October
• The McClain varsity volleyball team dropped a pair of matches Oct. 1 at Southeastern High School but had a record-setting performance by junior Lily Barnes, who not only reached the 1,000th assist of her varsity career but also broke the school record.
• Fairfield Local Schools announced Oct. 4 the retirement of Mark Dettwiller as the Fairfield Lady Lions head softball coach. Dettwiller was the ninth head softball coach of the softball program and retires as its most successful coach.
• Melissa Dever, BSW, LSW, was named Executive Director of the Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7), as announced Oct. 4.
• Pixelle Specialty Solutions, in collaboration with JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development and Greater Chillicothe & Ross County Development, Oct. 4 announced an investment of over $21 million in upgrades and repairs to the #24 paper machine at the Chilpaco facility.
• Fenix Parent LLC, operating as Fenix Parts, announced Oct. 4 it completed its acquisition of the assets of Reno’s Auto Parts in Hillsboro.
• Hillsboro’s Cora Akers totaled 12 kills, two aces, three blocks and 19 digs in a game against Washington Oct. 4, as she earned her 500th career varsity dig.
• Highland County commissioners Jeff Duncan, Terry Britton and David Daniels approved a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) resolution for the Dodson Creek solar project Oct. 5.
• The Ohio EPA announced Oct. 5 low-interest rate and principal forgiveness funding to improve wastewater and drinking water infrastructure and make other water quality improvements. Hillsboro is receiving $1.78 million to construct Phase 3 of a multiyear construction of storm sewers in the city. Highland County General Health District is receiving $150,000 in principal forgiveness loans to repair or replace household sewage treatment systems.
• On Oct. 6, the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology donated $60,000 worth of equipment for the Hillsboro High School welding program.
• A Chillicothe man currently serving a prison term for a Ross County case was sentenced Oct. 6 on a separate charge in Highland County. James Zamora pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a second-degree felony, and was sentenced to a definite determinate term of two years in prison.
• Kainan Binegar of Greenfield pleaded guilty Oct. 6 to a second-degree felony charge of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine in the vicinity of a school; a third-degree felony weapons under disability charge; a first-degree misdemeanor endangering children charge; and a forfeiture specification. He received a minimum sentence of five years in prison.
• Clayton Yoakem of Bourneville was sentenced to a minimum of five years in prison Oct. 6 after pleading guilty to two amended charges in separate cases: attempted felonious assault on a peace officer, a second degree felony; and attempted felonious assault, a third-degree felony.
• On Oct. 8, the McClain FFA Chapter had both Urban and Rural Soil Judging Teams advance to the state competition and compete. The Urban soils team was 12th in the state, and Hailee Lovely was 12th out of 165 as an individual in the Urban contest. The Rural soils team placed sixth in the state.
• A contract for Hillsboro City Schools superintendent Tim Davis was extended through July 2029, following a decision by the HCS Board of Education during a special meeting Oct. 10.
• Longtime Hillsboro businesswoman and community servant Deborah Harsha passed away Oct. 11. She was 74.
• A local, self-identified “Incel” pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Oct. 11 to attempting to conduct a mass shooting of women. Tres Genco, 22, of Hillsboro, admitted he plotted to commit a hate crime, namely, a plan to shoot women at a university in Ohio. He pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to commit a hate crime, which, because it involved an attempt to kill, is punishable by up to life in prison.
• Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted and JobsOhio leaders announced Oct. 11 that Ohio will continue its historic dominance in the automotive manufacturing industry as Honda selected Ohio to lead its electric vehicle (EV) production and, with LG Energy Solution, a joint venture battery plant. Honda and LG Energy Solution confirmed that their combined investments of at least $4.2 billion will create a total of 2,527 new jobs in Ohio between the establishment of a new EV battery plant in Fayette County and the retooling of existing Honda plants in Union, Logan and Shelby counties for electric vehicle production.
• Greenfield Police Department K-9 Rony passed away at the age of 9 after an extended illness, the Village of Greenfield announced Oct. 12.
• The Ohio Travel Association announced that Jamie Wheeler of the Visitors Bureau of Highland County graduated from the Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy during the Ohio Conference on Travel, held Oct. 12-14.
• The Highland County Historical Society and Ohio Humanities hosted an open house Oct. 12 that featured the local premiere of a revised version of the documentary “The Lincoln School Story,” discussing the first Northern test case of Brown v. Board of Education.
• The City of Hillsboro took another step toward their proposed Roberts Lane extension as they finalized the purchase of a parcel surrounding the area, according to a report at the Oct. 13 Hillsboro City Council meeting.
• Agents with the Ohio Casino Control Commission served search warrants on five Highland County businesses as part of an investigation into alleged illegal gambling, according to Jessica Franks of the OCCC, as announced Oct. 14.
• After a one-year hiatus, the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs girls soccer team returned to the top of the Southern Hills Athletic Conference as champions with a perfect conference mark by defeating the Eastern Lady Warriors on Oct. 14 by a 5-1 score at LCHS.
• After a 11-0 over Eastern, the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs boys soccer earned their 10th straight conference crown — a streak that started in 2013 — on Oct. 14. In that span, the Mustangs haven’t lost an SHAC contest, with a record of 67-0-2 in those games played.
• Oct. 14 saw the Fairfield Lady Lions win the 2022 Division I Southern Hills Athletic Conference volleyball championship with a 3-2 win over the visiting North Adams Lady Green Devils at Grandle Gymnasium.
• The Hillsboro Indians cross-country teams traveled to Greenfield’s Mitchell Park on Oct. 15 to compete in the Frontier Athletic Conference Championship Meet, with the Lady Indians team winning the FAC title and the Indians gaining an individual FAC champion in each varsity race, with Taylor Thoroman winning the girls event and Corbin Winkle taking first place in the boys meet.
• On Oct. 15 at Ripley High School, the Whiteoak Wildcats cross-country team earned a third consecutive Southern Hills Athletic Conference championship.
• Second District Rep. Brad Wenstrup requested answers from the United States Post Office regarding what steps they plan to take to restore standard postal services to Lynchburg residents, as reported Oct. 18.
• At their Oct. 19 meeting, Highland County commissioners heard a request for funding to put toward a software program that can help plans for the county’s new “business, school and community partnership” become a reality. Highland County ACCESS (Alignment of Community Connections for Employer and Student Success) Director Tim Dettwiller shared a PowerPoint presentation explaining the program’s history, participants, challenges and goals, along with making that funding request of the county.
• There was plenty to celebrate at Lynchburg-Clay High School’s soccer field on Oct. 19 as the Lady Mustangs won a sectional championship, and Dennis West gained his 500th win as a head coach in girls and boys soccer combined.
• The construction happening at Adena Greenfield Medical Center is nearly complete on the facility expansion that will provide for more services and better service to the community the hospital serves. To celebrate the expansion, AGMC hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on Oct. 19.
• The former mayor of Sardinia, Tina Coday-Townes, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Oct. 20 to stealing more than $700,000 from the family-owned business in Clermont County for which she worked. As part of her plea agreement, Coday-Townes will pay $697,000 in restitution to her former employer, $11,500 to the State of Ohio for fraudulently paid unemployment benefits and $35,000 to West American Insurance Company.
• Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted Oct. 20 announced new details on the Appalachian Community Grant Program, which will infuse $500 million into Ohio’s 32-county Appalachian region to revitalize communities and stimulate transformational change.
• After 35 years of sponsoring Greenfield’s summer festival, currently known as the Greene Countrie Towne Festival, the Rotary Club of Greenfield has decided to step down from the role of festival sponsor, the club announced Oct. 20. A new organization is reportedly being formed for the purpose of sponsoring a new festival in Greenfield.
• The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is proud to announced Oct. 20 that 139 acres have been added to the Farmland Preservation Program, as the William Rowe Farm in Highland County became the 27th Ohio farm to join the program in ’22.
• Zach Hodge of Lynchburg man was sentenced Oct. 20 to a minimum of four years in prison after pleading guilty to two second-degree felony counts of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine in the vicinity of a school zone.
• With potential playoff berths on the line for both teams, the Hillsboro Indians put together a game plan of mostly running the football, with a few passes mixed in that ultimately allowed the home team to break away during the 2022 Rotary Bowl against the McClain Tigers Oct. 21. The Indians won the Rotary Bowl by a 42-21 score, keeping the trophy at Hillsboro High School for a seventh consecutive season. Two days later, the OHSAA released the final computer rankings, with Hillsboro qualifying for the playoffs as a No. 14 seed.
• The Southern Hills Athletic Conference held the 2022 fall sports banquet Oct. 23. Faith Miller of Fairfield was Co-Player of the Year for volleyball. For boys soccer, The Player of the Year was Trey Pitzer, and receiving Coach of the Year honors was Jason West, both of Lynchburg-Clay. The SHAC Girls Soccer Player of the Year was Kalyn Rich and the SHAC Girls Soccer Coach of the Year was Dennis West, both of Lynchburg-Clay.
• The demolition of two out of 18 houses in Highland County got underway Oct. 24, beginning at 123 Hill St., Hillsboro, and 36 Maple St., Mowrystown. The projects are funded under a $500,000 grant — received by the Highland County Land Reutilization Corporation (land bank) — as part of the Ohio Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program.
• Merchants National Bank announced Oct. 25 that Jacob “Jake” DeHart would joining the bank as a vice president and CFO.
• Members of the Highland County Fair Board joined Highland County commissioners at the commission’s Oct. 26 meeting to discuss two proposed new structures at the Highland County Fairgrounds. Commissioner David Daniels told the Fair Board that the county believed they could fund nearly all of the $1.2 million construction project for a building to replace three outdated structures at the fairgrounds but that there would be “about a $100,500 shortfall” for the Fair Board to cover. Also discussed during the meeting with the Fair Board was a plan for a second building at the Highland County Fairgrounds, this one initiated by the county, for a possible new Ohio State University Extension office.
• For the ninth time in the past 10 seasons, the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs won a Division III SE District championship, as the 2022 Lady Mustangs played to a 1-0 victory over the Eastern Lady Warriors Oct. 27 at Raidiger Field in Waverly.
• Following a one-day bench trial in Highland County Common Pleas Court Oct. 24, Judge Rocky Coss issued a ruling Oct. 27 granting declaratory judgement in favor of the Greenfield Exempted Village School District Board of Education in their civil lawsuit against the Village of Greenfield regarding a planned bus garage.
• Two area men were charged federally with civil rights crimes related to the alleged use of excessive force during their employment with the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, the Southern District of Ohio announced Oct. 27. A federal grand jury indicted Jeremy C. Mooney, 47, of Piketon, and William Stansberry, Jr., 46, of Chillicothe.
• Highland County and the Village of Greenfield opened a Workforce Development Center on Oct. 28 with a grand opening celebration that included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a Chamber coffee and commerce event, as well as tours, demonstrations and a reception.
• By way of being the No. 14 team in Division III (Region 12), the Hillsboro Indians played in Week 11, traveling to No. 3 Tippecanoe to face the Red Devils and falling 42-0 in the first round of the 2022 OHSAA Football Playoffs Oct. 28.
• At the Division II Regional Championship Meet on Oct. 29 at Pickerington North High School, the Lady Indians had their first runner qualify for state in 20 years in freshman Taylor Thoroman, who was 13th in the event. Also on Oct. 29 in Pickerington, the Whiteoak Wildcats cross-country team competed for a chance to return to the state cross-country meet, and sophomore Landen Eyre advanced to state after earning a regional runner-up finish at Pickerington North.
November
• Highland County commissioners heard an update on Highland County Visitors Bureau activities and a request from the Visitors Bureau to revise the county’s bed tax during their Nov. 2 meeting.
• A Hillsboro man facing seven charges in connection with the Highland County Task Force’s “Operation Ice Breaker” large-scale drug investigation was sentenced to four years in prison Nov. 2. Ryan Wilson pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated trafficking in meth in the vicinity of a school zone and one count of aggravated trafficking in meth, both second-degree felonies, and a forfeiture specification.
• Adient’s Greenfield facility is growing, and on Nov. 2, that was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting attended by company, local and regional officials.
• Lawrence Wayne “Butch” Knight of Lynchburg was sentenced to 13 years in prison Nov. 2 after pleading guilty to three counts of aggravated arson — two first-degree felonies and one second-degree felony — in connection with a “fire or explosion” in Lynchburg in July.
• A Dayton man accused of trafficking methamphetamine in Highland County nearly two years ago was sentenced to four years in prison Nov. 3. Miquan Anderson pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated trafficking in meth, both second-degree felonies.
• The Division II Cross-Country State Championship Meet was held Nov. 5 at Fortress Obetz. Landen Eyre earned a place on the podium with a fifth-place finish at the OHSAA State Cross-Country Championships at Fortress Obetz. Hillsboro’s Taylor Thoroman finished in 71st place.
• The Lynchburg-Clay girls soccer team defeated Grandview Heights, 1-0, on Nov. 5, advancing to the OHSAA State Semifinals for just the second time in program history.
• Competing for the second year in a row, the Lynchburg-Clay Marching Mustangs earned the highest possible rating at the 2022 Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) State Marching Band Finals on the evening of Nov. 6 at Alexander Stadium in Piqua.
• Greenfield Village Councilman Phil Clyburn assisted village street employees with the installation of new Johnny Paycheck signs on state Routes 28, 41 and 753 during the week of Nov. 7.
• Republican Brad Roades was elected to serve as Highland County commissioner, while current State Representative Shane Wilkin (R-Hillsboro) was elected to the State Senate in the Nov. 8 general election. Two statewide issues passed in Ohio, and Highland County voters approved all five local issues. Republican Congressman Brad Wenstrup was reelected easily to the Second District seat, while Republican J.D. Vance won the U.S. Senate race. Republican officeholders swept the state races, with Republicans also winning all three Supreme Court races.
• The spectacular and historic soccer season of the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs ended Nov. 8 in the Division III State Semifinals, falling to the Cincinnati Country Day School Nighthawks, 4-0 at Loveland High School.
• Highland County commissioners approved “a $30,000 contribution” to the Highland County ACCESS’s program in their request for funding for new software Nov. 9. Also during the meeting, commissioners voted to approve “substantial” rate increases for the Rolling Acres and Lakeside sewer systems: a 38-percent increase for Rolling Acres, to $50 per month; and a 20-percent increase for Lakeside, to $48 per month.
• An Adams County man’s allegations that his trial lawyers were ineffective were rejected Nov. 10 by the Supreme Court of Ohio, which found the man already raised the issues on appeal or could not prove his attorneys were deficient. The Supreme Court affirmed the Fourth District Court of Appeals’ decision to deny postconviction relief to Denny Blanton, who was convicted of kidnapping a 15-year-old girl when he was 18. Blanton had argued his attorneys ineffectively represented him.
• Another piece of Highland County history was added to the library of the Highland House Museum, as representatives of the Highland County Society for Children and Adults donated a 72-year-old original book of records to the Highland County Historical Society Nov. 11.
• Highland County Auditor-elect Alex Butler announced his resignation as Hillsboro city auditor, effective Nov. 11. In a letter dated Nov. 9 to Hillsboro Mayor Justin Harsha and to the Highland County Republican Central Committee, Butler cited plans to train for his new role as county auditor as the reason for his resignation, as he was elected to that office Nov. 8.
• Major League Fishing has announced the roster for the 2023 Bass Pro Tour, the fifth season of professional bass fishing’s most competitive tournament circuit with Cole Floyd of Leesburg among the qualifiers.
• Whiteoak sophomore Landen Eyre competed in the Nike Midwest Region Cross-Country Meet on Nov. 13 in Terre Haute, Ind. Eyre finished in sixth place out of 941 runners from all over Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan and Ohio. He also had the fastest time out of all Ohio runners, with a time of 16:13.7.
• A Hillsboro City Schools and Great Oaks Career Campuses board member was honored with the Ohio School Boards Association’s (OSBA) most esteemed award. Beverly D. Rhoads was recognized as a 2022 All-Ohio School Board member Nov. 13, during the First General Session of the 67th annual OSBA Capital Conference and Trade Show.
• Nathan Lee Murray of Greenfield man was sentenced in a federal child pornography case Nov. 15 in the Southern District of Ohio. He had pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography in May. Murray was sentenced to 25 years in prison, 15 years of which are to run consecutive to a previous sentence imposed by Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss, and 10 years of which are to run concurrent to that sentence, for a minimum term of 30 years to life in prison.
• Dayne “Woop Woop” Puckett, 82, of Sinking Spring, passed away Nov. 16. He traveled the country with many country music artists, including The Van Dells, Steve Lake and The Swingmasters Band, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charley Pride, Merle Haggard, Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton. He performed on the Grand Ole Opry, where he sang his famous song, “I’m A Nut,” and made Sinking Spring famous when he gave the population of the village during an episode of “Hee Haw.”
• A second letter from Greenfield City Manager Todd Wilkin to the Highland County Land Reutilization Corporation Board in the past three months led to a heated discussion between Wilkin and land bank representatives at the Nov. 17 HCLRC board meeting.
• Hillsboro City Council passed an ordinance to expend 100 percent of their remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds on engineering costs related to the proposed Roberts Lane extension project during their Nov. 17 meeting. Council voted 6-1, with Jason Brown voting no, to approve the resolution to make supplemental appropriations in the amount of $689,341.81.
• At approximately 5 p.m., on Nov. 17, Ross County Sgt. Eric Kocheran was shot and seriously injured during a gunfire exchange with a suspect outside of the sheriff’s office, according to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. The suspect, identified in the shooting through fingerprints as Nicholas Mitchell, was transported to a Chillicothe-area hospital and subsequently died from his injuries. Ross County Sheriff George W. Lavender requested that BCI investigate the incident.
• The Highland County Humane Society held its annual meeting and elected a new executive board, as reported Nov. 18. HCHS is pleased to announce new leadership for 2023 with the addition of Jenn Thomas as board president and new shelter director Richelle Fair.
• The Delmar Yockey All-Sports Award for the 2021-22 school year was won by the Fairfield Lions. The varsity boys basketball team, current athletic director Jimmy Barnett and 2021-22 athletic director Tony Williams accepted the award for the district Nov. 18 at the SHAC preview.
• Highland County commissioners voted 3-0 to implement a $1 per hour pay increase for county employees during a brief special meeting Nov. 18.
• The Hillsboro Lady Indians opened their 2022-23 basketball season with a victory Nov. 18 and in the process saw first-year head coach Heather Storer gain her first win as a varsity head coach in her debut, as HHS won against the Blanchester Lady Wildcats, 56-42 at HHS.
• Three Lynchburg-Clay soccer players — Kalyn Rich, Karlie Tipton and Trey Pitzer — were named to the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association’s All-Ohio list for their play during the 2022 season.
• The Highland County Republican Central Committee appointed city council member Patty S. Day as Hillsboro city auditor, as announced by Highland County Republican Executive Chair Paulette Donley Nov. 22. Day was sworn in during a ceremony at the Hillsboro City Building Nov. 23.
• Commissioners made several approvals during their Nov. 23 meeting, including voting 3-0 to award the proposed Highland County Fairgrounds livestock building construction bid to Perkins Carmack Construction, in the amount of $1.247 million.
• Fairfield head varsity girls basketball coach Andy Wood stepped down Nov. 28, citing personal reasons, according to the district. Wood was hired in the offseason and coached one game in the 2022-23 season before his resignation. The head coach is now Josh Stackhouse.
• Former Fairfield Lions standout player Quentin Williams earned his first win as varsity basketball head coach in game one of the 2022-23 season, as his Lions traveled to Washington Court House to defeat the Washington Blue Lions, 50-49 in overtime Nov. 29.
• Fairfield Local Schools announced Nov. 30 the selection of Lesley Hattan to succeed the retiring Mark Dettwiller as the Fairfield Lady Lions’ head softball coach.
• On Nov. 30, a Pike County jury found George Wagner IV guilty of 22 counts — including eight charges of aggravated murder, one for each of the victims found dead in April 2016 — after one day of deliberations. The eight counts represent each victim found dead on April 22, 2016: Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; his ex-wife Dana Manley Rhoden, 37; their three children, Hanna May Rhoden, 19, Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16, and Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20; Frankie Rhoden’s fiancée, Hannah “Hazel” Gilley, 20; the elder Christopher Rhoden’s brother, Kenneth Rhoden, 44; and cousin Gary Rhoden, 38. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the trial lasted 11 weeks and included over 50 witnesses, as the Enquirer described the case as “the largest homicide investigation in Ohio history.”
• Highland County commissioners heard an update on local transportation services at their Nov. 30 meeting, as Highland County Mobility Manager Joe Adray also notified commissioners of his upcoming retirement. Adray, who said he has worked in area transportation “in one form or another” for over 20 years, stepped down from his current role effective Dec. 31.
December
• Southern State Community College announced Dec. 2 the selection of Doug Daniels of Greenfield as the new Commander of the Ohio Basic Peace Officer Academy (OPOTA).
• Longtime Samantha Freewill Baptist Church pastor Wiley Perkins passed away Dec. 3. He was 90.
• The city of Hillsboro’s first woman mayor, the village of Greenfield’s first woman city manager and longtime public servant Betty L. Bishop passed away Dec. 5. She was 84.
• Former Hillsboro postmaster and longtime local pastor and community leader Wendell Harewood Sr. passed away Dec. 5. He was 85.
• Andrew Marler, 38, of Columbus was sentenced to community control and ordered to pay restitution Dec. 5 after pleading guilty to stealing $41,596.86 from a Hillsboro church.
• Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted Dec. 6 announced that 2,277 blighted and vacant structures in 42 counties will be demolished to pave the way for new economic development and housing opportunities across the state. The Highland County Land Reutilization Corporation had 18 projects approved. Their initial set-aside amount requested was $500,000, and their total grant amount approved is $376,045.
• The Division IV and V football All-Ohio teams were announced Dec. 6 by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association. McClain juniors Andrew Potts and Kaden Penwell earned All-Ohio honors in Div. IV.
• During their Dec. 6 meeting, Highland County commissioners authorized an application for a $250,000 technical assistance grant through the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission for the state’s previously announced $500 million Appalachian Community Grant program.
• In three separate presentations Dec. 7, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins and her staff honored two recent Officers of the Quarter as well as a local K-9 officer. Recognized were the July-September Officer of the Quarter, Deputy Robert Davis of the Highland County Sheriff’s Office; the October-December Officer of the Quarter, Officer Mark Hamilton of the Greenfield Police Department; and Greenfield K-9 Zar, who received a badge from the Prosecutor’s Office.
• The Division II and III football All-Ohio teams were announced Dec. 7 by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association. Hillsboro’s Austin Barrett and Deegan Bloomfield earned All-Ohio honors for Division III.
• Nathan Brown of Hillsboro was re-elected District 20 trustee for the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation during the 104th annual meeting of the Ohio Farm Bureau held Dec. 8-9 in Columbus. He will help govern the state’s largest and most inclusive farm and food organization and represent Farm Bureau members from Adams, Brown, Clermont and Highland counties.
• Longtime Hillsboro businessman and community leader John C. “Buck” Wilkin Jr. passed away Dec. 12. He was 77.
• A Georgetown man currently imprisoned for his role in a Brown County child endangering case was sentenced to another 15 years in prison. Charles Breeze pleaded guilty Dec. 12 to one count of rape, a first-degree felony, and one count of sexual battery, a third-degree felony.
• Adena Greenfield Medical Center was recognized with multiple 2022 Performance Leadership Awards for its excellence in patient perspectives and quality. Compiled by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, the Performance Leadership Awards honor those rural hospitals across the United States performing in the top 25 percent in patient perspectives and quality indicators established by Chartis. AGMC was one of only 10 Ohio hospitals recognized with a patient perspectives award and one of just 12 across the state to be honored for its quality, as announced Dec. 13.
• Highland County commissioners approved the annual county budget Dec. 14, voting to pass the 2023 appropriations resolution. The total general fund budget is $13.2 million, and the non-general fund budget is $50,877,274.81.
• A crowd of well-wishers filled the large basement meeting room of the Highland County Administration Building Dec. 14 to celebrate Highland County Commissioner Jeff Duncan, whose second term concluded at the end of December.
• Hillsboro City Council members voted unanimously to approve the 2023 budget and an emergency ordinance to ratify a lease/purchase agreement with the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District during their Dec. 15 meeting.
• Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted Dec. 16 announced $88 million in state support for 123 brownfield remediation projects that will help clean up hazardous and underutilized sites throughout the state. The Highland County Land Reutilization Corporation was awarded over $556,000, including $90,935 for cleanup and remediation of the former East Monroe Mill and $465,399 for cleanup and remediation of the former Rocky Fork Truck Stop.
• Lynchburg-Clay graduate and current Miami University women’s basketball player Peyton Scott became the third player in program history to reach 1,500 career points, and the third in program history to reach 500 career rebounds.
• Hillsboro Police K-9 Harley retired Dec. 18 after eight years of service as a dual-purpose dog (Patrol/Narcotics).
• The Highland County Republican Central Committee, through its members residing in the City of Hillsboro, announce the appointment of Jo Sanborn to the position of Hillsboro City Council member at large. She replaces Patty Day, who was appointed city auditor. She was sworn into office Dec. 19 in a ceremony at the city building.
• Pike County Common Pleas Court Judge Randy Deering sentenced George Wagner IV to eight terms of life in prison without parole, plus an additional 121 years in prison, Dec. 19 for his role in the deaths of eight victims slain in April 2016.
• The Hillsboro City Schools Board of Education approved the high school registration handbook and revised graduation requirements during their Dec. 19 meeting. According to superintendent Tim Davis, the high school graduation requirements have now been lowered from 21 credits to 20 credits, which is the “state standard.”
• Dr. Erika Goodwin, vice president of Academic Affairs at Southern State, has been selected by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) for reappointment as peer reviewer to serve a four-year term (Sept. 1, 2023-Aug. 31, 2027), as announced Dec. 20. This will be her third term serving in the role.
• Highland County commissioners wrapped up their 2022 meeting slate Dec. 21. The agenda included voting on a sewer rate increase, discussing the final permissive sales tax receipt report, approving several contracts and hearing from a local citizen as well as final comments from Duncan in his last meeting. The busy meeting included taking action on several year-end approvals, including voting 3-0 to raise the Rocky Fork Lake sewer rates by $2 per month.
• The National Weather Service issued winter storm and wind chill warnings for all of southern Ohio Dec. 22-24, with wind chills as low as 35 below zero, plus temperatures dipping below zero as well as accumulating snow. The extremely cold wind gusts up to 60 mph caused power outages in several areas.
• Derek Russell, pastor of the Methodist Church at 133 E. Walnut St. in Hillsboro, announced Dec. 29 that the church is starting a new chapter of its history effective Jan. 1. The church has been a United Methodist Church since the beginning of that denomination in 1968. This fall, the members of the church voted with a 79-percent majority to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church. At a later vote, the congregation decided to join the newly forming Global Methodist Church effective with the new year. By making this decision, the congregation agreed to pay over $147,000 to be freed from the Trust Clause which held all property and assets for the United Methodist denomination.
• Republican Brad Roades was sworn into office as Highland County commissioner Dec. 29 in a ceremony in the Highland County Juvenile and Probate Courtroom.
• Communities in southwest Ohio are receiving approximately $55.9 million in low-interest rate and principal forgiveness funding from Ohio EPA to improve wastewater and drinking water infrastructure and make other water quality improvements, as announced Dec. 30. Hillsboro is receiving $2.16 million to replace approximately 4,300 feet of existing 4-inch water main on North West Street to 6- or 8-inch PVC pipe.
