Community Calendar

April 26, 2024

SATURDAY, April 27

SSU SPRING COMMENCEMENT—Shawnee State University graduates the Class of 2024. This event starts at 11 a.m. on the Alumni Green on the SSU campus, 940 Second St., Portsmouth. No tickets needed, seating is first-come, first-served and opens at 9:30 a.m.

REDUCED ADOPTIONS AND DONATION DRIVE—Meet your new best friend at Sierra’s Haven for New and Used Pets, 80 Easter Drive. This event starts at 10 a.m. and runs to 4 p.m. Kittens are one for $40 or two for $50; Adult cats are $20; two puppies are $50 off; and adult dogs are $60. Donations of collars, leashes, cat and kitten or dog and puppy food (hard and canned), kitten formula, treats, toys, blankets, newspapers, and more accepted! Message the Sierra’s Haven Facebook page for more info.

MINFORD SPRING FESTIVAL—This weekend at Rose Valley Animal Park, 330 Marcum Road, Minford, will be filled of great family fun! Come out and enjoy great food, more than 30 local vendors, face painting, kids crafts, balloon entertainment with Mark Wood, feeding and petting animals and MORE. This event begins at 10 a.m., Saturday, and runs through the weekend.

TROUT DERBY—The Shawnee State Park 56th Annual Trout Derby takes place from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Turkey Creek Lake, 4404 Ohio 125, West Portsmouth, and is sponsored by the park and the Portsmouth Area Jaycees. Prizes for all ages, free voluntary boat inspections, and kiddie fishing at Turkey Creek Lake beach parking lot. The awards ceremony will be at 2:30 p.m., at the amphitheater.

SUNDAY, April 28

BIKERS FOR CHRIST—Bikers for Christ Motorcycle Ministry of Ohio will conduct a rally at 9 a.m. with Pastor Kemp Adkins, Kay Corns, and Emma Carter. Breakfast is at 9 a.m., service is at 10 a.m., with a bike blessing at noon at Welcome Home Christian Fellowship, 10073A U.S. 23, Lucasville.

MONDAY, April 29

JEFFERSON TRUSTEES—The Jefferson Township trustees will meet at 7 p.m. at the Senior Center on Glendale Road.

TUESDAY, April 30

Email your events to [email protected] to include them in the Community Calendar!

WEDNESDAY, May 1

GOLDEN BEARS BREAKFAST—Learn about health and wellness services offered through the Golden Bears’ partnerships with Tri-State Rehab and Shawnee State’s Dental Hygiene program. To RSVP, call (740) 351-3875 or email [email protected]. Compimentary breakfast buffet courtesy of the SSU Development Foundation. This event will be at the Morris University Center, 1104 Second St., Portsmouth.

Pope adds Baylor assistant Brooks III as associate head coach

portsmouthdailytimes

April 26, 2024

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky has hired Baylor assistant Alvin Brooks III as associate head coach, bringing in a 20-year coaching veteran who helped build the Bears into the 2021 national champions during eight seasons with the program.

Recently-hired Wildcats head coach Mark Pope cited Brooks’ experience as a recruiter, strategist and relationship builder who has been mentored by some of college basketball’s best coaches — including longtime Baylor coach Scott Drew, who turned down the job before the school hired Pope nearly two weeks ago.

Brooks said he was excited to join Pope’s staff in a release on Thursday and added, “I’m very appreciative of the opportunity to join a storied program, with such a passionate fan base as we chase banners together.”

The Houston native previously coached at Kansas State before joining Drew’s staff at Baylor — and has also worked at Sam Houston State, Bradley and Arkansas-Fort Smith, where he won the 2006 NJCAA Division I title.

Brooks earned another junior college title the next season at Midland.

Brooks’ father, Lamar coach Alvin Brooks II, was Kentucky’s director of operations under Billy Gillispie from 2007 to 2009.

Pope recently hired former Georgia and Cal coach Mark Fox as associate coach along with Jason Hart and Cody Fueger as assistants.

SOMACC invites you to flock to art event May 2

Joseph Pratt

April 26, 2024

PORTSMOUTH— The Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center (SOMACC) continues to grow past its regularly scheduled business hours to offer art opportunities for the community through special events each month. One of the next key events in their historic venue is their Make and Take It series, which continues May 2.

“Our Make and Take event is an opportunity for families, children, and community members to create an enjoyable, easy-to-make art project together, for free, during extended evening hours,” Museum Educator Heidi Bender Kauffman said. “Make and Take events took place at the museum in 2023, pausing due to a staffing change. We are re instituting this event in 2024, and plan on Make and Take being a fixture in our educational programming for years to come.”

The group brought the event back with a force in February and Bender Kauffman says the event is a great way to engage the whole family in the arts. It is also a great opportunity for friends to bond and relax.

“The Make It Take It events have been well received so far,” Bender Kauffman said. “While we thought that our primary audience would be families with children, we found that there was also a need to provide regular creative outlets for adults. Along with our early crowd of families and children, we see couples coming in on dates, people coming in after work to wind down, and people coming by themselves to find community. Make It, Take it is always free, always fun, and always has room for those who need more art in their lives.”

The event provides exposure to the arts, both through crafting and by viewing what is on display.

“May’s Make It, Take It will provide opportunities to make beautiful tropical birds using paper and paint. We have creative projects available for both beginning and advanced artists,” Bender Kauffman said. “The beginning-level projects are modern-looking toucans and parrots that perch on rods that artists can carry home. The advanced project uses geometric shapes and painted patterns to create more intricate plumage for their finely feathered subjects.”

Make It, Take It projects are designed to take between 20 minutes and one hour, although, SOMACC explained that people are welcome to stay longer.

“Our program is constructed so that people on the go can still find time to tap into their creativity, visit our galleries, and to create art with people they love,” Bender Kauffman said.

The May Make It, Take It will take place on May 2 from 4-7 p.m.

Make and Take will be held on every first Thursday of the month, outside of July. Staff will be welcoming guests between the hours of 4 and 7 p.m. Dates for the events are May 2, June 6, July 11, August 1, September 5, October 3, November 7, and December 5.

The museum has many permanent collections to check out, from the Art of the Ancients: Wertz Collection to the Clarence Holbrook Carter Collection and more. SOMACC also has a constantly rotating gallery of new exhibitions, a local arts gift shop, and a season of planned events featuring poetry, music, art crawls, and networking. The organization is currently planning its first major expansion in decades with a development to expand their footprint in the coming years.

For more information on SOMACC activities, a museum employee may be contacted by telephone at 740.354.5629 during their regular business hours of Tuesday through Friday, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Saturday, between 1 and 5 p.m. Information may also be found online at www.somacc.com. The Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center is at 825 Gallia Street. A handicap accessible entrance may be found on the Sixth Street side of the building.

Cooling caps help SOMC cancer patients avoid hair loss

portsmouthdailytimes

April 26, 2024

133072984_web1_Cooling-Caps-1 — Debbie Daniels using the cap during her treatment.

Submitted photo

PORTSMOUTH- Any cancer diagnosis can be devastating. Even the treatment can be hard. For many, one of the most emotional and difficult parts of receiving chemotherapy is the loss of hair. However, new equipment at the SOMC Cancer Center gives patients a chance at avoiding that hair loss during treatment. It’s called a Cooling Cap, and it’s an opportunity Debbie Daniels did not hesitate to seize.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Daniels explained. “You prepare your hair first: wet it, slick it back, really soak your roots. Then you put a cooling wrap and compression cap on your head. You have them on thirty minutes before you start your treatment, then it stays on the whole time during the treatment. You also stay two hours with it on after the treatment.”

While there is no guarantee you won’t lose hair, the system is designed to reduce the temperature of your scalp enough that it narrows the blood vessels and reduces the amount of chemotherapy medicine that reaches the hair follicles. Daniels said she has personally spoken to other patients who have used the system with success.

Daniels acknowledged being caught off guard by how cold her scalp became the first time she used it, but she quickly adjusted to the cap. “It gets really cold,” she said. “But after around 15 minutes, your head just kind of becomes numb to it. It’s not bad at all.”

She also noted that the machine is portable, so patients are not tethered to a chair, and praised the Cancer Center staff for making the experience as pleasant as possible.

“The nurses at the Cancer Center are wonderful,” she said. “They wrapped my feet in warm blankets and put warm blankets around my shoulders. You’re just kind of warm of and cozy.”

The most obvious benefit of the Cooling Caps is that it helps patients avoid the mental and emotional trauma of losing their hair. However, Daniels has noticed there are other benefits as well. “While you’re getting the treatment, it’s almost a distraction,” she said. “You’re not thinking about the treatment, you’re thinking about the cooling cap.”

It’s an experience Daniels recommends other patients try, as well. “It’s a big deal to lose your hair,” she acknowledged. “My hair is thin, but you want to keep what you have if you’re able to.”

The Cooling Caps were purchased through the SOMC Development Foundation’s Compassion Fund. To learn more about how you can make other purchases like this possible, visit somc.org/development.

2024 Hike for Hospice planned for May 18

portsmouthdailytimes

April 25, 2024

The 2024 Hike for Hospice will take place on Saturday, May 18. The event will begin in the parking lot of the SOMC Hospice Center, with registration at 8:30 that morning and the walk itself beginning an hour later at 9:30.

Hike for Hospice is a fundraiser for the SOMC Hospice Caritas Fund. Donations to the fund impact the lives of both patients and their families by providing comfort, support and care to those affected by life-limiting illness. In the past, the Caritas Fund has been used to pay for everything from day-to-day necessities to end-of-life wishes.

In addition to being an important fundraiser for SOMC Hospice, the Hike also represents an opportunity for loved ones to remember and celebrate those they have lost. The event helps families mourn the loss of a loved one by walking in their honor, and it offers grieving families a chance to come together as a community.

Those who are unable to participate in the Hike but still want to support SOMC Hospice also have the option of making an individual donation by visiting somc.org/development. For more information about SOMC Hospice, visit somc.org or call (740) 356-2651.

Rio Grande reviving football

portsmouthdailytimes

April 25, 2024

RIO GRANDE — The last time that the University of Rio Grande took to the football gridiron, Harry Truman was the President of the United States — and the winners of Major League Baseball’s Most Valuable Player awards were Jackie Robinson and Ted Williams.

The times they are a changin’, though.

Plans to revive the school’s long-dormant football program, as well as the creation of a marching band program to go along with it, were announced by school officials during a Tuesday morning press conference.

“Football is a cherished tradition in Ohio, and we believe the time is now to revive it here at Rio,” said University of Rio Grande president Ryan Smith. “This initiative strengthens our bond with the southern Ohio community.”

Smith pointed to the school’s plan to add archery, women’s wrestling and dance in the Fall of 2024, as well as the addition of programs such as rugby, men’s wrestling, eSports, men’s volleyball and bass fishing in recent years, toward its efforts of strengthening the bond between the University and the surrounding communities of southeastern Ohio.

“It’s all about more opportunities for the students in our region, both educationally and athletically, as well as for people who just want to come and be involved in a vibrant campus environment,” he said.

The former Rio Grande College fielded football from 1914 to 1949, with its last game played on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, 1949 — a 44-0 loss to Wilberforce on a snow-covered field in Detroit, Mich.

On March 21, 1950, the school’s Board of Directors dropped football for financial reasons.

Interestingly enough, the football equipment was then sold — and that money was used to purchase basketball uniforms, including the number 32 worn by Rio Grande legend Bevo Francis.

Smith said the addition of the two programs is expected to bring an influx of 150 to 200 students to campus.

The school will post the positions for football head coach and band director immediately, with plans to fill both jobs by this summer.

The head coach will then hire a pair of assistant coaches — in order to start the recruiting process towards fielding a team in the Fall of 2025.

The current plan is to play home games for at least two seasons at nearby Jackson High School’s Alumni Stadium.

Rio Grande is currently a member of the NAIA’s (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) River States Conference, which does not sponsor football.

The school is, however, in the process of applying to become an affiliate member of the Appalachian Athletic Conference for football only.

The AAC’s football membership is comprised schools in Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia, including nearby Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Ky. and Bluefield (Va.) University.

Smith also announced that the school is also making a major investment in the construction of a new fitness center, which will benefit all of the RedStorm’s athletic programs.

“The fitness center that we currently have was built 32 years ago, but the addition of these two programs is going to put us at right around 700 student-athletes,” Smith said. “We’re building locker rooms to go along with it as well. That’s Phase I of the project. Phase II, depending how fast we can get there, is a turf field and a stadium where we currently play rugby.”

Rio Grande athletic director Jeff Lanham echoed the sentiments of Smith regarding the announcement.

“This move signifies our commitment to growth and development, enhancing campus life and fostering deeper community engagement,” Lanham said. “With football comes the opportunity to unite our stakeholders and amplify school spirit, while the addition of a marching band further enriches the experience.”

OHSAA member schools to vote on 6 referendum issues

portsmouthdailytimes

April 25, 2024

COLUMBUS — Member schools of the Ohio High School Athletic Association will vote on six proposed changes to the OHSAA bylaws during the annual referendum voting period May 1 thru May 15.

Results will be announced on Thursday, May 16.

A simple majority of the votes cast by the OHSAA membership is the only way to amend the bylaws and constitution.

Member schools are required to submit a ballot.

The full text of the referendum details and more information about the process are posted at: https://www.ohsaa.org/School-Resources/referendum-voting

2024 OHSAA Referendum Issues

Issue 1B- Create New Exception to Bylaw 2-1-1, Alternative Divisional Assignment

This proposed exception would allow schools to move up to Division I on a sport-by-sport basis if they desired to do so for that season. The request would have to be received by the OHSAA Executive Director’s Office by the established deadline (to be published on the OHSAA website). If requested for an individual sport, all athletes on that school’s team would have to compete in Division I. This was initially announced on Feb. 21: https://www.ohsaa.org/news-media/articles/opting-up-to-division-i-among-referendum-items-approved-for-spring-vote

Issue 2B- Modify Bylaw 4-6-2, Residency

This proposed modification would allow that once a student is subject to custody orders involving child protective services, social services or a similar state agency, school administrators would be absolved from enforcement of the residence bylaw (e.g. ensuring the student has a parent living in Ohio) for that student.

Issue 3B- Modify Definition of “School Day” Within Bylaw 4¬-4-3

This proposed modification would address the transition of athletic eligibility between grading periods and amend the OHSAA’s definition of a school day to not include calamity days, where school is cancelled due to weather or similar circumstances.

Issue 4B- Modification to Bylaw 4-7-3, Midseason Transfer Exceptions

This proposed modification came about from feedback from student eligibility appeals. There are currently two exceptions which will allow a student to play the same sport for two different schools during the same season, but both exceptions require the schools to be at least 50 miles apart. The proposed change would address the second exception when a student transfers to a different school midseason due to the death or incarceration of the student’s parent(s) or the intervention of Children’s Services or a similar government agency. If such a situation transpires, the proposed exception would allow the executive Director’s Office to restore full transfer eligibility at the new school even if it is less than 50 miles from the former school. The proposed new language to the midseason transfer regulations would not include “standard” custody transfers (Exception 2).

Issue 5B- Modify Bylaw 4-7-3, Sub-varsity Midseason Transfers

This proposed modification would allow for midseason transfers to be fully eligible at a new school in the same season but only at the sub-varsity level (and no OHSAA tournaments) and only if the student met the requirements of an exception to restore full transfer eligibility. The proposed change would not permit a student who has played for the varsity team (or if there has not been a distinction between varsity and sub-varsity competition) at the school from which they are leaving to gain sub-varsity eligibility at the school to which they are transferring.

Issue 6B- Modify Bylaws 9-2-1 and 9-2-2, Contests with Out-of-State Schools

This proposed modification would allow schools to: 1.) travel to bordering states or provinces an unlimited number of times strictly to practice, and no approval would be needed by the OHSAA Executive Director’s Office, and 2.) travel to a non-bordering state for practice purposes only one time per sports season. The current bylaws only permit teams to practice while out-of-state if they will also be participating in a contest(s) during that trip. New language would clarify that schools are permitted to miss school time at their discretion when they exercise their one-time travel to a non-bordering state or province.

SPORTS SCOREBOARD — April 23-April 25

portsmouthdailytimes

April 24, 2024

SPORTS SCOREBOARD — April 23-April 25

Tuesday, April 23

Softball

SOC III

Wheelersburg 19, Waverly 0

SOC I

Clay 9, East 5

OVC

Ironton 14, Gallia Academy 0

Others

Notre Dame 12, Portsmouth 2

South Webster 22, Green 1

West 5, Fairland 4

Western 11, New Boston 2

Rock Hill 1, Valley 0

Baseball

SOC I

Green 10, New Boston 0

SOC II

Symmes Valley 12, South Gallia 6

Others

Gallia Academy 6, Oak Hill 4

Ironton St. Joseph 4, South Point 1

Wednesday, April 24

Softball

SOC III

Valley 14, Minford 1

South Webster 9, West 1

Wheelersburg 10, Waverly 0

SOC II

Symmes Valley 15, South Gallia 0

Eastern 9, Western 5

SOC I

Notre Dame 23, Green 0

Clay 13, East 3

OVC

Ironton 5, Portsmouth 0

Coal Grove 10, South Point 5

Fairland 8, Chesapeake 3

Gallia Academy 2, Rock Hill 1

Baseball

SOC III

Minford 15, Valley 8

South Webster 5, West 2

Wheelersburg 10, Waverly 2

SOC II

Eastern 9, Western 3, 9 innings

SOC I

Notre Dame 6, Green 5

Clay 14, East 12

Ironton St. Joseph 12, New Boston 1

OVC

Portsmouth 6, Ironton 5

South Point 12, Coal Grove 7

Fairland 12, Chesapeake 2

Gallia Academy 3, Rock Hill 1

Others

Whiteoak 3, Symmes Valley 0 (at Chillicothe VA Memorial Stadium)

Thursday, April 25

Softball

West 10, Southeastern 0

Waverly 8, Northwest 6

Fairland 9, Minford 2

Manchester 10, Clay 0

Symmes Valley 5, Eastern 1

Baseball

SOC I

Green 13, East 1

Others

Northwest 6, South Webster 4 (at Chillicothe VA Memorial Stadium)

Notre Dame 8, Fairview (Ky.) 5

South Gallia 10, Clay 8

Symmes Valley 11, Eastern 3

Ironton St. Joe at Nelsonville-York, no report

Helping you age betterSpring has sprung

Hope Comer

April 24, 2024

Spring has sprung! And what a welcome change to feel the warmer weather, see the sun shining, hear the birds chirping, and smell the wonderful flowers in bloom…and usually, with the warmer weather, comes the “spring cleaning” routine. It’s always important to not only take care of the cleaning side of this yearly chore, but especially for seniors, it’s important to take this time to check other items that

are also very important. The “spring cleaning” topic is very timely and a great opportunity to take stock of the overall safety of your loved one’s home. Below are some important items you should check at least bi-annually to help your older or disabled loved one maintain their independence and safety:

• Take stock of the medicine cabinet. Check all items for expiration dates. Are the medications stored in their own containers? Are they stored in a cool, dry place? Properly discard any unused medications. The FDA has more information regarding medication disposal online at https://www.fda.gov/media/74164/download

• Replace the batteries in all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Run a test to ensure they’re working.

• Check to make sure the home has a fire extinguisher that has been inspected within the past year. Offer a brief instruction on using the device. Even if you think your loved one might not remember, it’s wise to keep a fire extinguisher in an obvious location easily accessible to friends, relatives or neighbors.

• Clean up clutter. Clutter increases the risk for falls, fire and other problems such as insects or rodents. Remove unnecessary furniture that obstructs the traffic flow, organize cabinets so that the most frequently used items are easily accessible, and throw away any old items from the pantry or refrigerator.

• Destroy old financial and medical records carefully. According to the Federal Trade Commission, destroying documents with your personal information reduces the likelihood of becoming an identify theft victim. What should you keep and what should you shred? The FTC has a list of items that you should shred and those you should keep (such as birth certificates, social security cards, tax returns, etc.). For more information, go to https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2015/05/pack-rats-guide-shredding

• Create an emergency plan. Set the speed dial on the phone for emergency contacts. Appoint a neighbor as an emergency backup. If your loved one lives in a senior apartment complex, find a friendly neighbor and implement the buddy system; they should each keep an eye out for problems and have contact information for one another’s emergency contacts.

The Area Agency on Aging District 7 serves 10 counties in southern Ohio, providing home and community-based long-term care options for seniors and adults with disabilities. If you have questions about long-term care options or would like to learn more about the long-term care resources in your area for you or someone you know, simply give us a call. A trained staff member is ready to assist you on the phone Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm by calling us toll-free at 1-800-582-7277. We can answer any questions you may have and also provide an in-home consultation at no cost to discuss your available options in more detail

Trojans top Valley at VA in 8

portsmouthdailytimes

April 23, 2024

CHILLICOTHE — The Portsmouth Trojans and Valley Indians opened the Prep Baseball Report Classic early on Saturday, but finished with an extra inning.

That’s because the Trojans first forced that extra inning by scoring the tying run in the bottom of the seventh, then captured the 3-2 non-league triumph in walkoff fashion —scoring the winning run in the bottom of the eighth at Chillicothe’s VA Memorial Stadium.

Both teams scored a run in the fourth followed by one apiece in the seventh, as Portsmouth plated the winning walkoff run to raise its record to 10-4.

The Indians made one error compared to none for the Trojans, and Portsmouth outhit Valley 10-8.

The contest was a rematch, right back at VA Memorial Stadium, of last season’s Southeast District Division III championship tilt.

Valley won that one, but the Trojans exacted some measure of revenge on Saturday.

PHS senior Deandre Berry pitched a complete-game gem, as both Indians runs were earned —as he struck out 11 and did not walk nor hit a batter of the 29 he faced.

Berry threw 112 pitches, as Nolan Barnett’s basehits for the Indians went for a double and a triple.

The remaining six Valley hits were all singles —two by Carson Powell and one apiece by Jaekyn Ridout, Gabe McNeil, Jace Copley and Hunter Cunningham.

Barnett and Powell plated RBIs.

Barnett started for the Indians and McNeil relieved him on Saturday, as McNeil was the losing pitcher —working the final four innings and allowing the two earned runs in the seventh and eighth on six hits.

Barnett went the opening three and one-third, allowing the fourth-inning run on four hits and one walk with two strikeouts —as McNeil struck out three.

Of the 10 Trojan hits, Colin Perry with three and J.T. Williams with two combined for half —as Nathaniel Berry tripled and Camron Williams doubled, with Malachi Loper, Jacob Roth and Preston Krebbs all singling.

Perry with a pair and Loper with one had the RBIs, J.T. Williams with two and Berry with one had the three Trojan runs, and J.T. Williams drew the team’s only walk.

Portsmouth stranded five runners, while Deandre Berry left three Indians aboard.

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