http://66.213.69.5/files/original/cdc58ac0ebf9a07974664d2c00765188.pdf 328049b2232cb4ce479e761294dcc56f PDF Text Text Silver Bridge tragedy Meigs Health Matters Girls prep basketball RIVER s 9 NEWS s 2 SPORTS s 6 C_ZZb[fehj�š�Fec[heo"�E^_e Issue 249, Volume 75 Breaking news at mydailysentinel.com DeWine orders Guard members to hospitals Saturday, December 18, 2021 s $2 The season of ‘Lights’ More than 1,050 members to assist with COVID aid areas, which are seeing the highest hospitalization numbers. Most of those hospitals have stopped elective surgeries, and facilities elsewhere are considering the same, the governor said. The remaining Guard COLUMBUS, Ohio members will serve in (AP) — More than as-needed hospital roles 1,000 members of the in other parts of the Ohio National Guard have been ordered into state. As of Friday, 4,723 hospitals overwhelmed by patients being treat- Ohioans were hospitaled for COVID-19 — the ized with the coronavirus, a figure last seen vast majority of them almost a year ago, the unvaccinated — Ohio governor said. Nine Gov. Mike DeWine of every 10 of those announced Friday. patients are unvacciThe state is also hiring a staffing agency to nated. The state is facing help recruit nurses from a threefold challenge out of state to assist with patient care, DeW- in still-surging cases attributed to the delta ine said. “Twenty-two months variant, the arrival of the faster-spreading of this pandemic has omicron variant, and taken its toll on our what’s predicted to be health care workers,” a normal flu season, the Republican goverDeWine said. nor said, recounting The seven-day rollstories of short-staffed hospitals needing work- ing average of daily ers to return for second new cases in Ohio has risen over the past two shifts after only short weeks from 6,880.14 breaks. new cases per day on Of the Guard, 150 Dec. 1 to 8,333.43 new are medical workers cases per day on Dec. — mainly nurses and 15, according to data EMTs — who will be collected by the Johns assigned beginning Hopkins University Monday to hospitals Center for Systems Scilargely in the Akron, ence and Engineering. Canton and Cleveland Meigs Board of Ed approves personnel, agenda items Staff Report donation from River Roasters for the High School UNICEF fund POMEROY — The (200-9216). Meigs Local Board The board approved of Education met last week to approve various a revised service agreement with ValTech for agenda items. Fiber Transport for Board members 36 months. The board in attendance were Heather Hawley, Roger approved an agreement with Donnellon McCarAbbott, Tony Hawk, thy Enterprises to proBarbara Musser, and vide copier for Athletic Ryan Mahr. Trailer for 41 months. In the treasurer’s The board approved the reports and recompayment of an invoice mendations, the board for HR Signs and T’s approved the financial report and bills (expen- (HS Girl’s Basketball ditures) for payment for Uniforms). The board recognizes the month of November 2021 as submitted. See BOARD | 12 The board accepted a AIM Media Midwest Operating, LLC (USPS 145-966) Telephone: 740-992-2155 Publishes every Tuesday through Saturday. Subscription rate is $208 per year. Prices are subject to change at any time. 825 Third Ave., Gallipolis, OH, 45631 Periodical postage paid at Pomeroy, OH POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Daily Sentinel, 825 Third Ave., Gallipolis, OH, 45631. All content © 2020 The Daily Sentinel, an edition of the Gallipolis Daily Tribune. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. Brittany Hively | OVP Each year the Gallipolis in Lights display is different than the last, event organizer Shari Rocchi has previously told Ohio Valley Publishing. Welcoming Christmas, visitors to downtown By Brittany Hively bhively@aimmediamidwest.com GALLIPOLIS, Ohio — The Gallipolis City Park is welcoming visitors from across the Tri-State this holiday season to enjoy the ninth season of Gallipolis in Lights. Each night the park is lit up with thousands of lights and includes a number of other Christmas and holiday decorations for people to enjoy. The light display will continue nightly through January 1, 2022 with the lights starting each night at 5:30 p.m. As previously reported by Ohio Valley Publishing, “the light event is purely donor funded,” said Shari Rocchi, event organizer. “While the organization has two fundraisers each year, due to COVID-19 both have had to been cancelled for the past two years. Rocchi said anyone wishing to donate to the event is welcome to, there will be mailbox-type donation boxes at almost each corner and a gingerbread See LIGHTS | 3 Krodel’s light show underway Annual Christmas tradition runs through Jan. 9 By Brittany Hively bhively@aimmediamidwest.com POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — The Krodel Christmas Light Show welcomes visitors to enjoy the holiday lights while keeping warm in their vehicles. The light show, that lines the road through Krodel Park, is a fundraiser for Main Street of Point Pleasant Brittany Hively | OVP The Krodel Light Show features a number of holiday lights for visitors to enjoy. with assistance from the City of Point Pleasant. The city provides the park, the electric for the show and manpower to setup the display each year. Main Street provides all of the materials and lights. Community groups volunteer each night to collect donations at the entrance to the light display. Though donations are appreciated to help fund upgrades to the display, such as purchasing new LED replacement bulbs, they are not required to see the show. The Krodel Light Show will continue through Jan. 1, 2022 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night. © 2021, Ohio Valley Publishing, all rights reserved. 3 deaths, 85 new COVID cases reported Latest from Meigs, Gallia, Mason Counties By Kayla (Hawthorne) Dunham khawthorne@aimmediamidwest. com OHIO VALLEY — Since Wednesday’s update, there were three additional COVID-19 associated deaths and 85 new cases reported in the Ohio Valley Publishing area on Friday. In Gallia County, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) reported two deaths associated with COVID-19 of individuals in the 50-59 year age range. ODH also reported 46 new COVID19 cases. In Meigs County, ODH reported a death associated with COVID19 of an individual in the 50-59 year age range. ODH also reported 12 new COVID-19 cases. In Mason County, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR), reported 27 new cases of COVID-19. 0-19 — 970 cases (4 new), 9 hospitalizations 20-29 —795 cases (6 new), 17 hospitalizations, Here is a closer look at 1 death the local COVID-19 data: 30-39 — 697 cases (3 new), 16 hospitalizations, 1 death Gallia County 40-49 — 729 cases (10 According to the 2 p.m. new), 32 hospitalizations, update from ODH on 4 deaths Friday, there have been 50-59 — 669 cases (9 4,963 total cases (46 new), 53 hospitalizations, new) in Gallia County 12 deaths (2 new) since the beginning 60-69 — 541 cases (11 of the pandemic, 318 new), 52 hospitalizations hospitalizations (4 new) (2 new), 11 deaths and 81 deaths (2 new). 70-79 — 348 cases, 82 Of the 4,963 cases, 4,517 hospitalizations (2 new), (26 new) are presumed recovered. See COVID | 12 Case data is as follows: �2 Saturday, December 18, 2021 Holiday publishing schedule for OVP Ohio Valley Publishing’s Gallipolis Daily Tribune, The Daily Sentinel and Point Pleasant Register, will not be publishing on Saturday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) or Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022 (New Year’s Day) — publishing resumes on Tuesday, Dec. 28th and Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, respectively, during those weeks. Also, the business offices will be closed Friday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) and Friday, Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve) — business hours resume Monday, Dec. 27 and Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, during those respective weeks. This will allow our employees and carriers to spend the holidays with their families. We apologize for any inconvenience to our readers. Thank you for supporting our publications in 2021. We look forward to providing your local news in 2022. Have a merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year. GALLIA, MEIGS COMMUNITY BRIEFS Editor’s Note: Gallia Meigs Briefs will only list event information that is open to the public and will be printed on a space-available basis. Christmas dinner GALLIPOLIS — American Legion Lafayette Post #27 will host a Christmas Dinner from 4-6 p.m. (rain or shine), Sunday, Dec. 19 at the post home on McCormick Road. All members are urged to attend, the public is welcome. Tornado relief POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — The First Church of God is accepting donations to take to Mayfield, Ky., early next week. One of the church members has donated his time to transport needed items personally. The following are needed: bottled water, unwrapped toys, personal hygiene items, shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shaving products, feminine products or monetary donations to purchase items. Items can be dropped off between the two buildings at the First Church of God, 2401 Jefferson Ave., Point Pleasant, W.Va., beginning Tuesday, Dec. 14 until Sunday, Dec. 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Blood drive POMEROY — American Red Cross Blood Drive, 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 22, Mulberry Community Center. Health Department closed POMEROY — The Meigs County Health Department will be closed on Dec. 23 and Dec. 24. Normal business hours will resume at 8 a.m. on Dec. 27. Free Christmas dinner MIDDLEPORT — Free Christmas Dinner, open to the public, serving from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 25 on Christmas Day, Middleport Presbyterian Church, 165 N. Fourth Ave. Bossard holiday hours GALLIPOLIS — The Bossard Memorial Library will be closed on Friday, Dec. 24 and Saturday, Dec. 25 for the Christmas holiday. Normal hours of operation will resume on Sunday, Dec. 26. The library will also close at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 31 and remain closed for New Year’s Day holiday on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. Normal hours of operation will resume on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. Family and Children First Council 2022 meetings The Gallia County Family and Children First Council will be holding Regular Business Meetings at 10 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the following months: January, March, May, July, and September. Due to Election Day on the second Tuesday of November, the business meeting will be moved to November 15, 2022. The Intersystem Collaborative Meetings will be held at 10 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the following months: February, April, June, August, October and December. All Council Meetings will be held at the Gallia County Health Department Conference Room located at 499 Jackson Pike, Gallipolis, Ohio. For additional information, contact Lora Jenkins/Intersystem Coordinator at 740-446-3022. CONTACT US 825 Third Ave., Gallipolis, OH, 45631 740-446-2342 All content © 2021 Gallipolis Daily Tribune and The Daily Sentinel edition. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT/ GROUP PUBLISHER Lane Moon lmoon@aimmediamidwest.com EDITOR Beth Sergent, Ext. 2102 bsergent@aimmediamidwest.com SPORTS EDITOR Bryan Walters, Ext. 2101 bwalters@aimmediamidwest.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Matt Rodgers, Ext. 2095 mrodgers@aimmediamidwest.com CIRCULATION MANAGER Derrick Morrison, Ext. 2097 dmorrison@aimmediamidwest.com OBITUARIES/NEWS Ohio Valley Publishing OBITUARIES ROBERT LEE NIBERT Robert Lee Nibert “Bob” to his friends, “Bobby” to his mom, sister and brother, died suddenly November 28, 2021. He was 64 years young. He is survived by his loving and caring wife Patty, his three amazing children, Tara/Jeremy, B.J.(Bob Junior)/Whitney, Lindsay/Newman. He was the greatest PaPa to his all girl team of grandchildren Ella, Olivia, MeMe, Rosie, Lily, and Eloise. His mother Linda and loving sister Robin and brother Gary, his father Merrill who preceded him in death in 2011. He is also missed by his beloved beagle Basset Hound Charlie. Thank You to the Mayo family who took him into their hearts and gave him a home away from home. He loved all of you. God bless you. He was the successful co-owner of Academy Heating and Cooling starting from sweeping floors and emptying trash to co-owner. He achieved this by dedication hard work and honesty. He did it all and did it well. If you would like to read and see more of his life, visit the website of Collins Funeral Home, Silver Springs, Md., they have a wonderful slideshow put together by his children. PEACE LATER ANNE BINGLEE WINFIELD CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Anne Binglee Winfield of Chapel Hill, North Carolina passed away peacefully in her home on December 12, 2021 after a struggle with cancer. She was born in Kinston, North Carolina on January 31, 1937. Anne graduated from Pantego High School, received a BSN from Duke University, and a MSN from Ohio University. She was married to Robert Marsh Phillips. Anne is preceded in death by her husband Robert Marsh Phillips, and her parents Mary Jones Winfield Howard and John Augustus Winfield. She is survived by her children Robin Bowers Hicks (Brian), Glenn Wilson Bowers (Mary), and Lee Bowers O’Rourke; and by her grandchildren Lucy Hicks, Benjamin Hicks, Alex Anne Bowers, Andrew Bowers, Brady O’Rourke, Nathan O’Rourke, and Reese O’Rourke. Her family also includes siblings Mary Virginia Gray, Gloria Jean Windley, and John Scott Winfield. A Memorial Service will be held January 29, 2021 at the Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina at 2 p.m. It will be held in person and remotely. The mission of the Meigs Co. Board of Health The governing entity of the Meigs County Health Department (MCHD) is the Board of Health (BOH). The BOH meets the second Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. in the conference room of the MCHD. The Meigs County BOH consists of five members, who are appointed by the District Advisory Council to serve five-year terms. Current BOH members include: Roger Gaul; Eric Rock; Wilma Mansfield, MD; Pam Patterson; and Edna Weber. Gaul is the current president and Weber the current vice president. The mission of the BOH is to prevent, promote and protect public health within Meigs County and to offer programs, education and activities which ensure the accessibility of health services to Meigs County citizens. The role of the BOH is to adopt policies and to make such orders and regulations as are necessary for the promotion of health and prevention of disease; the abatement or suppression of nuisances; for the administration of the Health District to meet stated mission goals, Ohio Department of Health standards and requirements of the Ohio Public Health Council. Power and authority to perform such quasi-legislative, executive and administrative functions is specified or implied in appropriate sections of the Ohio Revised Code. The BOH also may hear appeals from public health orders issued by Health District staff for extenuating cir- the ever-changing cumstances with guidance. We are a view to either committed to the affirm, grant time health and well extensions, provide being of our Meigs waivers/approve County citizens variances when by providing safe allowable or refer to the local legal Meigs places to work authority (county Health and play, making prosecutor) for Matters sure all establishments are following appropriate legal Edna guidelines as deteraction. All meetWeber mined by policy ings are open to and improving the the public and we quality of life for all who invite those with issues, questions or concerns to reside in the area. Your Meigs County attend by contacting the BOH has worked hard office prior to the meetto complete those items ing to be placed on the required for accreditaagenda. Agendas as well all past meeting minutes tion while fielding every responsibility associare posted on our webated with the pandemic. site: www.meigs-health. Countless hours were com and we encourage you to periodically review given by your MCHD staff to keep you these documents. informed, create clinics, The BOH appoints a health commissioner for and give back to the community while suffering a term not exceeding along with you from loss five years. The present of loved ones, emotional part-time health comand physical exhaustion missioner is Marc Barr. as guidance changed Since the Meigs County Health Commissioner is daily. And although, this not a physician, the BOH pandemic is far from over, we are confident that provides for adequate your MCHD is standing medical direction of ready and willing to hanall personal health and nursing services by con- dle all that comes towards them. tracting with Douglas With so much talk Hunter, MD. Meanwhile, about the pandemic, it is full-time Administrator easy to lose sight of the Courtney Midkiff oversees the daily operations daily operations of the MCHD. Not only does of the MCHD. it provide vaccines for BOH members are adults and children, it required to attend reguprovides vital statistics lar monthly meetings in requests, cancer patient order to develop long assistance with transporrange plans, goals; to tation assistance, and validate policy and guidmobile mammography ance is being properly clinics. Our nursing implemented and that programs and services behavior matches policy. include, but are not BOH members also are required to participate in limited to, tobacco cessation program, Project training throughout the year to keep updated with Dawn (Deaths Avoided with Naloxone), Children with Medical Handicaps. Meanwhile, Creating Healthy Communities is a vital part of helping with food pantries, exercise and playground equipment for various venues, vouchers for fresh produce for diabetics, and public education on a healthy lifestyle. Our WIC program serves and average of 423 income eligible participants supporting pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children up to age five who are at risk for inadequate nutrition and health care. Our Environmental Health Department assures that all food service requirements are met and training is provided for those in restaurants and other businesses. Staff also are responsible for promoting an annual rabies clinic; oversee and participate in the Meigs County Clean Up Day and provide proper guidance on sewage services. When I became a BOH member, I must admit I had little knowledge of the daily operations of your MCHD. I appreciate the opportunity given to me to become part of a team whose members are dedicated to your communities and bring a wealth of knowledge and skills to every aspect of the tasks set before them. Please visit www.meigs-health. com in order to become better acquainted with your MCHD. Submitted by Edna Weber. Edna Weber is a member of the Meigs County Board of Health. Schools react to TikTok posts referencing violence By Kantele Franko and Matt O’Brien not fathom that any other country would allow this Associated Press type of attack to be occurring on their education COLUMBUS, Ohio — system,” she said. With stress levels Some parents kept their already soaring from the children home, police effects of the pandemic stepped up patrols and educators tightened secu- and a rash of hoax threats following a deadly school rity protocols Friday in response to viral TikTok shooting in Michigan on Nov. 30, districts said posts alluding to unconfirmed threats of violence they were taking precauthat raised anxiety levels tions out of an abundance of caution. at schools nationwide. The posts circulating Vickie Cartwright, the online said schools would interim superintendent face shooting and bomb of schools in Broward threats Friday. In a tweet, County, Florida, one of the nation’s largest school the U.S. Department of Homeland Security districts, said the U.S. said it did not “have any government should take action if TikTok won’t get information indicating rid of dangerous posts that any specific, credible threats to schools but rechurt American schools. ommends communities “I’m asking for our remain alert.” federal government at Some districts opted to this point in time to intervene. We need help. I can- cancel classes for the day or limit where students could go inside school buildings. Many others increased security staffing. More than a half dozen school districts in the Houston area told middle and high school students to leave their backpacks at home Friday in response to the TikTok posts, though none of the districts had received credible threats, officials said. TikTok has been deleting posts spreading “misinformation that is generally sparking alarming warnings” but is not finding posts that are promoting violence or making threats, company spokesperson Hilary McQuaide said. “We are removing the alarmist warnings,” she said. “Those are misinformation.” McQuaide said the company began hearing the rumors late Wednesday and has been working with law enforcement agencies to try to get to the bottom of them. The post most widely associated with Friday’s fears is “not really a threat, it’s just saying they are hearing this thing is happening,” said Justin Patchin, a criminal justice professor at the University of WisconsinEau Claire and co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center. How to respond to that presents a dilemma both to TikTok and educators, especially since many of the previous panics about TikTok challenges have proven to be bogus and acknowledging them can make them more influential. �NEWS Ohio Valley Publishing Saturday, December 18, 2021 3 Photos by Brittany Hively | OVP Gallipolis City Park is full of holiday cheer, including the bandstand that sits in the center of the park. Lights From page 1 house where donations can be dropped, Rocchi said. Event organizers encourage everyone to stay safe with distancing and wearing masks when comfortable. © 2021, Ohio Valley Publishing, all rights reserved. Brittany Hively is a staff writer for Ohio Valley Publishing. Follow her on Twitter @britthively; reach her at (740) 446-2342 ext 2555. Volunteers spend weeks organizing the lights and decorating the trees and Gallipolis City Park area for visitors to enjoy. Along with other displays across Gallipolis City Park for Gallipolis in Lights is the photo-worthy gingerbread house. The Gallia-Jackson-Meigs ADAMH Board has a display set up in Gallipolis in Lights. “You matter,” is a part of the organization’s current “Your presence is a present” campaign. The Ohio Valley Bank tree brings a spin to the average Christmas tree and entertainment to visiting light viewers. Let us help with your last minute gift shopping... Hartwell House ƝɁɂ˷Ύ̸̸̴̰ ̰̯̯ΎƝ˷ΎƥȯȷȼΎƫɂɀȳȳɂΎΎΎƨȽȻȳɀȽɇ˴ΎƧȶȷȽΎ ̶̳̯˹̸̸̱˹̶̵̸̵ ɅɅɅ˷ȶȯɀɂɅȳȺȺȶȽɃɁȳ̸̸̴̰˷ȱȽȻ ɅɅɅ˷ȴȯȱȳȰȽȽȹ˷ȱȽȻ̐ȶȯɀɂɅȳȺȺȶȽɃɁȳȾȽȻȳɀȽɇ ����� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� � � �� �� �� �� � OH-70266466 A Jewelry Tradition Serving the Bend Area for over 100 years OH-70265202 Shop Local This Holiday! 113 Court Street Pomeroy, Ohio 740-992-2054 �NEWS/WEATHER 4 Saturday, December 18, 2021 Ohio Valley Publishing On intergenerational connection GALLIA, MEIGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS Editor’s Note: The Daily Sentinel and Gallipolis Daily Tribune appreciate your input to the community calendar. To make sure items can receive proper attention, all information should be received by the newspaper at least five business days prior to an event. All coming events print on a space-available basis and in chronological order. Events can be emailed to: TDSnews@aimmediamidwest.com or GDTnews@aimmediamidwest. com. Ways to ‘send sunshine’ have expressed program, staff at their appreciation our Agency reach for the calls and out to seniors for how much they an informal chat look forward to the and check-in…a conversation. way to provide As we soon approach As a way to the two-year mark of the companionship and expand the outa friendly voice for coronavirus pandemic, Helping reach to those those who may not we note all of the ways You Age participating in the have much interacwe have adapted and Better program, our Agention with others. adjusted while underNina R. cy has developed Callers can also talk standing some of the Keller a “pilot project” issues that intensified as with someone in by working with a result, such as isolation more detail about community resources that local schools to develop and loneliness. are available to help them items to send to program Shortly after the with any needs they may participants as a way to pandemic started, our provide cheer in another have. Agency developed a way. This consists of Since the inception of new program to address special drawings and the program, we have isolation and loneliness. Through our “Porch Talk” made over 850 calls. Par- messages from school-age children that are mailed ticipants in the program telephone reassurance Monday, Dec. 20 RACINE — Regular meeting of the Letart Township Trustees, 5 p.m., Letart Township Building (SR 124, Racine), 2022 Organizational Meeting will immediately follow. GALLIPOLIS — American Legion Lafayette Post #27, The Sons of the American Legion Squadron #27 and the Auxiliary will hold a joint E-Board meeting, 5 p.m., at the post home on McCormick Road, all E-Board members are urged to attend. to the seniors to brighten their day. We are looking forward to additional ways to “send sunshine” to participants through this format and the intergenerational connection it provides. The “Porch Talk” program is always open to receive more participants. If you or someone you know would be interested in receiving a weekly telephone call for a check-in or just a friendly chat, call us at 1-800-582-7277 or e-mail info@aaa.org. Submitted by AAA7. Nina R. Keller is executive director, Area Agency on Aging District 7. Friday, Dec. 24 TODAY IN HISTORY POMEROY — Trinity Church of Pomeroy, 2nd and Lynn streets, presents a Christmas Eve Cantata, “Come to the Manger,” at 7:30 p.m., additional music beginning at 7 p.m. GALLIPOLIS — Christmas Eve service, 6 p.m., First Church of the Nazarene, 1110 First Ave. cating liquors” and sent it to the states for ratificaToday is Saturday, Dec. tion. In 1940, Adolf Hitler 18, the 352nd day of signed a secret directive 2021. There are 13 days ordering preparations left in the year. for a Nazi invasion of the Today’s highlight in history Soviet Union. (Operation Barbarossa was launched On Dec. 18, 2019, the in June 1941.) U.S. House impeached In 1944, the U.S. President Donald Trump Supreme Court upheld on two charges, sending the government’s wartime his case to the Senate evacuation of people of for trial; the articles of Japanese descent from impeachment accused him of abusing the power the West Coast while of the presidency to inves- at the same time ruling that “concededly loyal” tigate rival Joe Biden Americans of Japanese ahead of the 2020 election and then obstructing ancestry could not continue to be detained. Congress’ investigation. In 1956, Japan was (The trial would end in admitted to the United acquittal by the Senate.) Nations. In 1957, the On this date Shippingport Atomic In 1787, New Jersey Power Station in became the third Pennsylvania, the first state to ratify the U.S. nuclear facility to genConstitution. In 1863, in a speech to erate electricity in the the Prussian Parliament, United States, went on line. (It was taken out of Prime Minister Otto service in 1982.) von Bismarck declared, In 1958, the world’s “Politics is not an exact first communications science.” satellite, SCORE, nickIn 1865, the 13th named “Chatterbox,” was Amendment to the launched by the United Constitution, abolishing States aboard an Atlas slavery, was declared in rocket. effect by Secretary of In 2000, the Electoral State William H. Seward. College cast its ballots, In 1917, Congress with President-elect passed the 18th George W. Bush receivAmendment to the U.S. ing the expected 271; Al Constitution prohibiting “the manufacture, sale, or Gore, however, received 266, one fewer than transportation of intoxiAssociated Press Wednesday, Dec. 29 HARRISONVILLE — The Scipio Township Trustee end-of-the-year meeting will be at 7 p.m. at the Harrisonville Fire Department. Friday, Dec. 31 BEDFORD TWP. — Bedford Township trustees, year-end meeting, 8 a.m.; immediately following the year-end meeting the re-organization meeting for year 2022 will be held at the Bedford townhall. CDC endorses schools’ COVID ‘test-to-stay’ policies NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials are endorsing “test-to-stay” policies that allow close contacts of students infected with the coronavirus to remain in classrooms if they test negative. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention decided to more firmly embrace the approach, already used by many school districts, after research of such policies in the Chicago and Los Angeles areas found COVID-19 infections did not increase when using the approach. “Test-to-stay is an encouraging public health practice to help keep our children in school,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said on Friday. CDC’s official guidance for schools has been that when someone in a school tests positive for COVID-19 infection, those who were deemed to be in close contact should stay out of school, in home quarantine, for 10 days. With the announcement Friday, the CDC is saying both test-to-stay programs and quarantining approaches are both equally good options for schools. TODAY 8 AM WEATHER 2 PM 52° 62° 49° Mild today with periods of rain. Rain and drizzle tonight. High 64° / Low 34° HEALTH TODAY Statistics through 3 p.m. Fri. AccuWeather.com Asthma Index™ Temperature The AccuWeather.com Asthma Index combines the effects of current air quality, pollen counts, wind, temperature, dew point, barometric pressure, and changes from past weather conditions to provide a scale showing the overall probability and severity of an asthma attack. Precipitation 53°/44° 46°/30° 74° in 1933 -2° in 1914 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Fri. 0.18 Month to date/normal 2.51/2.06 Year to date/normal 49.53/43.59 Snowfall (in inches) The AccuWeather.com Cold Index combines the effects of local weather with a number of demographic factors to provide a scale showing the overall probability of transmission and symptom severity of the common cold. 3 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Fri. 0.0 Month to date/normal Trace/1.1 Season to date/normal Trace/1.8 WEATHER TRIVIA™ SUN & MOON Q: At the moment winter begins, where are the vertical rays of the sun? Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset Sun. 7:42 a.m. 5:09 p.m. 5:28 p.m. 8:15 a.m. MOON PHASES Full Last Dec 18 Dec 26 New Jan 2 First Jan 9 SOLUNAR TABLE The solunar period indicates peak feeding times for fish and game. Today Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Major 10:34a 11:23a 12:15p 12:44a 1:39a 2:33a 3:25a Minor 4:21a 5:11a 6:03a 6:57a 7:51a 8:45a 9:37a Major 10:58p 11:48p ---1:09p 2:03p 2:57p 3:48p Minor 4:46p 5:36p 6:28p 7:22p 8:16p 9:09p 10:00p WEATHER HISTORY Wind-driven lake-effect snow accumulated to 2 feet in northwestern Pennsylvania on Dec. 18, 1981. In 1984, this date seemed more like its April counterpart, with temperatures in the 60s in Pennsylvania. 0-2 Low; 3-4 Moderate; 5-6 High; 7-8 Very High; 9-10 Extreme Plenty of sunshine Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. Logan 59/30 Adelphi 59/32 Chillicothe 60/32 Lucasville 62/33 Portsmouth 63/33 WEDNESDAY 45° 23° AIR QUALITY 0 50 100 150 200 300 500 Primary pollutant: Particulates Air Quality Index: 0-50, Good; 51-100, Moderate; 101-150, Unhealthy for sensitive groups; 151-200, Unhealthy; 201-300, Very unhealthy; 301-500, Hazardous. Source: Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services OHIO RIVER Levels in feet as of 7 a.m. Fri. Location Willow Island Marietta Parkersburg Belleville Racine Point Pleasant Gallipolis Huntington Ashland Lloyd Greenup Portsmouth Maysville Meldahl Dam Flood Stage 37 34 36 35 41 40 50 50 52 54 50 50 51 Level 12.69 17.07 21.88 12.60 12.99 24.86 12.48 26.11 34.37 12.52 19.67 34.27 19.61 24-hr. Chg. -0.37 -0.67 -0.39 -0.44 -0.30 +0.31 +0.14 -0.35 -0.11 -0.04 -0.70 +0.13 -1.40 Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021 Ashland 64/33 Grayson 64/33 FRIDAY 48° 34° Mostly sunny 46° 27° Times of clouds and sun Considerable cloudiness NATIONAL CITIES Marietta 61/35 Murray City 59/31 Belpre 62/35 St. Marys 62/35 Parkersburg 61/33 Coolville 61/34 Wilkesville 61/33 POMEROY Jackson 63/34 62/32 Ravenswood Rio Grande 63/35 63/33 Centerville POINT PLEASANT Ripley 52/31 GALLIPOLIS 64/34 65/34 63/34 South Shore Greenup 64/33 62/33 50 THURSDAY 46° 24° Sun and areas of high clouds Athens 60/33 McArthur 60/31 Waverly 60/31 TUESDAY 48° 25° developed by Moderna Inc. and the National Institutes of Health; a vaccine from Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech was already being dispensed. Today’s birthdays: Actor Roger Mosley is 83. Rock musician Keith Richards is 78. Writerdirector Alan Rudolph is 78. Movie producerTen years ago: director Steven Spielberg The last convoy of is 75. Blues artist Rod heavily armored U.S. Piazza is 74. Movie directroops left Iraq, crossing tor Gillian Armstrong into Kuwait in darkness is 71. Movie reviewer in the final moments of Leonard Maltin is 71. a nine-year war. Vaclav Rock musician Elliot Havel, 75, the dissident Easton is 68. Actor Ray playwright who became Liotta is 67. Comedian Czechoslovakia’s first Ron White is 65. R&B democratically elected singer Angie Stone is president, died in the northern Czech Republic. 60. Actor Brad Pitt is 58. Professional wrestlerturned-actor “Stone Five years ago: A suicide bomber blew Cold” Steve Austin is 57. himself up outside a mili- Actor Shawn Christian is tary camp in the southern 56. Actor Rachel Griffiths Yemeni city of Aden, kill- is 53. Actor Casper Van Dien is 53. Country/rap ing at least 52 soldiers; the Islamic State group’s singer Cowboy Troy is 51. Pop singer Sia is 46. Yemen-based affiliate Country singer Randy claimed responsibility. Houser is 45. Actor Josh Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor Dallas is 43. Actor Katie died at her Los Angeles Holmes is 43. Actor home at age 99. Ravi Patel is 43. Singer Christina Aguilera is 41. One year ago: Actor Ashley Benson is The U.S. added a second COVID-19 vaccine to 32. Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. its arsenal, as the Food and Drug Administration is 24. Electro-pop singer authorized an emergency Billie Eilish is 20. Actor Isabella Crovetti is 17. rollout of the vaccine Elizabeth 64/35 Spencer 65/34 A: On the Tropic of Capricorn Today 7:42 a.m. 5:09 p.m. 4:42 p.m. 7:19 a.m. MONDAY Cooler with partial sunshine 2 AccuWeather.com Cold Index™ (in inches) SUNDAY 40° 23° ALMANAC High/low Normal high/low Record high Record low EXTENDED FORECAST 8 PM expected, because of a District of Columbia Democrat who’d left her ballot blank to protest the district’s lack of representation in Congress. In 2003, two federal appeals courts ruled the U.S. military could not indefinitely hold prisoners without access to lawyers or American courts. Buffalo 65/34 Ironton 65/33 Milton 66/34 St. Albans 67/35 Huntington 65/34 NATIONAL FORECAST 110s 100s Seattle 90s 49/38 Billings 80s 30/28 70s 60s 50s 40s 30s 20s San Francisco Denver 10s 50/41 44/24 0s -0s -10s Los Angeles 66/44 T-storms Rain Showers El Paso Snow 54/35 Flurries Chihuahua Ice 66/45 Cold Front Monterrey Warm Front 84/53 Stationary Front Clendenin 67/35 Charleston 68/34 Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. Winnipeg 5/-2 Montreal 23/19 Minneapolis 22/9 Detroit 35/26 Toronto 32/25 New York 44/38 Chicago 39/24 Washington 57/45 Kansas City 36/17 City Albuquerque Anchorage Atlanta Atlantic City Baltimore Billings Boise Boston Charleston, WV Charlotte Cheyenne Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus Dallas Denver Des Moines Detroit Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Kansas City Las Vegas Little Rock Los Angeles Louisville Miami Minneapolis Nashville New Orleans New York City Oklahoma City Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Portland, ME Raleigh Richmond St. Louis Salt Lake City San Francisco Seattle Washington, DC Today Sun. Hi/Lo/W 42/20/pc 25/16/sn 69/52/c 52/46/r 53/44/c 30/28/c 30/22/c 37/35/sn 68/34/sh 70/58/sh 38/25/s 39/24/c 56/30/r 42/31/r 50/30/r 52/33/t 44/24/s 31/16/pc 35/26/sn 82/71/sh 71/48/t 42/29/r 36/17/s 52/34/s 60/32/r 66/44/s 61/33/r 82/74/sh 22/9/c 66/36/sh 78/55/sh 44/38/r 44/17/pc 85/68/c 49/41/r 67/44/s 52/31/r 33/25/sn 71/56/sh 66/48/c 43/26/c 29/14/pc 50/41/s 49/38/r 57/45/c Hi/Lo/W 45/20/s 19/15/pc 57/41/c 47/29/pc 47/26/pc 38/13/c 39/26/c 38/21/pc 42/24/pc 59/31/r 52/33/s 34/29/s 40/26/s 36/24/c 37/23/pc 49/38/pc 58/29/s 38/25/s 34/25/pc 80/69/sh 58/46/c 39/24/pc 40/27/s 52/35/s 46/27/pc 65/43/s 42/26/s 84/69/sh 28/23/pc 48/29/s 61/49/c 41/27/pc 46/26/pc 83/67/c 44/27/pc 68/46/s 36/23/pc 33/13/sn 57/30/r 48/26/sh 42/25/s 34/19/s 54/48/pc 43/36/c 47/28/pc EXTREMES FRIDAY National for the 48 contiguous states Atlanta 69/52 High Low 87° in Key West, FL -17° in Mammoth Lakes, CA Global High Low Houston 71/48 Miami 82/74 115° in Marble Bar, Australia -64° in Delyankir, Russia Weather(W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice. �COMICS Ohio Valley Publishing Saturday, December 18, 2021 5 Find the right senior living option for your mom or dad with our personalized process Alice 1 Connect with a local senior advisor 2 Review a tailored list of recommendations 3 Connect with us at 1-877-890-0424 Evaluate, tour and decide with confidence OH-70262222 Our service is free, as we’re paid by our participating communities and providers. BLONDIE By Dean Young and John Marshall BEETLE BAILEY By Mort, Greg and Brian Walker BABY BLUES PARDON MY PLANET By Vic Lee By Jerry Scott & Rick Kirkman CONCEPTIS SUDOKU by Dave Green � � � � � � � � � � CRANKSHAFT � By Tom Batiuk & Dan Davis � � � � � � � � � � � ����� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � THE BRILLIANT MIND OF EDISON LEE � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �'LIILFXOW\�/HYHO Written By Brian & Greg Walker; Drawn By Chance Browne By Bil and Jeff Keane �����&RQFHSWLV�3X]]OHV��'LVW��E\�.LQJ�)HDWXUHV�6\QGLFDWH��,QF� HI AND LOIS By Chris Browne ����� Today’s Solution THE FAMILY CIRCUS HAGAR THE HORRIBLE � � �'LIILFXOW\�/HYHO By John Hambrock Today’s answer ZITS RHYMES WITH ORANGE Hank Ketcham’s DENNIS THE MENACE By Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman By Hilary Price THE LOCKHORNS By Bunny Hoest & John Reiner �����&RQFHSWLV�3X]]OHV��'LVW��E\�.LQJ�)HDWXUHV�6\QGLFDWH��,QF� %\�'DYH�*UHHQ �S ports 6 Saturday, December 18, 2021 Ohio Valley Publishing Blue Angels fall to Chesapeake, 38-33 By Colton Jeffries cjeffries@aimmediamidwest.com Colton Jeffries | OVP Sports Gallia Academy senior Asia Griffin (2) shoots the ball over the hand of a Lady Panther defender during a basketball game against Chesapeake Thursday evening in Centenary, Ohio. CENTENARY, Ohio — When second chances come knocking, you need to answer. The Gallia Academy girls basketball team racked up 19 offensive rebounds in a 38-33 loss to the Chesapeake Lady Panthers Thursday evening in a Ohio Valley Conference matchup. The Blue Angels (3-7, 0-6 OVC) got the first three points of Thursday’s game, but the Lady Panthers (2-5, 2-4) answer back with a 7-0 run of their own to take the lead. The Purple and White extend that run to 10 points, leading 10-3 at the end of the first quarter. One thing that helped the Blue and White keep in contention was a scoring drought both teams went through in the middle of the first. The Blue Angels also did a good job in getting offensive rebounds in the first, netting six of them, but they couldn’t convert those rebounds into points on the scoreboard. The home team has better luck in getting their shots to land in the second quarter, but they still faced struggles on defense, allowing the visitors to maintain their lead on the scoreboard. However, the Blue Angles do go on a 6-0 scoring run to close out the second quarter, cutting the Lady Panther lead down to five points at 21-16. At the end of the first half and the beginning of the second, the Lady Panthers took full advantage of the lack of a shot clock. The visitors were very patient with their shots, passing around the key and waiting for the right opportunity to shoot. The Blue Angels had some trouble with turnovers in the third quarter, keeping them from closing the gap on the scoreboard. The good news for the See ANGELS | 7 Rio Grande women rough up Bulldogs By Randy Payton For Ohio Valley Publishing RIO GRANDE, Ohio — The University of Rio Grande women’s basketball team didn’t have the red-hot shooting touch that they enjoyed in last Saturday’s win at Indiana University East, but that didn’t prevent the RedStorm from burying yet another opponent. Head coach David Smalley’s squad pulled away after the first quarter — particularly in the second half — and cruised to a 97-55 rout of Wilberforce University, Wednesday night, in non-conference action at the Newt Oliver Arena. Rio Grande, which moved up to No. 18 in the latest NAIA women’s basketball rankings earlier in the day, improved to 15-0 with the win and extended the best start in program history. Wilberforce slipped to 5-10 as a result of a sixth straight loss and fell to the RedStorm for the 38th time in 46 all-time meetings. The Bulldogs hung close early, though, and trailed just 21-17 after a pair of free throws by Rio Grande transfer Samaria Rodgers-Gossett with 51 seconds left in the opening quarter. But Rio scored the final four points of the period before extending their lead to as many as 18 points late in the half and to 16 points, 45-29, by the intermission. Wilberforce got no closer the rest of the way, with the RedStorm’s cushion reaching 24 points by the end of the third quarter and 42 points at the conclusion of the contest. Rio Grande, which shot 77 percent in the second half and 65 percent for the game on Saturday at IU East, shot just 37 percent against the Bulldogs, connecting on just 34 of its season-high 91 overall field goal attempts. The flood of missed shots also helped to facilitate a season-high 73 rebounds. In fact, the RedStorm had more offensive rebounds (37) than the Bulldogs had total rebounds (34). Freshman Harlei Antritt (Newark, OH) had a career-high 16 points and 13 rebounds in just 13 minutes of playing time, while junior Hailey Jordan (Columbus, OH) narrowly missed a See RIO | 7 OVP SPORTS SCHEDULE Monday, Dec. 20 Girls Basketball River Valley at Meigs, 6 p.m. Belpre at South Gallia, 6 p.m. Miller at Southern, 6 p.m. OVCS at Hannan, 7 p.m. Eastern at Federal Hocking, 7 p.m. Swimming River Valley at Portsmouth, 5:30 Tuesday, Dec. 21 Boys Basketball Eastern at Point Pleasant, 7 p.m. Fairfield Union at Gallia Academy, 7 p.m. Trimble at South Gallia, 7 p.m. Hannan at OVCS, 7:30 Meigs at Nelsonville-York, 7 p.m. River Valley at Wellston, 7 p.m. Southern at Belpre, 7 p.m. Wahama at Wirt County, 7 p.m. Girls Basketball Wahama at Buffalo, 7 p.m. Nitro at Point Pleasant, 7 p.m. Wrestling Jackson at River Valley, 1 p.m. Photos by Bryan Walters | OVP Sports South Gallia sophomore Tori Triplett (3) releases a shot attempt between a handful of Waterford defenders during the second half of Thursday night’s girls basketball contest in Mercerville, Ohio. Lady Cats tame South Gallia, 56-41 By Bryan Walters bwalters@aimmediamidwest.com MERCERVILLE, Ohio — In the end, the league title trail is still protected by Lady Wildcats. Visiting Waterford shot 50 percent from the field and used a pivotal 11-0 run over a 4:22 span of the second quarter to ultimately secure a 56-41 victory over the South Gallia girls basketball team in a Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division matchup of unbeatens in Gallia County. The Lady Rebels (4-1, 2-1 TVC Hocking) were more than ready for the challenge at hand as the hosts hit five of their first nine shot attempts while establishing early leads of 4-0, 6-1 and 10-7. The Lady Wildcats (6-0, 5-0) committed four turnovers before mustering their first field goal attempt of the game, yet still managed to sneak away from the first quarter with a 14-12 edge as Cara Taylor canned a trifecta with 34 seconds left in the opener. SGHS never led again, but did manage to knot things up at 14-all following a Lindsey Wells basket 35 seconds into the second canto. The Red and Gold also went the next 6:14 without points as WHS made that monumental 11-point push that increased the deficit out to 25-14. An Emma Clary basket with 1:10 remaining South Gallia sophomore Lindsey Wells (2) looks to release a shot attempt over a Waterford defender during the first half of Thursday night’s girls basketball contest in Mercerville, Ohio. pushed the contest to a 25-16 margin headed into the break. South Gallia committed 12 of the 22 turnovers in the first half, with six of those coming in each stanza. The guests also owned an 11-7 advantage on the boards at halftime. The Lady Rebels managed to get as close as six points (25-19) after a Tori Triplett 3-pointer went down 31 seconds into the second half, but WHS went 8-of-12 from the field in the third quarter and built its largest lead at 44-25 with 1:05 remaining. Both teams traded a basket apiece the rest of the way, capping a 21-12 Waterford third quarter push that extended the lead out to 46-28 headed into the finale. The Red and Gold closed to within 54-41 following a Macie Sanders basket with 25 seconds left and ultimately won the fourth period by a 13-10 count to complete the 15-point outcome. Waterford — which has accounted for at least a share of 15 of the last 17 TVC Hocking titles — outrebounded the hosts by a sizable 30-19 overall margin, including an 11-7 edge on the offensive glass. WHS also committed 17 of the 37 turnovers in the contest. The Lady Rebels made 17-of-43 field goal attempts for 40 percent, including a 4-of-17 effort from behind the arc for 24 percent. The hosts also sank 3-of-7 free throw attempts for 43 percent. Clary and Triplett paced SGHS with 10 points apiece, followed by Sanders with nine points and Wells with five markers. Jessie Rutt was next with four points to go along with a team-best seven rebounds, while Ryleigh Halley completed the scoring with three points. Clary and Wells also hauled in five and four caroms, respectively. Waterford netted 20-of40 field goal attempts overall and went 5-of-11 from 3-point range for 45 percent. The guests also made 11-of-23 charity tosses for 48 percent. Taylor paced the Lady Cats with a game-high 13 points, followed by Mackenzie Suprano with 12 points and a team-best seven rebounds. Taylor also grabbed six boards for the victors. Kendall Sury chipped in nine markers, while Laykin Jones and Avery Wagner respectively added six and five points. See CATS | 7 �SPORTS Ohio Valley Publishing Saturday, December 18, 2021 7 Lady Bulldogs fend off Meigs, 56-52 By Colton Jeffries scoring the visitors 10-9, but Athens went into the locker rooms with a 28-22 THE PLAINS, Ohio — lead. The Lady Marauders The Meigs girls basketball team fell on the road scored 14 more points in the third quarter, and 56-52 Thursday evening actually outscored the to the Athens Lady BullLady Bulldogs 16-10 in dogs Thursday evening in a Tri-Valley Conference the fourth. However, they were Ohio Division matchup. unable to close the rest of The Lady Maraudthe gap between the two ers (5-3, 1-3 TVC Ohio) trailed the Lady Bulldogs teams. In shots, the Lady Bull(2-7, 1-2) 18-13 at the end dogs led in both 3-pointof the first quarter. The second quarter was ers and field goals at 6-5 and 16-14, respectively. a closer affair between The Lady Maraudthe two teams, the home ers, however, led in free team only slightly out- cjeffries@aimmediamidwest.com throws at 9-6. In scoring, the Lady Marauders were led by senior Mallory Hawley, who recorded six field goals and three free throws for a total of 15 points. Behind her was sophomore Delana Wright, who notched four field goals and three free throws for 11 points. Also scoring 11 points was junior Jennifer Parker, scoring two 3-pointers, two field goals and one free throw. Rounding out the Meigs scoring were Rylee OHSAA baseball state tournament staying in Akron Lisle with seven points, Andrea Mahr with five points and Maggie Musser with three points. Leading the Lady Bulldogs in scoring was Bailey Davis, who had two 3-pointers and five field goals for a total of 16 points. The Lady Marauders will be back in action at noon Saturday when they travel to take on the Gallia Academy Blue Angels. © 2021 Ohio Valley Publishing, all rights reserved. By Tim Stried The OHSAA softball state tournament is also held in Akron at nearby Firestone Stadium the COLUMBUS, first weekend in June, Ohio — The Ohio while the baseball state High School Athletic tournament is held Association and the the second weekend in Akron RubberDucks June. have announced a “The RubberDucks partnership to keep the have been great hosts OHSAA baseball state and we are very excited tournament at Canal to continue working Park in Akron for the with them,” OHSAA next three years. Executive Director The RubberDucks Doug Ute said. “Canal have hosted the Park is such a fantastic OHSAA baseball state tournament since 2019 venue and our schools, communities and staff at Canal Park, a 7,630have had a wonderful seat stadium in downexperience in Akron. town Akron that is The stadium is a perhome to the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland fect fit for our state tournament, and even Guardians. more importantly, the “We are excited to RubberDucks staff is return as the host of the baseball champion- so great to work with, and they go above and ships,” RubberDucks beyond to make the General Manager and experience special.” COO Jim Pfander Canal Park features said. “It is an honor two of the largest dugto once again be able outs in minor league to bring the best high baseball and indoor school players from all around the state to the batting cages. Beyond right field is one of the wonderful community largest video boards in of Akron. Thank you the minor leagues. In to Doug Ute, Emily 2022, Canal Park will Mason and the entire OHSAA staff for bring- debut upgraded seating with the replacement ing this event back to and modernization of Akron. After our own the seating bowl. championship season in 2021, we are excited to see more champions Tim Stried is the Director of Media Relations for the OHSAA. crowned at Canal Park.” For Ohio Valley Publishing Colton Jeffries can be reached at 740-446-2342, ext. 2100. Browns-Raiders game pushed to Monday By Tom Withers AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND — The Browns got a welcomed reprieve on Friday after days of positive COVID19 tests. After insisting Cleveland’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders would be played as scheduled Saturday, the NFL post- poned it until Monday as the Browns continue to grapple with a virus outbreak. If the game had not been changed, the Browns were slated to be without coach Kevin Stefanski, quarterback Baker Mayfield, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and maybe more than a dozen regu- lars as they try to make the playoffs. Before the postponement, Clowney joined the team’s massive COVID-19 list after a positive result, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. Now, the Browns and Raiders, some of whom aren’t pleased by the switch, will kick off at 5 p.m. Monday. The move could create enough time for some Cleveland players to return after the league modified some of its policies. Shortly after the change was made official, the Browns released a statement saying they respected the league’s decision. Huntington’s Lochow wins 2021 House Award The West Virginia Sports Writers Association selected Lochow for HUNTINGTON, W.Va. the honor, named after — Gavin Lochow comes former Nitro High allstater J.R. House, now by his athleticism honthe third base coach with estly. the Cincinnati Reds. The Huntington High School junior quarterback Lochow will be honored during the 75th annual is the son of former colVictory Awards Dinner lege athletes. His dad, on May 1 at the Embassy Steven, was a standout Suites in Charleston. linebacker at the Univer“Gavin has gotten sity of Dayton. His mom, Amy, starred in tennis at so much bigger and stronger,” Highlanders Furman University. “My athleticism comes coach Billy Seals said. “He’s worked hard in the mostly from my mom,” weight room and on his Gavin Lochow said. footwork.” “Well, and my dad. Dad Lochow is the first playwas a really good player er in Huntington High and helped me a lot.” history to run and pass The standout quarterback, though, added hard for more than 1,000 yards in a season. He comwork to superior genes pleted 125 of 207 passes to become the premier for 1,952 yards and 19 high school quarterback in West Virginia, as desig- touchdowns. Lochow carnated by his being named ried 254 times for 1,677 yards and 18 TDs. He the winner of the House also caught one touchAward. For Ohio Valley Publishing Angels From page 6 Blue Angels was how they finished the third on a 5-0 run. The bad news was how they left the third quarter the same way they entered it: down five points at 29-24. The first couple of minutes in the fourth quarter were a stalemate, with both teams trading baskets back and forth. There was another scoring drought in the middle of the final quarter, which only benefitted the team out front. Ultimately, the Lady Panthers were able to hold onto their lead by the time the final buzzer sounded, winning the game… by five points. In shots, both teams had the same amount of 3-pointers with two each. The Lady Panthers held the advantage in both field goals and free throws at 12-10 and 8-7, respectively. Leading the Blue Angels in scoring was senior Asia Griffin, who recorded one 3-pointer and three field goals for a total of nine points. Behind her was senior game a lot better,” Seals said of his third-year starter. Lochow was key to Huntington High’s turnaround from a 3-6 season in 2020 to winning the rugged Mountain State Athletic Conference this season. Lochow is known as a fierce competitor. He has to be. His brother Torin plays basketball Courtesy | Herald-Dispatch at Marietta College and Huntington junior quarterback Gavin Lochow (3) delivers a sister Haven plays soccer pass during an undated football and tennis at Georgetown College. contest this past season. Gavin Lochow said his siblings are excellent, but down pass. Lochow headed a pow- that he’s the best athlete in the family. erful HHS offense that “They’d probably disaveraged 37.8 points per agree, but they know game. The Highlanders spent much of the season deep down that I am,” he ranked No. 1 and finished said. 13-1, losing to MartinsTim Stephens is a sports writer for burg 62-21 in the Class the Huntington Herald-Dispatch AAA state championship and provided the story on behalf of game. the WVSWA. “He understands the Preslee Reed, who got three field goals and one free throw for seven points. Junior Chanee Cremeens also had seven points, notching one 3-pointer and two field goals. Rounding out the Gallia Academy scoring were Kenya Peck with four points, Regan Wilcoxon with three points and Emma Hammons with three points. Kate Bell led the Lady Panthers in scoring, recording four field goals and two free throws for a total of 10 points. In rebounds, the Blue Angels had 19 offensive and 16 defensive for a total of 35, led by Peck with 11. The Lady Panthers had 11 offensive rebounds and 16 defensive, led by Brooklyn McComas and Hannah Webb with eight each. The Blue Angels will be back on the court at 12 p.m. Saturday, when they host the Meigs Lady Marauders. © 2021 Ohio Valley Publishing, all rights reserved. Colton Jeffries can be reached at 740-446-2342, ext. 2100. Rio Grande trio earns All-ARU honors By Randy Payton For Ohio Valley Publishing RIO GRANDE, Ohio — The University of Rio Grande has placed three players on the 2021 Allegheny Rugby Union Small College All-Conference Team. Representing the RedStorm on the squad were freshman center Solomone Ahoia (Lawndale, CA), sophomore forward Mason Dishong (Reedsville, OH) and freshman flyhalf Che Spiotti (Charlotte, NC). Ahoia finished with 11 tries for the season, while Spiotti had five and Dishong tallied two. The trio helped Rio Grande capture both the ARU regular season and post-season championships in the program’s first season of existence. The RedStorm finished its inaugural season with a 10-1 record and a No. 5 ranking after suffering a loss to St. John’s (MN) in National Collegiate Rugby’s Small Schools Midwest Regional Championship. Randy Payton is the Sports Information Director at the University of Rio Grande. O’Dells Saw Knives 20% OFF O’Dell True Value Lumber 61 Vine St Gallipolis 740-446-1276 OH-70266321 By Tim Stephens M-F 7-6, Sat 8-5,Sun 10-4 23rd ANNUAL NEW YEAR’S DAY AUCTION From page 6 double-double effort of her own with 16 points, nine rebounds, a gamehigh three steals and a pair of blocked shots. Senior Chyna Chambers (Columbus, OH) Cats From page 6 Lily Franchino and netted 15 points and handed out a game-high five assists in the winning effort, while junior Ella Skeens (Chillicothe, OH) did record a doubledouble with 11 points and a career-best 16 rebounds. Lea Coulter led Wilberforce with a career-high 16 points off the bench. She also added a team- high six rebounds and two steals. Nia McCormick, the Bulldogs’ leading scorer entering the contest and another Rio Grande transfer, was limited to just three points on 1-for-8 shooting. Wilberforce shot just 33 percent overall (21for-63), 10 percent from distance (1-for-10) and committed 18 turnovers which led to 21 RedStorm points. Rio Grande is scheduled to return to action next Tuesday when the University of Pikeville visits for a 4 p.m. tipoff. Brianna Offenberger were next with four markers each, while Madi Heiner completed the tally with three points. South Gallia was at South Webster on Saturday and returns to the hardwood Monday when it hosts Belpre in a TVC Hocking contest at 6:30 p.m. © 2021 Ohio Valley Publishing, all rights reserved. Randy Payton is the Sports Information Director at the University of Rio Grande. Bryan Walters can be reached at 740-446-2342, ext. 2101. 1940 FORD CONVERTIBLE, GAS PUMPS, SIGNS, OIL CANS, COUNTRY STORE SIGNS, CLOCKS, THERMOMETERS, AND NEONS. SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 2022 9:00A.M. DOORS OPEN AT 8:00A.M. 3760 WHEAT RIDGE RD. AMISH COMMUNITY BUILDING WEST UNION, OH 45693 TERMS: CASH, GOOD CHECK W./PROPER ID NOTE: VISIT WWW.AUCTIONZIP.COM ID #4988 FOR COMPLETE AD OH-70265570 Rio AUCTIONEER: HERBERT ERWIN 937-544-8252 �NEWS/CLASSIFIEDS 8 Saturday, December 18, 2021 Ohio Valley Publishing Fearing omicron, holiday revelers curb celebrations By Kelvin Chan and Danica Kirka who have demanded more support, decrying a Associated Press “lockdown by stealth” in which government officials recommend people LONDON — Christcut back on socializing as mas revelers across Europe are lying low, and much as possible without officially imposing the U.S. officials are intenstrict rules of past shutsifying calls for unvaccinated Americans to get downs. In the United States, inoculated in the face of the new omicron variant, President Joe Biden’s administration resisted which threatens to wipe tightening any restricout a second holiday season that many hoped tions, but also sketched would bail out pandemic- out dire scenarios for the unvaccinated in a plea for battered industries. Scotland and Wales on hesitant Americans to get the shot. Friday pledged millions “For the unvaccinated, of pounds for businesses you’re looking at a winhurt in Britain’s latest ter of severe illness and infection surge, a move death, for yourselves, that heaped pressure on your families, and the Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government to hospitals you may soon do the same in England. overwhelm,” White House coronavirus Treasury chief Rishi response coordinator Jeff Sunak held talks with business representatives Zients said Friday. (740) 446-2342 or fax to (740) 446-3008 XXX�NZEBJMZTFOUJOFM�DPN�t�HEUDMBTTJöFET!BJNNFEJBNJEXFTU�DPN HEUMFHBMT!BJNNFEJBNJEXFTU�DPN ANNOUNCEMENTS Christophe Ena | AP People wait after being vaccinated as riders train at the National Velodrome in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, west of Paris, France, on Friday. Several European countries are warily watching the spread of omicron. The new variant is already in “full force” in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said, with new cases hitting a oneday record of more than 8,300 on Thursday. But new hospitalizations and deaths – so far – are well below their spring 2020 peak and even where they were this time last year, city data shows. The coronavirus is also interrupting sports in the U.S. again, with the NFL saying Friday that three games would be pushed from the weekend to next week because of out- (740) 992-2155 or fax to (740) 992-2157 XXX�NZEBJMZTFOUJOFM�DPN�t�HEUDMBTTJöFET!BJNNFEJBNJEXFTU�DPN HEUMFHBMT!BJNNFEJBNJEXFTU�DPN MERCHANDISE Miscellaneous 7KH 3HUU\ 7RZQVKLS %RDUG RI 7UXVWHHV DUH KDYLQJ WKHLU ���� <HDU (QG &ORVLQJ DQG ���� 2SHQLQJ 2UJDQL]DWLRQDO 0HHWLQJ RQ 'HFHPEHU ��� ���� DW ���� 3�0� DW WKH 3HUU\ 7RZQVKLS 7RZQKRXVH� ����������������� )RU 6DOH ORWV RI ILHVWD ZDUH SODWHV� FXSV RUFKDUG FRORU� � EHGURRP FOD\WRQ WUDLORU DVNLQJ ������� EHWZHHQ 5LR *UDQGH DQG 3DWULRW� 2K FDOO ������������ Want To Buy Absolute Top Dollarsilver/gold coins, any 10k/14k/18k gold jewerly, dental gold, pre 1935 US currency, diamonds, MTS Coin Shop 151 2nd Avenue, Gallipolis. 446-2842 ROGERS BASEMENT WATERPROOFING 8QFRQGLWLRQDO /LIHWLPH *XDUDQWHH (VWDEOLVKHG ���� %DVHPHQW :DOOV %UDFHG +XQGUHGV 2I /RFDO 5HIHUHQFHV /LFHQVHG� %RQGHG ,QVXUHG FREE ESTIMATES 24 Hours (740) 446-0870 www.rogersbasementwaterproofing.com report a wave of cancellations as customers decide to skip merrymaking for now rather than risk being infected and missing family celebrations later. Experts say omicron appears to be more contagious, but little else is known — and the uncertainty itself is enough for many people to change their plans. Even Britain’s Christmas pantos — beloved and raucous holiday performances — are under threat. The Belgrade Theatre in Coventry in western England had to refund 180,000 pounds ($240,000) in ticket sales after customers decided not to go to shows. It was also forced to cancel 12 performances of “Beauty and the Beast” because half the cast tested positive. (304) 675-1333 or fax to (304) 675-5234 XXX�NZEBJMZTFOUJOFM�DPN�t�HEUDMBTTJöFET!BJNNFEJBNJEXFTU�DPN HEUMFHBMT!BJNNFEJBNJEXFTU�DPN LEGAL NOTICE ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Notices breaks. The league has not specified whether the cases came from the omicron variant. Several European countries are warily watching the spread of omicron. On Friday, Denmark decided to close theaters, concert halls, amusement parks and museums in response to a rapid rise in virus cases. In Spain, friends and classmates canceled traditional year-end dinners. Concerns about omicron were especially palpable in Britain, which reported record numbers of infections three days in a row this week, the latest on Friday with more than 93,000 cases tallied. Businesses ranging from vacation providers to pubs and theaters Sealed bids for the CHESTER TOWNSHIP MEG-TR 156 LANDSLIDE REPAIRS will be received by the Chester Township Trustees of Meigs County, Ohio, at their mailing address P.O. Box 46, Chester, Ohio 45720 or Buckley Group at 6801 State Route 56, Athens, Ohio 45701, until 2:00 p.m., Prevailing Local Time on the 21st day of December, 2021 and at that time will be publicly opened and read aloud at the Chester Township Trustees Office, 47131 S.R. 248, Long Bottom, Ohio 45743. Please note that the township does not receive any mail at their physical address. All bids will be considered valid until 60 days after the opening date, although not accepted or rejected. The work for which proposals are invited consists of a Soldier Pile and Concrete Lagging Wall and other miscellaneous items associated with the construction of the CHESTER TOWNSHIP MEG-TR 156 LANDSLIDE REPAIRS. The Engineer's Estimate of Construction Cost for this project is $139,194.00. Copies of the Construction Plans, Bidding Forms, and Specifications on the Unit Price Contract may be purchased for $30.00 from Buckley Group, 6801 State Route 56, Athens, Ohio 45701, 740-589-5001 during regular business hours (7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday). Each bid shall have filed with it a bid guaranty in the form of a certified check, cashier's check, or letter of credit revocable only at the option of Chester Township in an amount equal to 10% of the bid or a bond in accordance with division (B) of Section 153.54 of the Revised Code. Each proposal must contain the full name of the party or parties submitting the proposal and all persons interested therein. Each bidder must submit evidence of its experiences on projects of similar size and complexity. The owner intends and requires that this project be completed no later than February 28th, 2022. All contractors and subcontractors involved with the project will to the extent practicable use Ohio products, materials, services, and labor in the implementation of their project. Additionally, contractor compliance with the equal employment opportunity requirements of Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 123 is required. Bidders must comply with the prevailing wage rates on Public Improvements in Meigs County as determined by the Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration, 614.644.2239. The Trustees of Chester Township reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids and to waive informalities as may be in the best interest of Chester Township. Chester Township 12/4/21,12/11/21,12/18/21 GALLIA COUNTY RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION, INC. Gallipolis, Ohio 2021 Johnson Ridge Water Storage Improvements ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed Bids for the construction of the 2021 Johnson Ridge Water Storage Improvements will be received, by Gallia County Rural Water Association, Inc., at the office of the Gallia County Rural Water Association, Inc., 542 Burnett Road, Gallipolis, Ohio 45631 until 1:00 P.M. local time on January 5, 2022 at which time the Bids received will be "publicly" opened and read. The Project consists of constructing a 314,000 gallon 107' high by 22.37' diameter water storage tank. Alternate Bid will also be requested for a 258,000 gallon, 84.5' high by 22.37' diameter water storage tank. Bid will be received for a single prime contract. The Issuing Office for the Bidding Documents is: RLM Engineering, Inc., 2700 N. State Highway 7, North Vernon, IN 47265, and Telephone: (812) 346-6139. Prospective Bidders may examine the Bidding Documents at the Issuing Office on Mondays through Fridays between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, local time, and may obtain copies of the Bidding Documents from the Issuing Office as described below. Bidding Documents also may be examined at Dodge Data & Analytics, 2860 S. State Hwy 161 Ste 160 #5501, Grand Prairie, TX 75052-7361, ACI, 3 Kovach Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45215; online at Dodge Data Analytics at: www.construction.com/projectcenter/ ; the office of the Gallia County Rural Water Association, Inc., 542 Burnett Road, Gallipolis, OH 45631, on Mondays through Fridays between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM; and the office of the Engineer, RLM Engineering, Inc., 2700 N. State Highway 7, North Vernon, IN 47265, on Mondays through Fridays between the hours 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Bidding Documents may be obtained from the Issuing Office during the hours indicated above. Bidding Documents are available on compact disc (as portable document format (PDF) files) for a non-refundable charge of $100.00, including shipping. Alternatively, printed Bidding Documents may be obtained from the Issuing Office either via in-person pick-up or via mail, upon Issuing Office's receipt of payment for the Bidding Documents. The non-refundable cost of printed Bidding Documents is $250.00 per set, payable to "RLM Engineering, Inc." plus a non-refundable shipping charge. Upon Issuing Office's receipt of payment, printed Bidding Documents will be sent via the prospective Bidder's delivery method of choice; the shipping charge will depend on the shipping method chosen. The date that the Bidding Documents are transmitted by the Issuing Office will be considered the prospective Bidder's date of receipt of the Bidding Documents. Partial sets of Bidding Documents will not be available from the Issuing Office. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for full or partial sets of Bidding Documents, including Addenda if any, obtained from sources other than the Issuing Office. Bid security shall be furnished in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders. This procurement is subject to the EPA policy of encouraging the participation of small business in rural areas (SBRAs). This project is subject to the Davis-Bacon Wage Determinations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor under the 1931 Davis-Bacon and related Acts. Engineer's Construction Estimates: $575,000.00 Gallia County Rural Water Association, Inc., reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any nonmaterial irregularities. Owner: Gallia County Rural Water Association, Inc. By: W. Scott Lucas Title: President 12/11/21,12/18/21 �Along the River Ohio Valley Publishing Saturday, December 18, 2021 9 Still remembered 54 years later Memorial held for victims of Silver Bridge tragedy By Beth Sergent bsergent@aimmediamidwest.com POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — Though it felt like a spring evening, this past Wednesday thoughts drifted back to Dec. 15, 1967, a cold winter night when the Silver Bridge collapsed into the Ohio River, taking the lives of 46 people. The memorial observance to remember these victims once again took place in downtown Point Pleasant, at the memorial for the Silver Bridge on Sixth and Main streets. “We will never forget them,” Point Pleasant Mayor Brian Billings said. “We will never forget their families and those who remain today in this great city; their siblings, their grandchildren…we will never, I promise you, forget those that we lost that day. “Tragedy strikes at anytime, at any place, anywhere, as we all know what took place in Kentucky and several other states,” Billings said about recent devastating tornadoes. “What has happened there, it’s near Christmastime, just like here in Point Pleasant [in 1967]. It’s a sad time, we had people rush in, people come in and help us [then]…” Billings noted there were several people in Point Pleasant and surrounding communities who were attempting to help those feeling the effects of those deadly tornadoes, including local churches and organizations. “Please remember those people in your prayers,” Mayor Billings said, reminding those gathered of the prayers strangers said for Point Pleasant and the surrounding area 54 years ago, including across the Ohio River in Gallia County, and north to Meigs County, Ohio. Included in the mayor’s remarks was the late Jack Flower and how Fowler was a faithful attendee of the memorial services and “reminded what took place” when he spoke of the tragedy along the river. The mayor also mentioned the late Carolin Harris, a downtown business owner who lost a son who was on the bridge with his father when it fell. He remembered Harris at the first memorial observance, pausing before reading the name of her three-year old child — James T. Meadows. Point Pleasant Fire Chief Jeremy Bryant who represented first responders also spoke, introducing Cain Nott, the special guest who lit the memorial tree. Nott is the son of Kevin and Nicole Nott and Cain lit the tree as a representative of his family. Bryant spoke about Kevin’s contributions to the Photos by Beth Sergent | Courtesy Pictured are State Senator Amy Grady and Mason County Commissioners Rick Handley (pictured reading) and Sam Nibert. The three shared in reading the names of the 46 victims. Cain Nott, pictured, was chosen to represent his family when Cody Smith of South Webster, Ohio performs at this week’s memorial observance. lighting the memorial tree. community, and his role in the committee that began the memorial observances, providing the sound when he was the manager of WBYG Radio. “We ask that you keep him [Kevin] in your continuous prayers,” Bryant said. The ceremony included musical performances by Cody Smith of South Webster, Ohio and a prayer by Rev. Ted Nance of Pleasant View Church. Also, the names of each victim were read by State Senator Amy Grady and Mason County Commissioners Rick Handley and Sam Nibert. Grady asked for a moment of silence for each victim, prior to the reading of names. Billings also recognized the work of Kenny Grady who started the memorial observance in 2015. The ceremony includes a partnership with officials from the City of Point Pleasant, and participation from the Mason County Commission, including Commissioner Tracy Doolittle who has assisted with the ceremony since it began, Kim Harbour from the commission office, and other volunteers. Attending the service from Gallia County was the President of the Gallia County Board of Commissioners Harold Montgomery. “I think it’s [the annual service] very important to our community, as we are a community on both sides of the river,” Montgomery said to Ohio Valley Publishing. “We all had a great loss that day and as we travel back thought ‘this is it.’ Then my head popped up (to the surface of the river). I got hold of a barrel but I couldn’t get on top of it. I was hanging on when the boat rescued me. I want to thank them all, especially the group that got us out. I have to get out of the hospital. My daughter (Carol) is getting married on the 30th.” Both Pullen and Miller, whom Scott was traveling with, were killed in the tragedy. Another eyewitness interviewed at the time of the collapse was Howard Boggs, then age 24 of Porter, Ohio. “We (he and his 17-year old wife, Marjorie Evans Boggs, and 18-month old daughter Kristy) were at the top of the bridge, going toward Ohio. It started to shake up and The memorial tree aglow in front of the Mason County Courthouse. down and that was it. I Angels on crosses bear the names of the 46 victims. was stopped in the line of and forth, and we have traffic. I don’t know how including that of Paul withstood and endured I got out. I caught hold of Scott, then age 51, of together…I’m very something. The City Ice Middleport, Ohio. His thankful Mason County and Fuel boat brought me account was reported as has continued to hold this follows: in. I couldn’t swim.” memorial service.” Boggs’ wife and “I was in the car. The Resting at the base of daughter were not bridge toppled to one the memorial tree, 46 rescued with him and side. We were near the angels on wooden crosses middle of the water going perished in the disaster. bear the names of each Another eyewitness toward Kanauga. I was victim, all on the lawn interviewed by the Point with J.O. (James) Pullen of the Mason County Pleasant Register was of Middleport and F.D. Courthouse near the W.M. “Bill” Needham Jr., (Frederick) Miller of Silver Bridge Memorial. then 27 of Ashboro, N.C. Gallipolis. I don’t know “We were stopped on if they made it or not. the bridge, about the Looking back at eyewitness We work for New York center. Our Roadway Central. I’m a trainman accounts truck was loaded with at Institute, W.Va. The The Saturday, Dec. bridge was shaking, once miscellaneous things. 16, 1967 special edition The passenger with me too often. It went to the of the Point Pleasant left, and then to the right, didn’t seem to move at Register reveals a front and it never came back, it any time. As I pulled up page that seemed to be just kept going. We went and stopped behind the unfolding by the minute first Roadway truck; I had down right with the rest during a time when stopped dead still; the of the scrabble. It was getting the news out, truck tipped to the right a long way. I couldn’t wasn’t easy or quick. hand side, and the bridge understand why I made The edition recounts it. I didn’t think I could. I collapsed. It happened so eyewitness accounts, fast the only thing I can recall right here is that I started to pray. We all headed for the water. I could see the steel beams before us. We hit the water and the truck sank like a rock. On instinct, I knew the windows were up and there would be an air pocket for awhile. I held my breath and, knowing the door couldn’t be opened with all that pressure, I tried to find the window knob but couldn’t. Then I panicked and knew that was it. When I found out I couldn’t get the window down, I kept reaching. I found one window a half to three-quarters of the way down. I forced it down and that’s how I got this (show his right wrist had been cut). And that’s how I escaped. I didn’t know how far I had to go up. But I could tell the water kept getting lighter. When I got to the top, my back hurt and I reached for a box floating by. But there was not enough buoyancy to hold me up. I saw a larger box that might hold me. I couldn’t move my feet, so I peddled with my hands to the box and then hollered for help. The boat picked me up about 15 minutes later or maybe it was five minutes, but it seemed longer. The box saved my life. I couldn’t move my legs and I couldn’t have lasted too long. I am married and have three kids, ages 6, 8 and 10. I won’t make it home for Christmas but I am happy to be alive. But I’ll participate in a different kind of Christmas this year.” Also telling the Register his story was Frank Wamsley of Point Pleasant, then 28 years old. “I was in a James Merry Stone truck near the top of the bridge. We were moving at the time, but traffic in front of us was stopped. The first thing I noticed was that the bridge was leaning to the right and just rolling. We fell and the truck went to the bottom of the river. I don’t know how I got out. For a minute I didn’t think I would. Then I got hold of something, maybe a piece of bridge, and swam to the top. I made it to a barrel of cotton or something. I held on to it. They picked me up. I couldn’t swim to shore, I couldn’t move my legs. I have a wife, Margaret, and two children, ages 4 and 2, and I didn’t think I was going to see them again either. It was a bad experience. If all those trucks (five) hadn’t been there, I don’t think it would’ve gone. Another man was driving, I don’t know his name, we called him ‘Red.’ There were four or five men in the water holding onto stuff. It didn’t take us very long to get down there (into the river) though. We had a load of gravel, about 32,000 pounds. I still don’t know how I got out of there.” © 2021 Ohio Valley Publishing, all rights reserved. Beth Sergent is editor of Ohio Valley Publishing. �NEWS 10 Saturday, December 18, 2021 Ohio Valley Publishing Rebuilding tornado-ravaged Ky. town could take years By Sean Murphy crumpled under a giant tree, most of his front yard hanging from its roots, smashed windows MAYFIELD, Ky. — and a home with no Although his birthday power or running water, is still a few days away, Kelso says he’s well 60-year-old Harley Kelso aware that things could knows what he’s getting have been worse — and from his sister. resolute if not downright The retired truck upbeat about the task driver, whose home and ahead. car were battered by last “I’m going to bring week’s tornado — one of dozens that ripped across a hot breakfast to my daughter,” he said with a the South and Midwest, smile, clutching a bag of killing at least 90 people — said his sister is bring- breakfast tacos dropped off by one of the dozens ing chainsaws and her of volunteers combing the two sons to his home in neighborhood, offering a hard-hit Mayfield to cut apart a tree that’s resting hot meal or a cold drink. President Joe Biden, on his family’s minivan. who visited the com“I lost my car and the munity Wednesday and corner of my porch,” described the damage as Kelso said, sporting a some of the worst he’s T-shirt that read World’s seen, vowed the full supGreatest Papa. “I’m just port of the federal governglad everyone in the neighborhood survived.” ment to help the town rebuild. Such gratitude may “I intend to do whatsound odd in the afterever it takes as long as math of a long-track tornado that demolished it takes to support your state, your local leadhuge parts of Mayfield, but it’s a common refrain ers, as you recover and rebuild, and you will these days in this tightknit community of 10,000 recover and rebuild,” the president said, standing people. before a decimated town Even with his minivan Associated Press than a massive pile of bricks, insulation and splintered lumber. In the center of town, heavy equipment operators rumbled through the back-and-forth task of clearing piles of rubble that covered entire blocks. At what was once a steam-cleaning business, volunteers sifted through piles of debris to salvage what they could. Several steam cleaners stood at the edge of the pile. The damage and devastation in Mayfield is so severe that it could take years before the commuSean Murphy | AP Harley Kelso, 60, speaks while standing outside of his tornado-damaged home in Mayfield, Ky. on nity returns to normal, Thursday. “I lost my car and the corner of my porch,” Kelso said. “I’m just glad everyone in the said Chris Chiles, disaster response coordinator neighborhood survived.” for the Danville, Virginiaof the recovery,” Dossett with debris: downed tree based God’s Pit Crew, center. limbs, shingles, mangled which has been aiding Among the biggest and said Thursday during a storm-ravaged communichildren’s toys, mudmost pressing challenges press conference at the facing Mayfield and other state Capitol in Frankfort. caked clothes. Trees that ties for more than two decades. haven’t been uprooted “Debris removal is one devastated communities “There’s a ton of work completely have had of the most important is removing the mounupper branches shorn off. that needs to be done,” pieces because it is part tains of debris that the Others have crashed into Chiles said. “I’ve been storms turned homes and and parcel to rebuilding doing this for 14 years all cars or homes. businesses into, Kentucky not just the city infraMany houses have had over the country, and it’s Emergency Management structure, but for all of hard to get much worse roofs torn off or been Director Michael Dossett our homeowners.” pulled from their founda- than this. In neighborhoods said. “It’ll take a long time. tions. Others have been across the city, yards “This is going to be reduced to nothing more Years, unfortunately.” and streets are filled one of the largest pieces Pfizer tests extra COVID shot for kids under 5 in setback By lauran neergaard AP Medical Writer Pfizer said Friday it was changing plans and testing three doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in babies and preschoolers after the usual two shots didn’t appear strong enough for some of the children. Pfizer announced the change after a prelimi- nary analysis found 2- to 4-year-olds didn’t have as strong an immune response as expected to the very low-dose shots the company is testing in the youngest children. It’s disappointing news for families anxious to vaccinate their tots. Pfizer had expected data on how well the vaccines were working in children under 5 by year’s end, and it’s not clear how long the change will delay a final answer. Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said if the three-dose study is successful, they plan to apply for emergency authorization sometime in the first half of 2022. A kid-sized version of Pfizer’s vaccine already is available for 5- to 11-yearolds, one that’s a third of Make It Merry this Christmas! the dose given to everyone else 12 and older. For children younger than 5, Pfizer is testing an even smaller dose, just 3 micrograms or a tenth of the adult dose. Researchers analyzed a subset of youngsters in the study a month after their second dose to see if the tots developed levels of virus-fighting antibodies that were similar to teens and young adults who get the regular shots. The very low-dose shots appeared to work in youngsters under age 2, who produced similar antibody levels. But the immune response in 2- to 4-year-olds was lower than the study required, Pfizer vaccine research chief Kathrin Jansen said Friday in a call with investors. Rather than trying a higher-dose shot for the preschoolers, Pfizer decided to expand the study to evaluate three of the very low-dose shots in all the study participants — from 6 months up to age 5. That third shot will come at least two months after the youngsters’ second dose. No safety concerns have been spotted in the study, the companies said. Jansen cited other data showing a booster shot for people 16 and older restores strong protection, a jump in immunity that scientists hope also will help fend off the new omicron variant. THE CLINIC AT Custom Diamond Rings Trade-Ins Cash for Gold Convenience you need with experience you can trust. In House Jeweler Now serving patients ages three months to geriatrics for urgent care. The convenience and quality at our Clinic at Wal-Mart are top-notch, and we are proud to operate this facility for our community. (items purchased at Goldiggers ..we will do our best to service the day of purchase) Operating Hours: Monday-Saturday: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm (Last patient seen at 7:15 pm) Closed on Sundays Closed for lunch daily: 12:30-1 :30 pm OH-70265508 Call 304-372-1050 Patients may schedule a urgent care video appointment with a provider by calling 304-372-1050. 304-373-1521 | WVUMedicine.org/Jackson 146 Pinnell Street, Ripley WV, 25271 Goldiggers Jewelry 328 S. Church Street Ripley, WV 1-301-373-1160 OH-70265511 OH-70265200 Jackson Premier Health �NEWS Ohio Valley Publishing Saturday, December 18,2021 11A Since 1980s, US chances of a white Christmas melt a bit By Seth Borenstein AP Science Writer A white Christmas seems to be slowly morphing from a reli­ able reality to a dream of snowy holidays past for large swaths of the United States in recent decades. Analysis of 40 years of December 25 U.S. snow measurements shows that less of the country now has snow for Christ­ mas than in the 1980s. That’s especially true in a belt across the nation’s midsection — from Baltimore to Den­ ver and a few hundred miles farther north. And snow that falls doesn’t measure up to past depths. Scientists say the decline in the number of white Christmases is rel­ atively small and caution about drawing conclu­ sions. But it’s noticeable and matters mightily to some people like George Holland. The retired Dubuque, Iowa, educator known for his front yard nativ­ ity scenes said snow on Christmas is supposed to be part of the holiday: “The one that makes my heart warm is after going to midnight Mass and coming outside and it’s snowing.” But the weather in Dubuque hasn’t cooper­ ated in recent years. “We don’t have white Christ­ mas,” said boutique owner Bill Kaesbauer. “We haven’t had any in years.” The last one was in 2017 in Dubuque, which weather records show used to have white Christmases nearly two out of three years. Orlin Wagner | APfile A resident digs out from a holiday snow storm on Dec. 25, 2009, in Lawrence, Kan. An analysis of two different sets of 40 years of Dec. 25 snow measurements in the United States shows that less of the country now has snow on the ground on Christmas than in the 1980s. The average December temperature in the con­ tinental U.S. was a tad below freezing from 1981 to 1990, federal weather records show. And from 2011 to 2020, it was up to an average slightly above 35 degrees (just under 2 degrees Celsius), considerably above the freezing mark. But what did that warming trend, natural weather variability and a western megadrought mean to white Christ­ mases? From 1981 to 1990, on average, almost 47% of the country had snow on the ground Christmas Day, with an average depth of 3.5 inches (8.8 centimeters), accord­ ing to an analysis of ground observation data by the University of Arizona for The Associ­ ated Press. From 2011 to 2020, Christmas snow cover was down to 38%, with an average depth of 2.7 inches (6.8 centime­ ters) . The change was par­ ticularly pronounced in a swath from about the Mason-Dixon line to just north of Detroit, Chi­ cago, and Nebraska. The Christmas snow cover average there went from nearly 55% in the 1980s to slightly above 41% now, the Arizona data shows. Average snow depth fell from 3.5 inches (8.8 centimeters) to 2.4 inches (6 centimeters). The numbers are small enough that it’s diffi­ cult to tell whether this is a meaningful trend and, if so, whether cli­ mate change or natural weather variability is the cause, said University of Arizona atmospheric sci­ entist Xubin Zeng, who ran the data. Still, Zeng, who has published studies on decreasing snowpack in the western U.S. being connected to climate change, said the down­ ward slide of white Christmases is consistent with global warming. In 20 to 30 years “with climate warming, the prospects of a white Christmas in many parts of the U.S.A. will be slim indeed,” said Mark Serreze, director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado. End of Year CLEARANCE SALE 'December 24,27,28,29,30,31 and January, Closed December 25 & 26 10% off all furniture in stock ^furniture store only. Free Coffee and Cookies at the Bakery & Free Cheese and Candy samples at the Bulk Food Store. 960 Wheat Ridge Rd. West Union, Ohio 45693 j .93Zr544-8524l OPEN SUNDAY 1:00 - 5:00 Monday - Thursday 9:00 - 6:00 . Christmas Eve 9:00 - 5:00 — Fine Jewelry------------2nd Avenue • Gallipolis, Ohio 45631 • CLOSED Christmas Day 740-446-2842 Èf Holzer HOLIDAY HOURS All Holzer Urgent Care & Pharmacy Locations Friday, December 24:11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, December 25: CLOSED Sunday, December 26:11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday, December 27:11 a.m. - 6 p.m. if« sf« # » Spine Surgery Holzer Health at Fruth Pharmacy - Gallipolis Holzer welcomes Dr. Jeffery Kim, Marshall Friday, December 24:11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Neuroscience Spine Surgeon, to Gallipolis! Saturday, December 25: CLOSED Dr. Kim received his Doctor of Medicine at Rush University Medical College in Chicago, Illinois, and completed his residency in Sunday, December 26: Noon - 6 p.m. Monday, December 27:11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Orthopaedic Surgery at Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in Huntington, West Virginia. He completed a fellowship in spine surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois and is Board Certified by The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. The Emergency Department at our locations in Gallipolis, Pomeroy, and Jackson are OPEN 24 Hours, 7 Days a Week. Schedule an appointment! 1-855-4HOLZER (1-855-446-5937) \ nr. �NEWS 12 Saturday, December 18, 2021 Daily Sentinel Krodel Christmas Light Show Showing support for the nearby Thundering Herd, the Krodel Light Show features some special bison. Photos by Brittany Hively | OVP A light show in Point Pleasant would not be complete without a Mothman feature. This year, Mothman has been updgraded with The Krodel Light Show is free to the public and collects donations which held fund upgrades to the display each year. LED bulbs. Rudolph took a little break for some fishing while at Krodel Park. 2 deaths 50-59 — 431 cases (2 new), 31 hospitalizations, 6 deaths (1 new) From page 1 60-69 — 406 cases (2 new), 45 hospitalizations, 19 deaths 80-plus — 214 cases (4 10 deaths 70-79 — 267 cases (1 new), 57 hospitalizations, new), 46 hospitalizations, 32 deaths 23 deaths Vaccination rates in 80-plus — 154 cases, Gallia County are as 26 hospitalizations, 20 follows, according to deaths ODH: Vaccination rates in Vaccines started: 13,332 (44.59 percent of Meigs County are as follows, according to the population); ODH: Vaccines completed: Vaccines started: 12,194 (40.78 percent of 10,081 (44.0 percent of the population). the population); Vaccines completed: Meigs County According to the 2 p.m. 9,162 (40.0 percent of the population). update from ODH on Friday, there have been 3,168 total cases (12 Mason County new) in Meigs County According to the 10 since the beginning a.m. update on Friday of the pandemic, 189 from DHHR, there have hospitalizations and been 4,163 cases (27 63 deaths (1 new). Of new) of COVID-19, in the 3,168 cases, 2,939 Mason County (3,906 (5 new) are presumed confirmed cases, 257 recovered. probable cases) since Case data is as follows: the beginning of the 0-19 — 602 cases (2 pandemic and 64 deaths. new), 6 hospitalizations DHHR reports there 20-29 — 445 cases (3 are currently 103 active new), 5 hospitalizations cases and 3,996 recovered 30-39 — 395 cases (1 cases, in Mason County. new), 13 hospitalizations, Case data is as follows: 1 death 0-4 — 75 confirmed 40-49 — 468 cases (1 cases (3 new), 2 probable new), 17 hospitalizations, cases COVID Board board acknowledges Treasurer Roy Johnson as the designee for CerFrom page 1 tified Public Records Training in accordance with Ohio Revised Code its responsibility to for all board members participate in a Certiand Scot Gheen, superfied Public Records intendent. Training session or to The board adopted a have a representative(s) participate in a Certified resolution re-establishing Public Records Training, the Meigs Local School at least once during each District Premium Only Plan Section 125 effective term of office, fulfilling Jan. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, the requirement under Ohio Revised Code. The 2022 as administered by The Krodel Light Show features a number of special light displays for visitors of all ages to enjoy. 5-11 — 194 confirmed cases (4 new), 16 probable cases (1 fewer) 12-15 — 222 confirmed cases (2 new), 17 probable cases 16-20 — 305 confirmed cases (1 new), 14 probable cases (1 fewer) 21-25 — 301 confirmed cases (1 new), 22 probable cases 26-30 — 343 confirmed cases (5 new), 21 probable cases (1 fewer) 31-40 — 596 confirmed cases (8 new), 42 probable cases (1 fewer), 1 death 41-50 — 579 confirmed cases (4 new), 34 probable cases (1 new), 2 deaths 51-60 — 524 confirmed cases (6 new), 36 probable cases (1 fewer), 7 deaths 61-70 — 409 confirmed cases (5 new), 26 probable cases (3 fewer), 13 deaths 71+ — 358 confirmed cases, 27 probable cases (2 fewer), 41 deaths Additional county case data since vaccinations began Dec. 14, 2020: Total cases since start of vaccinations: 3,332; Total cases among individuals who were not reported as fully vaccinated — 3,080 (22 new); Total breakthrough cases among fully vaccinated — 252 (4 new); Total deaths among not fully vaccinated individuals — 50 (1 new); Total breakthrough deaths among fully vaccinated individuals — 3. A total of 11,717 people in Mason County have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is 44.2 percent of the population, according to DHHR, with 9,516 fully vaccinated or 35.9 percent of the population. Mason County is currently orange on the West Virginia County Alert System. There have been 22 confirmed cases of the Delta variant in Mason County. American Fidelity. In personnel matters, the board approved the following: hire Austin Carr as a substitute teacher for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year, as approved by the Athens-Meigs Educational Service Center and pending completion of all administrative requirements; hire Amanda Newsome on a continuing teaching contract, retroactive to Sept. 28, 2021, and pending completion of all administrative requirements; hire Mattie Lanham as Head Softball Coach at Meigs High School for the 2022 season, pending completion of all administrative requirements; hire Stephen Tomek as a Bus Driver on a oneyear contract for the 2021-2022 school year, pending completion of all administrative requirements; hire Evan White Ohio According to the 2 p.m. update on Friday from ODH, there have been 10,025 cases in the past 24 hours (21-day average of 7,623), 395 new hospitalizations (21day average of 320), 43 new ICU admissions (21day average of 32) and 434 new deaths in the previous 24 hours (21day average of 74) with 28,028 total reported deaths. (Editor’s Note: Deaths are reported two days per week) Vaccination rates in Ohio are as follows, according to ODH: Vaccines started: 6,900,371 (59.03 percent of the population); Vaccines completed: 6,359,979 (54.27 percent of the population). As of Dec. 15, ODH reports the following breakthrough information: COVID-19 Deaths among individuals not reported as fully vaccinated — 13,327; COVID-19 Deaths among fully vaccinated individuals — 646; COVID-19 Hospitalizations since Jan. 1, 2021 among individuals not reported as fully vaccinated — 44,406; COVID-19 Hospitalizations since Jan. 1, 2021 among individuals reported as fully vaccinated — 2,652. West Virginia According to the 10 a.m. update on Friday from DHHR, there have been 31,692 total cases as a temporary intervention tutor at Meigs Intermediate School for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year, per Title I SSI funding, retroactive to Dec. 7, 2021, and pending completion of all administrative requirements; hire Tatyana Price as a temporary intervention tutor at Meigs Intermediate School for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year, per Title I SSI since the beginning of the pandemic, with 1,168 reported since DHHR’s update last update. DHHR reports 26,753 “breakthrough” cases as of Friday with 414 total breakthrough deaths statewide (counts include cases after the start of COVID-19 vaccination/ Dec. 14, 2020). There have been a total of 5,164 deaths due to COVID19 since the start of the pandemic, with 22 since Wednesday. There are 9,092 currently active cases in the state, with a daily positivity rate of 12.55 and a cumulative positivity rate of 6.35 percent. Statewide, 1,088,204 West Virginia residents have received at least one dose of the COVID19 (60.7 percent of the population). A total of 50.8 percent of the population, 911,065 individuals have been fully vaccinated. © 2021 Ohio Valley Publishing, all rights reserved. Kayla (Hawthorne) Dunham is a staff writer for Ohio Valley Publishing, reach her at 304-6751333, ext. 1992. funding, beginning Jan. 3, 2022, and pending completion of all administrative requirements. The next Organizational Meeting of the Meigs Local Board of Education is set for Jan. 12, 2022. Board member Musser was elected as President Pro Tempore for that meeting. The next regular meeting is set for Jan. 12, 2022 at the central office at 6:30 p.m. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 12. December Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource December 18, 2021 nibert phillips winfield