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Buddy Mutter

Terry Mutter

By Frank Lewis

[email protected]

Two men have been arrested and charged in the theft of items from a vehicle parked at a West Portsmouth apartment.

Arrested was Buddy Mutter, 53, of Portsmouth; charged with one count of theft a felony of the fifth degree, one count of theft a felony of the fourth degree and probation violation. He is currently being held without bond. Also arrested was Terry Mutter, 23, of West Portsmouth, who was also charged with one count of theft a felony of the fourth degree and one count of theft a felony of the fifth degree. Terry Mutter was held on a $7,500 bond. Both appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court on June 11.

Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini said on June 10 his office received a call from a male who said somebody broke into his suburban that was parked overnight at Lett Terrace apartments and stole several items including tools and fishing equipment. Donini said the caller told deputies he knew who had the property and he stated that he followed a trail of his stolen items that were dropped on the ground which led him to a vehicle parked in the parking lot located on Clayton Court.

The Washington township community policing deputy responded to that location and was able to speak with the subject who was installing a stereo into a vehicle to obtain information to start an investigation. Detectives responded to that location to assist with the investigation along with the PMHA security.

Donini said, after reviewing the Portsmouth metropolitan housing cameras, located at the apartments. He said several of the stolen items were recovered which resulted in the two men being arrested.

Donini said anyone with any information concerning the theft is being requested to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 740-354-7566. All calls will remain anonymous.

Reach Frank Lewis at 740-353-3101, ext. 1928, or on Twitter @franklewis.

By Joseph Pratt

[email protected]

Local floral and craft aficionado Beth Bennett has recently opened the doors of her latest business venture, Bennett’s Floral Design. The Minford business sits on High Street and offers silk and fresh flower arrangements, funeral floral arrangements, balloon bouquets, and more.

Bennett said that the decision to pursue her interest in floral arrangements was a mutual agreement and partnership with her husband. After the two closed their relations with another local business, they decided to invest in Bennett’s talent for floral and craft items.

Bennett said that she has had no formal professional experience with the business, but she has been arranging her own products for years, as well as friends and family.

The craft and floral artist said that once people began seeing her work, they wanted to hire her to create personalized items for them.

“I’ve usually only worked for friends and family, and not professionally, with floral designs. I’ve always enjoyed stuff like this and I finally began asking myself why not try to make a profit off something I enjoy,” Bennett said.

Bennett said that she began working on products for students in a study hall, which is what finally made her decide to pursue the business venture.

“There hasn’t been a flower shop in Minford for years and we are happy to offer that service,” Bennett said. “We are also very happy to have the community’s support, too. We believe there is a need for this kind of business out here.”

Bennett said that she has had a great opening month and many positive reviews.

“I have a Facebook page for the business and people are very kind on there and have given me great reviews,” Bennett said. “I’ve really enjoyed working with my customers over the past few months and I look forward to much more.”

Bennett said that while they were officially opened only weeks ago, she has been operating out of her house for a few months, providing arrangements for prom, Mother’s Day, and more.

Bennett’s Floral Design is at 563 High Street in Minford, Ohio. For questions and inquiries, contact the shop at 740-820-3922.

Reach Joseph Pratt at 740-353-3101, ext. 1932, or by Twitter @JosephPratt03.

By Frank Lewis

[email protected]

The Scioto County Commissioners and the management at the Greater Portsmouth Regional Airport at Minford (Minford Airport) hope that with the growth that could possibly accompany the construction of the Portsmouth Bypass, some work can be done to improve the facilities and attract corporations that could locate in that area.

“It’s the hope of the County Commissioners, with the state project of the bypass going in that will bring more economic vitality to the county in the form of big business and industry,” Phil Lajoye, manager at the airport, said. “So the (Southern Ohio) Port Authority is working diligently on bringing business to the (U.S.) 52 area around Wheelersburg where there’s two rails, a river and a major gas line which will basically be at the end of the bypass.”

Lajoye talked to the Daily Times but gave credit for plans at the airport to the Scioto County Commissioners thinking ahead in planning for economic growth

Lajoye said, when an industry looks at an area in which to locate they think about logistics and shipping. He said no one wants to run trucks over Rosemount Hill, so, with the addition of the bypass and a total of seven interchanges, one of which, a dual interchange directly at the Minford Airport, it could provide the facilities needed to solve those problems.

“There will be a traffic light and when you come off at that traffic light you’ll be standing right down Barklow Road and looking at the Minford Airport about 200 yards away,” Lajoye said. “We’re trying to negotiate with the state and with the contractor to get some free dirt off of the bypass project to lengthen the runway safety areas at the end of the runways and also to fill in some spots, compact some dirt for some new hangars.”

He said the airport currently has smaller hangars and it is their hope to construct hangars that are the next size up that can accommodate twin-engine planes.

“Those are your big industry owners,” Lajoye said. “Those guys don’t drive all over the country, they fly to their various places. When they do they want an airport that has a full-time fixed-base operator and in our case that would be Mike Chasteen. He services planes; he has employees to pump fuel, and they want a nice modern hangar that’s big enough to house their plane or their jet.”

The airport is the recipient of rent payments from planes utilizing the hangars.

“If we can accommodate those people it is the thinking of the County Commissioners that it will bring economic vitality eventually to Scioto County,” Lajoye said.

Lajoye said mainly small business and recreation planes utilize that facility.

‘Some of the hospitals occasionally have some jet traffic that comes in an out,” Lajoye said. “And we have the Skyline Restaurant, a nice quaint mom and pop restaurant and recently we have added additional parking which is working out very well. It’s closer to the front door. It’s the big center area, the circle drive. We filled that in and graveled it and that seems to be working real well.”

The Commissioners believe airport is in a unique position and a lot of people in county government and on the state level who are working with them to try to bring the plans to fruition.

“The more we get people on board for this I believe we can realize some day,” Lajoye said.

Reach Frank Lewis at 740-353-3101, ext. 1928, or on Twitter @franklewis.

By Frank Lewis

[email protected]

The contractor is getting ready to begin the process of the paving of streets in the city of Portsmouth.

“The bids were opened on June 3 and we are waiting for The Shelly Company to fill out the contracts and send them back to us,” City Engineer Crystal Weghorst said. “We hope to have the paving finished before the end of July.”

Weghorst said once the contracts are back and in order, which she hopes will be next week, the work will most likely begin the first or second week in July. She said in the next week or so she will have a schedule of paving jobs, where they will take place and when that work will be done.

“I can’t have a good timeline now,” Weghorst said. “I haven’t had our pre-construction meeting or anything with them yet but the bids are in, it’s awarded and we’re just waiting to get everything signed and start.”

Weghorst said she is building on the area near Southern Ohio Medical Center where the sewer line work was recently completed.

“As a part of that project and funding we were able to do some of those roads,” Weghorst said. “So the roads we couldn’t get to in that area, actually I put on my paving list for this year. Those folks have been through it there, going through that mess and detoured and rerouted, working being done in front of their house and dusting them out, so we’re going to make it real nice for them up in that area.”

She said the city is doing a few more areas as well and will identify the areas as soon as the contracts are back into her office.

Reach Frank Lewis at 740-353-3101, ext. 1928, or on Twitter @franklewis.

By Wayne Allen

[email protected]

On Saturday, volunteers from several states join together for the annual Ohio River Sweep. The event is coordinated locally through the Scioto County Commissioners office and is aimed at ridding the river bank of trash.

According to the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), “Since 1989, this cleanup for the Ohio River and its tributaries brings thousands of volunteers to the riverbanks to collect tons of trash and debris. River Sweep encompasses the entire length of the river, from its origin in Pittsburgh, PA to its end in Cairo, IL, including nearly 3,000 miles of shoreline and many tributaries.”

Jeff Crippen, Scioto County Litter Control Agent said, “We’re going to have it if it rains or if there is shine.” Crippen said there are two sites locally where the cleanup will occur, Court Street Landing in Portsmouth and River Side Park in West Portsmouth. Sites will be open from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

In 2014 the event collectively had 17,000 volunteers in six states bordering the river come together to collect more than 500 tons of trash and other debris from the banks of the Ohio River and tributaries.

Crippen said locally in 2014 there were 97 volunteers that collected close to 4,000 pounds of litter. He said those interested in volunteering can show up at either of the sites. Volunteers must sign a waiver of liability, any volunteers under 18 will have to have a guardian sign the waiver of liability.

Crippen said this annual event is import to clean up the community.

The Portsmouth Citywide Cleanup was held on Saturday, June 6, in Portsmouth. The event was held in conjunction with the Lawrence Scioto Solid Waste Management District, Portsmouth Municipal Court and a number of community partners. Over the course of the event over 92 tons of items were collected, 1,940 tires and 131 workers.

Officials with the event expressed excitement over the amount of items collected that may have otherwise been thrown on the street.

For more information about the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District and ongoing activities visit www.lsswmd.org.

Wayne Allen can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 1933 or on Twitter @WayneallenPDT

By Wayne Allen

[email protected]

Officials with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) report that contractors will officially begin to move dirt on the Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway (Portsmouth Bypass) on Monday. ODOT has also released some details on the groundbreaking.

A ground breaking ceremony will be held Wednesday, June 24, at 11 a.m., in front of Sunshine Church of Christ, 20 Barklow Road, in Minford.

“We’re going to have it there in the parking lot,” said Kathleen Fuller, ODOT District 9 spokeswoman.

Although Fuller could not confirm a guest list Thursday morning, she did say it’s anticipated a number of local, state and ODOT officials will be in attendance.

She said although the groundbreaking is Wednesday, work on the project officially begins on Monday, June 22.

“They are removing stumps and clearing some more of the right of way. Next week they will officially be turning dirt,” Fuller said. “People may not see where they will be turning dirt, because it may be tucked away. This (constructed) schedule is going to be so active.”

She said over the course of the project there will be a number of public meetings dealing with various issues such as blasting.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has entered into an agreement with the Portsmouth Gateway Group LLC, to construct the highway. Once construction is complete the group will maintain the roadway for 35 years.

The Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway is considered to be Ohio’s largest road construction project. The highway is Ohio’s first Public, Private Partnership (P3), the successful P3 advances the completion of the project by an estimated 17 years and allows area residents to use the advantages of the highway sooner rather than later.

The contractor has anticipated hiring 300 construction workers and 100 management personnel for the project.

The current schedule for opening the road to traffic is slated for 2018.

The project is a 16-mile, limited access, four-lane highway that will bypass about 26 miles of U.S. 52 and U.S. 23 in Portsmouth. Once completed, ODOT estimates it will reduce travel time by 16 minutes compared to the alternative routes in the area.

The United States Department of Transportation, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business in partnership with ODOT and the Portsmouth Gateway Group along with many others will be holding a small business day concerning the Portsmouth Bypass. The event will be held on June 30 at the Crowne Plaze Columbus North, from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. According to released information, the event is designed to ensure small businesses are adequately prepared to compete for opportunities that may arise from the project.

Wayne Allen can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 1933 or on Twitter @WayneallenPDT

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Submitted photo | Daily Times Co-owner of Wards Farms, Devin Ward, working with one of his hogs on the farm

Submitted photo | Daily Times
A breed called the ‘Blue But’ hog a type that is raised on Ward Hog Farm

Submitted photo| Daily Times
Two hogs feeding in the field at Ward Hog Farm

By Portia Williams

[email protected]

MINFORD — Ward Farms/Large Black Hogs, located at 2027A Mount Carmel Rd. in Minford, is a family-owned business that raises and sells pastured grain fed large black hogs and other hog breeds. Co-owners Devin and Staci Ward work hard on their farm to provide quality products that people can have confidence in.

“We started working with pigs about three years ago. My wife grew up working with pigs in the 4H Clubs, and things like that. I was looking to get into pigs because there are not too many people around here that has farms,” Devin said. “Another thing got me into it is, I like to eat pork a lot myself.”

He said he and his wife primarily operate the business together.

“It is mainly me and wife, and we have children, so she raises them. My dad helps out on the farm a lot too,” he said.

He said pigs have some very amicable characteristics.

“I have always liked working with animals, and as far as the pig, it is amazing how smart they are. When I started getting them I realized that I really liked working with them, so I just kept expanding my operation here,”he said. “I love their personalities, you can almost teach them tricks, as crazy as that seems.

Contrary to popular belief, pigs are relatively clean animals.

“They are a very clean animal. Most people usually think of a hog as a nasty animal that lays around and just rolls around in the mud, but they are extremely intelligent,” he said. “The only reason that they lay around in the mud is because they don’t sweat, so that’s the only way that they can keep cool. If they had air conditioning they would be as clean as they could be. They’ve got one spot that they do all of their business in, and the rest is where they eat and lay around.”

Their goal is to provide hogs for their customers that create a great source of pork to enjoy.

“What we are doing right now is raising hogs that are what you want to put on your dinner plate as in, you want the length of your hog which gives you a big slab of bacon, and the pulp for the nice size hams,” he said. “Our goal is to sell Berkshires year round and piglets as well, that is why we raise them ourselves. What we are perfecting right now is the Berkshire, but we have Large Black hogs as well, which is an old heritage hog.”

He said the Large Black hog is a breed that is becoming increasingly extinct.

“They are the type of hogs that they brought over on the Mayflower when they founded our country,” he said.

Wards Hog Farm typically keeps 40 hogs at a time on their farm.

“Normally what we do, is people will come out to our farm, they’ll load up the pigs and take them to the butcher of their choice, or if they are looking for a piglet they will come out and get those too and take them to their place to raise them,” he said. “We don’t do the butchering here, although I would like to one day, if it works out.”

He said their goal is to feed pigs naturally, with the absence of antibiotics and steroids.

“Our goal is to feed hogs as naturally as possible in the best of conditions. No antibiotics, no steroids that have to be given,” he said. “We like to do things the old fashion way, and be completely honest with people about what they are buying. If I give a pig a shot, you’re going to know about it. I tell you what the pig has been fed, and we feed them very well, so when folks buy pigs from us they are not buying pigs that have been fed a bunch of junk.”

At Wards Hog Farm they strive to provide quality pigs for their customer base.

“We do our very best to take very good care of these pigs, to ensure that people are getting a good product,” he said.“I just sold a hog to a man, and he was more than pleased with it. That is the most important thing, and that is extremely important to us.”

For more information about Wards Hogs/Black Hog Farm, call 740-285-2870 or visit the Wards Hogs/Black Hog Facebook page.

Reach Portia Williams at 740-353-3101,ext.1929, or on Twitter@PortiaWillPDT.

By Wayne Allen

[email protected]

Earlier this year the Minford Fire Department announced they have purchased a new $500,000 fire engine. Officials with the department said they will get the truck in July.

Jason Kester, a member of the Minford Volunteer Fire Department, said members of the department will pick up the truck in Wisconsin once complete. Kester said the truck will then travel to McConnelsville, Ohio, where it will be equipped. He said a couple of weeks later the department will receive the truck, which will be ready to use.

He said the department has spent years planning and saving money to afford this new engine that’s anticipated to help carry the department into the future.

Several years ago the department started long term strategic planning for replacing their trucks. Kester said the truck that’s being replaced by the new engine is a 1994. He said the department has been involved in every step of the process, towards making this truck a reality. Throughout the process members of the department have traveled to various conferences.

“We went through a nine month evaluation process. We chose the truck we thought would be best,” Kester said.

The department chose the Pierce Company to build the truck.

“We’ve spent three years getting ready to purchase it and spent about nine months working with Pierce on finer details,” Kester said.

He said this will likely be the last new truck the department purchases for a while.

“We’ve got some old trucks and through budgeting and proper planning on how we’re going to replace them,” Kester said.

Through planning and budgeting, Kester said they annually budget for capital projects and need improvements. He said the cab of the new truck costs around $250,000 — and that’s before you put anything on it. He said the cab is designed to be safer, last longer and hold up better in an accident.

“Minford has never had a custom cab truck in our 71-year history of the fire department, this is a big step for us,” Kester said. “The heavy rescue truck we purchased almost ten years ago was getting ready for the bypass. Some of the things that are on this truck are us getting ready for the bypass, a change in our mission and goals in the community.”

Kester said the department is buying a ladder that will allow them to climb the barrier on the bypass.

“There will be unexpected stuff we will never be able to plan for. We’ve gotten to the point where we’re trying to think that far ahead to be prepared and serve our community,” Kester said.

Wayne Allen can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 1933 or on Twitter @WayneallenPDT

By Frank Lewis

[email protected]

If you live in Ohio you will definitely be voting on the issue of legalization of marijuana. On Wednesday, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office certified the petition for the proposed Cannabis Control Amendment to the Ohio Constitution.

On June 8, the Attorney General’s Office received a written petition to amend the Ohio Constitution, entitled “Cannabis Control Amendment,” from the group Ohioans to End Prohibition. The submission was certified on Wednesday as containing both the necessary 1,000 valid signatures from registered Ohio voters and a “fair and truthful” summary of the proposed amendment. The actual number of signatures affixed to the petition was 1,977.

“Without passing upon the advisability of the approval or rejection of the measure to be referred … I hereby certify that the summary is a fair and truthful statement of the proposed law,” DeWine said in his certification letter.

Once the summary language and initial signatures are certified, the Ohio Ballot Board must determine if the amendment contains a single issue or multiple issues. The petitioners must then collect signatures for each issue from registered voters in each of 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties, equal to 5 percent of the total vote cast in the county for the office of governor at the last gubernatorial election. None of the signatures were collected in Scioto County. Total signatures collected statewide must also equal 10 percent of the total vote cast for the office of governor at the last gubernatorial election.

In part, the amendment reads – “Persons age 21 or older may purchase, use, gift or trade, marijuana paraphernalia, marijuana and marijuana products. Marijuana products include marijuana infused solids, marijuana infused liquids and marijuana concentrates.”

The full text of DeWine’s letter and of the amendment petitions submitted can be found at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/BallotInitiatives.

Reach Frank Lewis at 740-353-3101, ext. 1928, or on Twitter @franklewis.

By Frank Lewis

[email protected]

Many years ago, one of the big attractions was the movie in the park. A projector was set up and people came and sat on lawn chairs or the ground and watched a movie. Rich Saddler and the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee are bringing it back with a series of four movies in the park.

The series kicks off Saturday (June 20) at dusk and concessions will be available.

“They are in Mound Park and we are trying to do a series of four different kids movies throughout the summer,” Saddler said.

He said movie titles are available.

“We have purchased movie rights from Swank Entertainment which is one of two major movie rights suppliers in the United States. According to the contract we are unable to release the name of the movie for publication in the newspaper, radio or TV due to copyright infringements,” Saddler said. “However, we are able to print flyers provided by Swank Productions and are able to share it on social media.”

Saddler said anyone get that information by visiting their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/portsmouthparksandrecreation to view the movie title and other activities in our parks this Summer.

Saddler said each movie showing will cost $401 and this Saturday’s movie has been covered by a anonymous donor. He said he alsobelieves the second will covered by donations as well.

“For the third and fourth movie, we are waiting to see if the monies are there for each showing,” Saddler said. “If anybody would be interested in donating to our committee to help offset these costs, checks can be mailed to, Portsmouth, Ohio Parks & Recreation P.O. Box 1844, Portsmouth, Ohio 45662.

“Any child that is, I believe, 12 and under is going to get a free bag of popcorn and a free can of pop or bottle of water, because this is for them,” Saddler said. “We’re trying to get the kids out of the house from in front of the video games and active in our parks.”

The committee has also scheduled more clean-up days in the city’s local parks. The next cleanup day is June 27 starting at 9 a.m. Saddler said participants will meet at Weghorst Park first then Buckeye Park. The next one will be at Bannon Park first then Cyndee Seacrest Park on July 25 starting at 9 a.m. After those will be a clean-up at Mound Park first then Tracy Park on August 22 at 9 a.m.

“We will be doing some painting on the metal swing sets and other painted playground structures in each of these parks,” Saddler said. “I will also be contacting the local paint stores and asking for donations as well. Whatever paint we will need after asking the paint stores, our committee will purchase. Other efforts will be litter pickup, grass cutting, tree trimming and any other detail that may be needed to enhance the parks.”

Reach Frank Lewis at 740-353-3101, ext. 1928, or on Twitter @franklewis.