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~ Cub Scout Pack #163 Visits Beacon Office ~
To earn a badge, members of Cub Scout Pack #163, their leaders and guests visited the Monroe County Beacon office recently to learn about the newspaper operation. The pack, made up of boys from the Beallsville and Woodsfield area that form three dens: Webelos, Bears and Tigers. They saw how the Beacon is typed, paginated, sent to the printer via a Fetch program and how it is prepared for mailing. Visitors are shown, from left, front: Jacob Nalley, Rally Nease, Bradley Moats; standing around the stone table: Matthew Bertrand, Chad Holcomb II, Hunter Comstock, Dakota Cochran, Jacob Saffell, Dallas Raines, Lexie Cochran, Mason Bier, Tucker Myers, Harley Raines; back: Kim Nalley, den leader; Barbara Bier, scoutmaster; and Rick Cochran, den leader. The cub scout pack enjoys fishing, camping, the Pinewood Derby, Rain Gutter, regatta and hiking. During the winter months, members do lots of crafts, learn the various knots, whittling and other activities. "We try to make this as family-oriented as possible," said Bier. "Siblings and anyone else is welcome. We feel the most important idea is to include everybody." Photo by Martha Ackerman
Around the Burnside
Sometimes trying to remember something is like trying to catch an echo.
One thing I like to do when we go grocery shopping is wonder around looking at things while Esther is going around spending our money. The cereal offered for sale is interesting. I won't venture to guess how many different cereals are on the shelves or try to count them. In Bonds store we only had three or four choices. I liked Wheaties. If you can't find a cereal you like, eat eggs.
A couple of weeks ago when I was looking around I noticed pie filling I think it was with the Polar label on it. I hadn't noticed this before so I picked up a can. Would you believe it; the label read "Product of China". I also found vegetables with the same label. Someone who has worked in the US Agriculture field eat Chinese pie filling? I guess not.
Speaking of taste you probably remember how I've said the taste of a ripe peach is one of my favorites. I do have another. It's fresh pineapple. It's good but I tend to wait until it is on special sale as it seems four and a half dollars for a pineapple is a tink much. We used to pick them up out of the field after the harvest in Hawaii.
Spring and better weather is on the way because the signs are getting better. For example, Peeps have hit the store shelves. Any color you want. I bought purple and yellow. This is a sure sign.
I've heard if you put a Peep in a microwave it will balloon up to a large size. I guess it goes back down but I don't have nerve enough to try it. With my luck it would bust and get all over the inside of the microwave.
Another good sign is the return of the robins. A couple weeks ago I noticed a bunch of robins along a spot as we drove by. The other morning I looked out of our kitchen window and there were robins hopping around every where. I bet there were over 50 of them, I guess, eating something from our lawn. I counted 50 and quit as I knew I couldn't count them all. This is a good sign of better weather on the way or this was a flock of stupid robins.
I just completed a trip to Caldwell to babysit a dog, Mookie, and I noticed more dead animals along the road. I guess this is another good sign. I'm not sure if any of these signs are true but I do know spring is just around the corner.
I'm not sure if you read much of the 4-H supplement last week but you should. It is a good example of some of the outstanding youth in our county. As I read the activities of the members, it brought back a lot of memories when I was what was called a 4-H agent in Morgan County.
Times have changed as well as 4-H. Things are much different from 40 years ago and probably for the better; however, the basic purpose is about the same. I guess maybe the camping area was my favorite area. It must be as I served on the camp staff for over 100 FFA camp sessions after leaving Morgan County.
We only had one theme at our 4-H camps year after year. We used an Indian theme and the first year at camp you were placed in a tribe and you would be a member of that tribe every time you came to camp until you were a counselor and then you were a member of the Bigfoot tribe. I even took a group of counselors to West Virginia to observe a campfire to help improve ours. I guess we copied the Indian theme from them. Much of the activities were the same as now except we did hit the Indian theme rather hard. Oh yes, in Columbus they told us having senior and junior campers in the same camp together would not work. We made it work. It was fun even if we had to do most of the work. We just rented the camp facilities and we did everything else. We did it on $12.50 for five days and four nights.
How can you watch two college basketball games in one evening? You have to be a basketball nut and have a TV and an easy chair. OK I'm a basketball nut. I wasn't until I started teaching at Skyvue. I will admit I did drive to the top of Malta hill so I could hear the OSU game on the radio.
I remember attending one game while at OSU. They played at the fairground and I had to stand and didn't see a whole lot. I decided it wasn't worth it.
I didn't catch the bug during the first teaching job. I did play in the facility student game after the season and scored 18 points. I think that was more than I scored during four years in high school. I played again when I taught at Old Washington. That was it, I hung up my uniform as playing basketball was not one of the things I wanted to include among my activities any longer.
When you flee temptation, don't leave a forwarding address.
The welcome mat is always out at church.
Our Readers Write
Senate Bill 5 is bad for Republicans too. Governor Kasich, who was elected primarily on the belief in the electorate that he was best suited to lead the push for job creation in Ohio, made lower taxes, less government intervention, and jobs the cornerstones of his election campaign. Yet, his first significant action as governor was to introduce legislation that will exact revenge on the public unions which largely opposed his election. There were enough political ads on TV to realize that few of the Republicans seeking office made pushing state workers, teachers, and safety workers part of their campaign. Even members of the Republican Party who opposed the bill were replaced on committees and pushed aside. Clearly the majority party has taken a minority position since the latest opinion polls, 70 percent of Ohio voters opposed this legislation.
In an era when voters across this country were looking for leaders to unite the parties and work for the greater good, the governor can be called the Great Divider. While the electorate waits in the political middle for real solutions, the Governor and his supporters are introducing the far right conservative agenda. This is bad for Republicans who will be strong-armed into following. With the majority of the country somewhere in the middle of the political spectrum, voters will throw out those who have strayed this far to the right. Just ask President Obama how his strong progressive views worked for him in the latest national election.
We have to wonder what is next? Is it attacking the rights of private workers, lowering the state minimum wage, or right-to-work legislation to follow? How will state and local governments continue to attract qualified individuals when salaries and benefits are already lower than the private sector. How will especially rural school districts compete for quality teachers. No doubt decreasing qualifications of individual applicants will be the only solution to fill vacancies created by this legislation as individuals leave the public sector. And with that, Ohio citizens will suffer.
The good news is that all of this has awakened labor in this country. Millions of dollars will be spent by organized labor and others in upcoming elections to defeat anyone who supported the governor and SB 5. Republicans need to reconsider this legislation and get to the business at hand - putting Ohio back to work.
Mark Miracle
Etta Burkhart of Jerusalem is just one of the recipients of Cancer Gas Cards Inc. Etta was diagnosed with breast cancer in November and travels to Schiffler Cancer Center in Wheeling each week. Shown presenting the gas cards is volunteer Shirley Brown. Photo by Martha Ackerman
Gas Cards Help Cancer Victims
There are not many families in Monroe County that can say cancer has not touched them through a family member or a close friend. "Cancer first affected my family in 2000 when my daughter was diagnosed with thyroid cancer," said Shirley Brown, volunteer. "It was affected again in 2003 when my Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. Because of the cancer affecting my life, I began to volunteer with the American Cancer Society in its Relay for Life to try to make a difference. That is where I met my fellow volunteers Sheila Martin and Sandy Barnes.
"After many years with the Relay events, we began working with cancer patients in Monroe County. While working with the local cancer patients, we became aware that not only do cancer patients deal with the diagnosis but also the monetary effects of cancer. No cancer patient should have to make the choice of 'do I buy my medication, food or do I go to my chemo/radiation treatment?' Copays on chemo/radiation treatments with some insurances can be as high as $670 each session. Multiply that by five days a week for eight weeks. In some cases these people are paying someone $20 a day to take them to treatments.
"Oh my, the gas cards are such a help with the gas going up so much," said Etta Burkhart of Jerusalem, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in November. She and her husband Terry have two children Chasidy and Derek. She drives to Schiffler Cancer Center in Wheeling each week. Etta said she is due for a PET scan soon and will then begin radiation treatments.
"We, the people of Monroe County, do not have access to a cancer treatment center that is 20 minutes away. There are some cancer patients who travel as far as Columbus one day a week, every week, for treatments. Having cancer is hard; getting to your treatments doesn't have to be. No cancer patient should ever be put on a waiting list for any kind of help.
"Cancer Gas Cards, Inc. is an Ohio non-profit corporation filed with the Ohio Secretary of State. Dr. Jondavid Pollock from The Schiffler Cancer Center, Wheeling Park Hos-pital, sits on our board of trus-tees, as well as Monroe County Auditor Pandora Neuhart and Chamber of Commerce secretary Ruth Workman. We DO NOT pay a salary to anyone. All money is used to purchase gas cards. During the past year, we have received donations from Woodsfield Elementary, St. Paul's Pre-School, Trail-blazers 4-H Club, St. Sylvester Central Catholic School, Woodsfield VFW and many private donations. We will be conducting fundraisers through-out the year to continue the program. We will have a Longaberger Basket Bingo in October. Dr. Jondavid Pollock will be our bingo caller. Any-one who knows Dr. Pollock knows that he will provide a lot of fun and laughter. Dona-tions may also be made in memory or in honor of loved ones. Cancer Gas Cards, Inc. is not associated with the Ameri-can Cancer Society or Relay for Life."
Any Monroe County cancer patient who is currently receiving treatment qualifies for this program. For more information on the program, please call Sandy Barnes at 740-472-2213, Shirley Brown at 740-472-0543 or Sheila Martin at 740-472-0561. Donations may be sent to Cancer Gas Cards, Inc., 48397 Keylor Hill Rd., Woodsfield, OH 43793.
A massive tire dump clean-up in Perry Township is nearing completion. Thousands of tires have been removed and stockpiled. The tire dump was targeted for clean-up enforcement by the Ohio EPA. Photo by Connie Crowley
Massive Tire Clean-up Nearing Completion in Perry Township
By Darin Brown
Clean-up of an Ohio EPA targeted tire dump just off of Township Rd. 512 in Perry Township is nearing completion. According to Rob Reiter, coordinator of South Eastern Ohio Joint Solid Waste Management District, it is estimated that 33,000 tires have been recovered.
The tires have been removed and stockpiled, and the slow process of hauling them out has begun. Reiter said that a portion of the tires will be recycled while the rest will be taken to a scrap tire monofill.
The tire dump was targeted for clean-up enforcement by the Ohio EPA according to Reiter. The state EPA designated the site as a legacy scrap tire pile meaning that the dump is years old. This designation was important in securing grant money for the clean-up project.
Initially, the estimated cost for clean-up of the site was $18,000. However, as digging began, it became apparent that far more tires were on the site than originally thought. Reiter stated that the current estimated clean-up cost has now risen to $33,000.
A grant in the amount of $20,000 from the Department of Natural Resources: Division of Recycling and Litter Prevention has funded the project thus far. The application for another $20,000 grant to cover the costs beyond the original estimate has been submitted. The grant money funding such projects comes from wholesale tire fees imposed by the Ohio EPA.
The tires dumped on the site were primarily car and light truck tires. Despite the tire dump's proximity to Township Rd. 512, the road is still open to traffic at this time.
Free Maple Sugar Tour Set
Free tours of Misty Mountain Estate's classic sugarhouse and sugar bush will take place March 12 and 13 and 19 and 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
New this year will be pancakes and sausage meals available all day, and other maple treats. The Misty Mountain Estate sugar camp at 32600 Christman Ridge Road in Monroe County will be the only camp offering free tours in this area during the Ohio Maple Producers Association's 2011 March Maple Madness Drive-It-Yourself Tour.
Visitors should wear good boots and layered outerwear for a day in the country learning how Pure Ohio Maple Syrup is made, tree to bottle. See, hear, smell and taste the thick rich golden syrup being made over a roaring fire in a traditional wood fired evaporator by third generation sugar makers. The sugar camp features a rough sawn sugarhouse with a new Leader Max Revolution evaporator, the newest fastest design in evaporators and a sugar bush combining a variety of traditional hand gathering methods along with modern tubing collection.
Activities for every age include hands on how-to demonstrations from school projects and backyard hobby production to small scale commercial sugar making, demonstrations on the history of sugar making, antique bucket and tap displays, real and fake syrup taste comparisons and maple syrup grade taste comparisons. Visitors can tap a tree, gather sap and learn from our growing group of Monroe County syrup makers who will be on hand to interpret at various displays. One trail has been set up to show a variety of ways hobbyists can collect sap. Free handouts on hobby sugar making, making maple confections, cooking with maple and maple recipes will be available as long as they last. Fresh syrup and gifts will be available for sale. More information is available at www.mistymtnestate.com or www.ohiomapleproducers.com or 740-567-4227.
Good friends and family helped raise the sugarhouse with lumber they culled from the sugar woods and sawed. Every spring they gather to help owners Hugh and June Hyre collect sap and boil it down to syrup. June's grandfather made syrup in northern Ohio gathering sap with horse drawn sled. Hugh's grandfather made syrup in a large iron kettle they now use to demonstrate historical methods of syrup making. Hugh is a Director for the Ohio Maple Producers Association and has hosted an Ohio State University Maple School at their sugar bush. Hugh and June use the sugar camp to educate others on this renewable use of their woods, and have helped many local individuals set up their own sugar bush.
Larry Brobst explains the workings of the newest state-of-the-art evaporator used in making maple syrup. Those visiting Misty Mountain Estate during the 2011 March Maple Madness Drive-It-Yourself Tour will get an up-close view of the procedure.
■ 3-10 Classifieds
RONALD JOSEPH "JOEY" SEIDLER
Ronald Joseph "Joey" Seidler, 37, a resident of North Chelmsford, MA, died unexpectedly Feb. 25, 2011 at his home. He was born July 2, 1973, a son of Dottie and the late Raymond DeJesus.
He was a 1992 graduate of Woodsfield High School and then served in the US Air Force. He was employed at the Westin Hotel in Boston, MA.
Surviving are his parents, Jeff and JoEllen Seidler of Woodsfield; two sons, Chandler Carothers of Woodsfield, Christian Seidler of Lowell, MA; two brothers, Jason (Ashley) Seidler of Dayton, Jordan Seidler of Parkersburg; three sisters, Krisstina DeJesus, Teresa (Greg) Wise of Woodsfield, Sandee Wise of Batesville; grandmothers, Leah Feasel, Nerine Seidler and Betty Manley, all of Woodsfield.
Memorial services were held March 2 at McKenna-Ouellette Funeral Home in Lowell, MA.
ROSCOE R. WILHELM
Roscoe R. Wilhelm, 87, Lewisville, died March 4, 2011 at Marietta Memorial Hospital. He was born Dec. 13, 1923 in Monroe County, a son of the late Charles and Minnie Turner Wilhelm.
He was a member of the Lewisville United Methodist Church; was a 50 year member of Carpenters Local #356 in Marietta and a farmer.
Surviving are his wife, Virginia Claus Wilhelm, whom he married June 18, 1949; two sons, David (Mary) Wilhelm of Lewisville, John (Tammy) Wilhelm of Marietta; two daughters, Peggy (Carl) Carpenter of Marietta, Polly (Dan) Kinsey of New Matamoras; eight grandchildren, Ben Wilhelm, Rachel Wilhelm, Josh Wilhelm, Caitlin Wilhelm, Kiley Wilhelm, Layne Carpenter, Kara Carpenter, Sara Kinsey; seven step-grandchildren, Chris (Regina) Batten, Jason Pittman, Felicia (John) Roderick, Mark (Jamie) Pittman, Eliza (JD) Kernen, Rachael Pittman, Rodney Pittman; 11 step-great-grandchildren, Jordan Batten, Alana Batten, Elizabeth Roderick, Andrew Roderick, Marcus Pittman, Brandon Pittman, Evan Pittman, Sophia Pittman, Haylie Russell, Aaliyah Kernen, Klaira Kernen; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, William and Charles Wilhelm; and a sister, Wanda Raybould.
Friends were received March 6 at Bauer-Turner Funeral Home, Woodsfield, where funeral services were held March 7, with Rev. Frank Conley officiating. Burial was in Friendship Cemetery, Lewisville.
Condolences may be expressed at
www.bauerturner.com
CLARENCE E. LEASURE
Clarence E. Leasure, 71, Sardis, died March 5, 2011 at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa. He was born March 11, 1939 in Fly, a son of the late Okey and Marie Merckle Leasure.
He retired from Quaker State Oil Refinery in St. Marys, W.Va., after 30 years of service, was a life member of the Duffy VFW and American Legion in Hannibal. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and was a member of the Ohio Trappers Association. He enjoyed nothing more than spending time in the woods.
Surviving are his wife of 28 years, Sharon Price Leasure of Sardis; sons, Clifford (Bub) Leasure and Bobbi Jean Bassett of Sardis, Clarence (Freda McIntire) Leasure, Jr. of New Matamoras; granddaughter, Jenny Lynn and his other children, Okey, Loretta, Marie and their five children, and a good friend, Josh Tustin of Sardis; and his favorite companion Tank, his dog.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Clifford and Charles (Jack) Leasure.
Friends were received March 8 at Bauer-Turner Funeral Home, Woodsfield, with Rev. Frank Conley officiating. Burial was in Locust Grove Cemetery near Sardis.
NORMA LOU BROWN
Norma Lou Martin Brown, 85, Woodsfield, died March 7, 2011 at Woodsfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was born Feb. 23, 1926 at the family home near Laings, a daughter of the late Arthur and Edna Stephens Martin.
She graduated from Green Local High School at Laings in 1943, and attended Bliss Business College in Columbus. In January of 1944 at the family home, she was married to Gerald R. Brown who had one more year to serve in the U.S. Army at Stockton, California. They spent their first year of married life there. Upon returning home they both attended and graduated from the Philadelphia School of the Bible in Philadelphia, Pa., after which together they served small churches in Ohio.
She was a member of the Neuhart Baptist Church near Woodsfield and in later years attended the Laings and Woodsfield Churches of Christ.
She had no children but was influential in many young lives through church, 4-H and other groups. Many remained in close contact over the years and Karen Matthews of Columbus was especially dear to her.
Surviving are two sisters, Ruth (Bernard) Spence of Marietta, Lois (Robert) Kenney near Laings; three sisters-in-law, Nada Martin of Stow, Jean Brown of Sardis, Edith Brown of Woodsfield; also several nieces and nephews whom she treated as her own children.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald R. Brown; and a brother, Dean E. Martin.
Friends will be received 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. March 9 at Bauer-Turner Funeral Home, Woodsfield, where services will be held March 10, at 1 p.m., with Norma's nephew Stephen Kenney officiating. Burial will be in Unity Baptist Church Cemetery near Antioch.
Condolences may be expressed at www.bauerturner.com
LYNN STEED
Lynn Steed, 61, Cottondale, AL died Feb. 23, 2011 at DCH Regional Medical Center.
Surviving are his wife, Donna Steed; two daughters, Brenda (Wayne) Carter of Tuscalossa, Sandy (Jeff) Gray of Brookwood; three sons, Robbie (Bobbie) Steed of Vance, Billy (Jamie) Steed of Virginia Beach, Va., Michael Steed of Coaling; a brother, Larry (Callie) Steed of Ohio; ten grand children, Jessica Hodo (Jason) Tilley, Leslie Edwards, Bradley Carter, J.T. Carter, Madison Steed, Zachary Gray, Julianna Steed, Robert Steed, Melody Gray and Elizabeth Steed.
Friends were received one hour prior to services Feb. 27 at East Pointe Church of Christ, with Brother Nat Evans officiating and Memory Chapel Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider directing.
ALICE V. ADAMS
Alice Virginia Adams, 71, Marietta, formerly of New Matamoras, died March 5, 2011 at Marietta Memorial Hospital. She was born Sept. 24, 1939 at Wade, a daughter of the late George S. Addlesburger and Mildred Elizabeth Farnsworth Addlesburger.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church at Point Lookout, W.Va. She was a nurses aide at Newport Nursing Home and was a custodian for Pleasant County, W.Va. schools.
Surviving are a daughter, Carol J. Eddy (Sam Burkhart) of Woodsfield; two sons, Glen Franklin (Theresa) Parsons, Jr. of Belmont, W.Va., Paul Porter (Chris) Parsons, Sr. of St. Marys, W.Va.; five grandchildren, Tasha E. Eddy (Aaron Headley) of Woodsfield, William Smith, Paul Porter Parsons, Jr., Meagan Parsons, Jennifer (Matt) Campbell; two great-grandchildren, all of West Virginia; two sisters, Clara Lauric of Parkersburg, W.Va., Rose (George) Stewart of Marietta.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Kenneth Farnsworth, Eugene Addlesburger, an infant brother Larry Addlesburger; and a granddaughter, Leslie Ann Parsons.
Friends will be received March 8, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Hadley Funeral Home in New Matamoras, where funeral services will be held March 9, at 11 a.m., with Rev. Randy Stewart officiating. Burial will be in Newport Cemetery, Newport.
Online condolences may be made at hadleyfh.com.