holbert had a sizable donation for the library.
9-year-old Ethan Holbert with Waverly Mayor Greg Kempton. Photo courtesy Amanda Holbert.
Ethan’s mother, Amanda said he though he might get $200 and was astonished with the final tally. “We are very proud of him. The fundraiser definitely exceeded our expectations!”
Earlier this year, the National Endowment for Humanities offered a matching grant to the library for the building project, which is great news. Massie says the library needs to raise $900,000 to receive the match. Unfortunately, the timing of the matching grant offer doesn’t permit back-dating the fundraising and only includes about $30,000 of the monies already raised. But the mission continues.
Massie was named Director in January of 2020, then came the pandemic. It’s been a long 18-month wait to resume promotion of the campaign… and a Saturday afternoon under a roadside tent by a Waverly Elementary student may be just the kickstart the campaign needed.
An excited Holbert shared his story with the congregation at Morgantown CCCU Sunday morning “At the library, they have a thermometer for totaling the money” said Holbert “and now they’ve got more”.
Since this photo was taken, an additional $50 was donated to raises the total to $1,702. Photo courtesy Amanda Holbert.
