1/2/14 2013 Year In Review

  • By Nick Sabo
  • January 2, 2014
  • 506
                        
Jan. 7 - A 13-year-old male West Holmes Middle School student was taken into custody of juvenile court authorities after making a verbal gun threat while riding home on the school bus. It was the first of three such incidents for West Holmes in 2013: A male seventh grade student was charged with making a bomb threat Nov. 1, and a Sophomore was charged with making a bomb threat at the high school 10 days later. Jan. 8 - The Holmes County Health District began discussions to place a .75 mil levy on the May 7 ballot. The levy, which was aimed at shoring up finances and helping the health district meet new state standards tied to funding, was voted down 1,156 to 814. A second attempt in November also failed. Jan. 23 - The Holmes County Board of Elections reports it has closed the Beck’s Mills voter precinct. The precinct was closed due to low voter turnout and was merged with Mechanic Township. Jan. 24 - A 12-year-old Millersburg boy died in an accident on state Route 60. Lane Clabough, 12, Township Road 79, died after his half-brother lost control of their car. The two were on their way to school at the time. Jan. 29 - Joseph McVay, 12, Big Prairie, was ruled competent to stand trial in the shooting death of his mother, Deborah McVay. McVay shot and killed his mother Jan. 2, 2011, and was charged with murder in Holmes County Juvenile Court. He would go on to plea to the charges June 12 and be sentenced to an unspecified, continuing period of commitment with the court. Feb. 2 - The Holmes County Commissioners begin looking into a hunting lease for property at the county home. The lease is sent out to bid, but does not get a single bidder. Feb. 8 - Bergholz Amish leader Sam Mullet is sentenced to 15 years in federal prison on hate crime charges. Mullet and several members of his church was charged with planning and carrying out beard-, and hair-cutting attacks on Amish whom Mullet believed had harmed, or somehow affronted, his church. The attacks included one carried out a Holmes County family. March 13 - The Ohio House of Representatives announces it has selected a panel to hear a challenge to the election of 98th district representative Al Landis. The challenge was brought by Josh O’Farrell, who lost to Landis in the Nov. 6, 2012 election by eight votes. Landis’s win was upheld. April 8 - Commissioners were informed that the 2013 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) was cut by 25 percent from last year. The grant, which is used to assist communities with infrastructure and related projects, came in at $118,000, $41,000 less than last year. April 15 - The county signs a perpetual easement for 43 acres of land near Glenmont. The land passes to the Holmes County Park District for limited recreational use. April 29 - The Ohio Department of Health threw a long shadow over plans by Millersburg council to reopen the Crissey Memorial Pool, which has been closed for two seasons. ODH said it could not license the pool until repairs made in 2011 were retroactively reviewed and approved. The ODH eventually approved the plans, and the pool is expected to reopen in 2014. April 30 - After two years of eliminating faculty and staff through attrition - paring back the workforce by eliminating jobs as employees retire or leave for other reasons - East Holmes schools was hiring again. East Holmes’ budget woes led to the decline in staff, but an unexpected savings of $100,000 on insurance premiums and a $400,000 increase in Title funds allowed for the hiring new faculty. May 6 - Commissioners get an update on new state kennel inspections required by the so-called ‘Puppy Mill’ bill, House Bill 130. The inspections will be carried out by a team assigned to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. May 13 - Ohio Department of Transportation officials report that they are amending a street widening project for Berlin to include a parking lot. The project, which would install a holding lane in the middle of Berlin’s busy shopping district, is opposed by merchants because it will eliminate street side parking. May 16 - West Holmes High School is vandalized, causing more than $9,500 in damages. Wyatt Denver Black, 19, Big Prairie, Drew Jolley, 18, Millersburg, and Corbin Wright, 18, Millersburg, are charged and sentenced to restitution and jail time. A 17-year-old juvenile was also charged. The young men claim the vandalism started out as a senior prank that got out of hand. May 30 - East Holmes Schools Treasurer Marsha Clark announces her resignation to accept a position with Dundee City Schools. The board goes on to hire Kellie Lester, who previously worked for Chillicothe City Schools and Garaway. May 31 - A 17-year-old Millersburg girl died in a single vehicle crash on state Route 60. Emily Holtzmann, state Route 39, died after losing control of her car on wet pavement. June 2 - The Ohio Department of Transportation reports that a tunnel underpass for the Holmes County Trail is on schedule and will allow re-opening of U.S. 62 by July 1. The 116 feet long tunnel provides an underpass for traffic on the trail. June 3 - Commissioners appropriate $80,000 in casino tax dollars to the health district in a effort to shore up the district’s ailing finances. June 20 - The OSU Extension office in the county office building is robbed by an unidentified male subject. No video of the robbery was available as cameras at the building had been out of commission for some time. The robbery prompts commissioners to repair the security cameras. June 24 - Commissioners use a Moving Ohio Forward grant to demolish seven blighted structures in Killbuck and Millersburg. The structures include a former convenience store in Millersburg affectionately known as ‘The Piggy Market’ to locals. July 7 - Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Sean Warner files in the municipal court judge race, challenging incumbent Jane Irving. Voters reeclected Irving Nov. 5. July 8 - Commissioners receive a $457,500 Ohio Public Works Commission grant to install utilities at the new site of the Holmes County Fairgrounds. The site, known as Harvest Ridge, is scheduled to begin hosting the county fair in 2015. July 17 - Full - service gas comes to an end after Campbell Oil removes the tanks from its property at 644 South Washington Street. The former Red Head station had provided service at the pump for decades. July 22 - A request by Campbell Oil for a liquor permit at its new Bellstores location on South Washington Street prompts Millersburg Council to question how many liquor permits is too many. At a subsequent meeting, a verbal altercation develops when a local business owner confronts representatives of Campbell Oil. Council approved Campbell Oil’s request. August 19 - The Holmes County Airport Authority announces it has received full funding to complete the final phase of a runway extension project. The project got to a late start and inclement weather shut down construction early. The new runway will be 4,400 feet long and will be able to accommodate small jets. Aug. 23 - A Holmesville man is charged for starting a fire in May after his meth lab exploded. Beau J. Dunn, 37, eventually pleaded to the charges and was sentenced to six years in prison. He is further ordered to cover outstanding medical bills for three firefighters who were treated for smoke inhalation after responding to the fire. Sept. 9 - Millersburg Village officials confirm that a Taco Bell restaurant is coming to town. The franchise will be located on South Washington Street, where the current Masonic Hall is located. Oct. 2 - The Holmes County Airport Authority filed a court action seeking to evict airport operator MAC Aviation. The airport authority has alleged that MAC is not performing all duties specified for the airport operator. The case is currently working its way through Common Pleas Court. Oct. 18 - Charges against two individuals from an August drug round up are dismissed after it is learned a confidential informant working for the sheriff’s office allegedly defrauded the sheriff’s drug enforcement unit. The informant, Joshua L. Jones, 30, has been charged in Holmes County Common Pleas Court with six counts of tampering with evidence, three counts of falsification and one count of theft. The charges allege Jones misrepresented how much money was used in drug buys, keeping the extra cash for himself. Oct. 26 - A Millersburg man died in a three-vehicle crash on state Route 83 just north of Millersburg. Delmer Lainez, 25, died after he was struck head-on by a vehicle driven by Elaine K. Nelson, 68, Rittman. Nelson has pleaded not guilty to charges in municipal court related to the accident. Oct. 31 - Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer visited Holmes County to congratulate Industrial Timber and Lumber Company and Mast Farm Service with achieving Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) status. Only 28 Ohio businesses have achieved SHARP status, which requires the business to voluntarily participate with state inspectors to achieve exemplary safety and health management systems. Nov. 19 - Recounts are trigged in two township trustee races from the Nov. 5 election. The initial counts are upheld. Nov. 21 - The Ashland County/West Holmes Career Center board votes to rehire Superintendent Michael McDaniel back from retirement. Dec. 27 - Holmes County Park District Director Jen Halverson announces the park district has received the last piece of funding to complete a 7.5 mile section of the Holmes county Trail from Brinkhaven to Glenmont. Construction is expected to begin in 2015. Dec. 31 - Millersburg man Kenneth Taylor, 61, is ordered to begin a sentence on theft and vandalism charges handed down in 2012. Taylor was convicted of having two bridges removed from an undeveloped section of the Holmes County in 2011 and selling the metal for scrap. The sentence was suspended while Taylor appealed the case. Taylor must pay fines and restitution of $87,125 and serve 30 days in jail.


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