Madison Messenger - June 14th, 2020

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PAGE 2 - MADISON MESSENGER - June 14, 2020 Free box fans for city residents The city of London Division of Fire & EMS is giving away box fans to city residents on a first come first served basis. Families in need of fans can stop by the fire station between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Due to limited inventory, there is a limit of one fan per household. God Bless Everyone & Stay Safe at Home Malek & Malek ATTORNEYS AT LAW WORK INJURIES WORKERS’ COMPENSATION SAFETY VIOLATIONS WRONGFUL DEATH PERSONAL INJURY SLIP & FALL INJURY DOG BITE INJURY Douglas, Ed, Jim and Kip Malek Ben Churchhill “Hablamos Español” FREE Initial Consultation www.maleklawfirm.com 614-444-7440 1227 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43206 DO IT ALL MOM’S HELPING MOM’S KEEP UP WITH THE DEMANDS OF LIFE DO YOU NEED HELP JUGGLING EVERYTHING? CALL US! Dwyer Chiropractic Dr. Heather Dwyer & Dr. Penny Shepherd 139 S. Main St., London, Oh 740-852-1965 ~ www.dwyerchiropractic.com www.madisonmessengernews.com EMA’s Safety Expo cancelled By Kristy Zurbrick Madison Editor Debbie Sims, director of the Madison County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), is sad to announce that this year’s Safety Expo is cancelled. “During this time, with everything that’s going on, it makes me sad we’re taking away a free and fun event,” she said. This year would have marked the 19th year for the expo which was scheduled to take place on Aug. 29 at the Madison County fairgrounds in London. Last year, a record-breaking crowd of 1,048 children and adults attended the expo to meet first responders, get up-close looks at fire engines and other emergency response vehicles, see medical helicopters land, and take part in hands-on safety lessons and demonstrations. Due to the nature of the event, social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 would be “almost impossible,” Sims said. This was the main reason for the event’s cancellation. Additionally, the first responders and agencies that normally participate have been stretched thin during the pandemic. As such, Sims said she was unsure if their usual interest to participate would be there this year. “And businesses have been overtaxed by (pandemic-related) restrictions and closures. I do not feel comfortable asking for donations of money or items for swag bags. This year, we were set to purchase and fill 500 bags,” Sims said. The Safety Expo was established as a At last year’s Safety Expo, Taner Smith, a firefighter with Central Townships Joint Fire District, helps Noah Cleaver of London direct water from a fire hose to put out a pretend fire on a mock-up of a burning house. This year’s Safety Expo has been cancelled due to COVID-19. way to pay tribute to first responders in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. In addition to the features already mentioned, the expo includes police dog demonstrations, a bike rodeo, mental health and bullying resources, bouncy houses, face-painting and free food. “We’re hoping next year the Safety Expo will be back and better than ever!” Sims said. The 2021 expo is set for Aug. 28. FIREWORKS Continued from page 1 the cost of the fireworks. Usually, they hold a fundraiser to help cover the expenses. That did not happen this year due to the pandemic. Anyone who would like to help defray the cost of the fireworks can send donations to “West Jefferson July 4th Streetfest Inc.,” 880 Crescent Dr., West Jefferson OH 43162. • Plain City In May, Plain City village leaders decided to postpone this year’s Independence Day fireworks until Labor Day weekend. “Instead of cancelling them outright, we still wanted to offer residents an event. The further out we went (with a new date), the hope is that more (COVID-19) restrictions will get lifted,” said Jody Carney, village council president. The village also decided to cancel the activities that traditionally precede the July 4 fireworks display, which included bounce houses, food trucks, children’s games, and live music at Pastime Park. As of June 9, a decision had not been made on whether the village will hold a July 4 parade.
www.madisonmessengernews.com June 14, 2020 - MADISON MESSENGER - Page 3 Division over food trucks, AEP funds By Andrew Garrett Staff Writer Mount Sterling village council was back in its regular quarters, live and in person, for its regular meeting on June 8—masked and arranged to allow for appropriate social distancing between council members and with the audience stationed outside of council chambers in the lobby of town hall. Despite the inconveniences, it didn’t take long for council members to get down to the business of disagreeing with each other, particularly over the stationing of food trucks during the community’s “cruise-ins” and the allocation of funds from AEP for the easement of a small parcel of land in Mason Park amounting to approximately $15,000. Cyndi Compton, proprietor of Ben & Joy’s Restaurant in Mount Sterling, expressed her displeasure over food trucks from out of town taking up multiple parking spots downtown during the cruise nights, which are held every other Saturday. She said they prevent patrons from accessing parking to local businesses, including her restaurant. “We are part of this community every day of the week for over 36 years, so to bring someone else into our town to cut off the (very limited) parking, that hurts our business,” Compton said. Ben & Joy’s pays electric and water, generates RITA tax which in turn benefits the community, and employs residents that spend much of their earnings locally, she said. Advertisements for the June 20 cruise night include the statement: “Support Local Businesses.” Council members Becky Martin and Jay Pettey disagreed as to who was responsible for inviting the food trucks— Martin of her own accord, or with the knowledge and blessing of the parks and recreation department. According to Martin, the food trucks donated $40 each to the parks and recreation department. Currently, the village is footing the bill for the electric and water usage of the trucks. As of now, there are no village ordinances specifically regulating booths or concessions associated with festival vending. Martin made a motion that the money the village received from AEP for the easement at Mason Park be allocated back to the parks and recreation department. She was nonplussed when she experienced pushback from the majority of council. “Parks and rec is the only fund that has no income going into it, and it’s (the payment from AEP) been earmarked for parks and rec for two years. And I’m just surprised that there would be any question to that now,” Martin said. Council member Andrew Drake gave his opinion that the money should go into the general fund, especially since income generation for the village was questionable given the financial crisis caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Council member Dave Timmons also stated that the money should go to the general fund where it can be distributed as needed, like to pothole repair. Melanie Fritz was the only council member to side with Martin on the matter, saying that it was Mason Park that was altered by the transaction, so the money should go back to the park for improvements. Fritz also challenged Pettey, who said he couldn’t vote for the money to go to the parks and recreation department because it might be seen as a conflict of interest since he is president of the local youth sports league. “Then you should just not vote,” Fritz said. Martin’s motion was voted down. NOTICE TO PROPERTY TAXPAYERS • The last day to pay second-half 2019 property taxes in Madison County is Monday, June 22, 2020. • Payments must be made in person at the Madison County Treasurer’s Office until 4:00 P.M. Monday, June 22, 2020. • Mailed payments must be postmarked by the Post Office by midnight Monday, June 22, 2020. • By law, second-half taxes paid after June 22, 2020, will incur a 5% penalty for the first ten days and after ten days a 10% penalty will incur regardless of whether the taxpayer has received a bill. • If you have not received a second-half 2019 property tax bill, call the Treasurer’s Office immediately at 740-852-1936 or 1-877-454-3309. Donna L. Landis Madison County Treasurer MM JUNE 7 & 14, 2020 MM2020265 LONDON PUBLIC LIBRARY All Programs will take place online. Please visit our Facebook Events Page or our website for more information on how to participate. ON GOING PROGRAMS: • Dragons: Return of the Ice Sorceress - June 1st-July 31st • Imagine Your Build - June 1st-June 30th • Chalk the Walk Wednesdays - Every Wednesday from June 3rd-July 29th • Firefly Watch Fridays - Every Friday evening from June 5th-July 31st ONE TIME PROGRAMS: • Monday, June 15th - Virtual Craft Project: Fairy Houses- 10:00 AM • Wednesday, June 17th - Makeshift Robot Craft- All Day • Thursday, June 18th - A Not-So-Grimm Show- 2:00 pm • Monday, June 22nd - Fairly Hairy Tales- 2:00 pm • Thursday, June 25th - Virtual Story Challenge: Wizard Challenge- 10:00 am Messenger photos by Jeff Pfeil Protest in West Jefferson A peaceful Black Lives Matter protest took place on June 3 in downtown West Jefferson. Participants rallied along Main Street near village hall to protest police violence in the wake of George Floyd’s death. Floyd, a black man, died in Minneapolis on May 25 after a white police officer pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. OX ROAST Continued from page 1 a spike in cases that shuts things down again? “We can’t afford to gamble,” Pfeil said, referring both to finances and people’s health. Part of planning the Ox Roast is ordering meat and wood to make the festival’s famous sandwiches. The trustees must make those order commitments in June. They felt it was too much of a financial risk to place the orders, not knowing for sure if they could hold the festival come September. In their statement, the trustees said they are “heartbroken” that they had to cancel the event, but they feel the decision is in the best interest of all participants. “We’re disappointed,” Pfeil said. “I feel sorry for the vendors because, for a lot of them, it’s their livelihood, not just a weekend gig. The same for the ride companies. I just hope they can survive this year and come back next year.” The trustees thanked visitors, volunteers, sponsors, vendors, the festival queens, entertainers, crafters and the community for their support of the Ox Roast over the years. “We’re hoping everything is straightened out so we can have it next year,” Pfeil said. For more information about the West Jefferson Ox Roast, go to westjeffoxroast.org.
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