Madison Messenger - January 2nd, 2022

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PAGE 6 - MADISON MESSENGER - January 2, 2022 South Charleston Scenes from Christmas in South Charleston www.madisonmessengernews.com Photos courtesy of HM Photography Fueling up at the food truck Fist bump with Santa and a wave from Mrs. Claus Hanging out around the bonfire SO. CHARLESTON, OHIO YOUR LOCALLY OWNED FINE FOOD STORE • FEATURING - ONE STOP FOOD SHOPPING • FINE MEATS - USDA CHOICE BEEF • HOT & COLD DELI FOODS TO GO • COLD BEER & FINE WINES • FRUIT BASKETS AVAILABLE ANYTIME • OHIO LOTTERY-LOTTO • MOVIE RENTALS • ATM MACHINE • MONEY ORDERS • PHONE CARDS VISA ~ Mastercard ACCEPTED OPEN 7 AM TO MIDNIGHT SEVEN DAYS A WEEK PHONE 937-462-8353 Jim Dempsey Your Hometown Funeral Director * Funerals * Cremation * Pet Cremation * Pre-Arrangements * All price ranges * Free Grief Support Groups Coloring and writing out wish lists All smiles “locally owned & operated by people you know & trust” 24 North Chillicothe St. • South Charleston, Ohio (937) 462-8357 Decked out for the parade
www.madisonmessengernews.com January 2, 2022 - MADISON MESSENGER - Page 7 Right to Life president seeks statement retraction By Kristy Zurbrick Madison Editor Brendan Shea, president of Madison County Right to Life, made a second request that Henry Comer, London city council president, retract statements he made about the level of public support for legislation that, if passed, would have banned abortion in the city. Council voted down the legislation on Nov. 18. At the Nov. 18 meeting, Comer stated, “We had an overwhelming majority of people who, through emails, through Facebook, through presence in council meetings, that were not for this legislation. We’ve heard it over and over. We’ve heard it through the committee, and we’ve had a sprinkling of people who were for this.” At council’s Dec. 16 meeting, Shea presented council with numbers he gleaned from public records of meetings and communications that involved the abortion ban legislation. He had done the same at council’s Dec. 2 meeting. The information he presented showed that a majority of the people who registered their opinion with the city were in favor of the legislation. He also provided photos of a March for Life that took place in London on Oct. 7, the same day the legislation was introduced at council, in which 75 people took part. About his request that Comer retract his statement, Shea said on Dec. 16, “This is about having an accurate record of what transpired and where London residents were and are on this issue, because this is not going away. It will come back. Regardless of what the Supreme Court decides in the Dobbs case, this issue and these decisions are not going away. “I and countless others will not stop fighting on behalf of all children, including those who reside in their mothers’ wombs. And my interest is to ensure that when this comes up again, whether it’s next year or next decade, the record accurately reflects that in 2021 more London residents weighed in support of, rather than opposed to, making London a sanctuary city for the unborn.” In response to Shea’s repeated request for a retraction, Comer said there was no way to know exactly how many people were for or against the issue because some who attended the meetings did not speak. “It’s not provable,” Comer said. He did not offer a retraction. London resident George Schwartz spoke at the Dec. 16 meeting about the way the vote on the abortion ban unfolded. Council held the first reading on the proposed legislation at its Oct. 7 meeting, then moved discussions to committee meetings before bringing it back before full council for a second reading on Nov. 18. On Nov. 18, council voted 6-1 to suspend the three-reading rule and vote on the proposal on second reading, rather than wait until a third reading. Council member Anthony Smith cast the lone “no” vote on the suspension. Council then voted down the legislation. Schwartz alleges that council members colluded to bring the measure to an early vote. He said he is disappointed, not upset, the measure did not pass. “What we are angry about is the shell game you played with the vote date and deciding early on you would vote it down. Indeed, that was quite the dog-andpony show you put on at the Nov. 18 meeting,” he said. He later added, “As for all of you who voted against (the legislation), we now know it was a setup from the get-go. Shame on all of you for being dishonest and then trying to cover your butts when exposed.” Members of council and Mayor Patrick Closser stated at the previous meeting that there was no collusion. Megan Douglas, a London resident and former city council member, addressed council on Dec. 16 about the amount of time Comer allowed for public participation at meetings at which the abortion ban was discussed— two minutes per person. Douglas noted the city website and information displayed at council meetings state that residents who wish to address council are allowed five minutes to speak. “They came to speak to you so they would know their voice was being heard, instead of sending an email or voicemail that just could be deleted, unread, or unheard,” Douglas said. “As far as I can see, these people have been nothing but civil and have abided by your arbitrary rules you made up as you went along, yet you insist on disenfranchising them with our government system by cutting them out of the process simply because you don’t want to hear their criticism of your actions or because you want a nice, short meeting.” Council member Brenda Russell said the speaking time was changed for both the council and committee meetings. She noted that residents were permitted to speak at committee meetings which isn’t usually the case. She said the council president can change the speaking time. She also said time was a factor that was considered. “We kind of weighed it out, so it wasn’t a sneaky, underhanded, cowardly, manipulative way to maneuver what we wanted,” Russell said. About the speaking time and the allegations of collusion, she added, “I am so tired of being called sneaky, dishonest and underhanded. You want to know why nobody’s on the ballot to run for these positions? It’s because that’s what we get. That’s the treatment we get… No respect at all.” Dwyer Insurance Agency 63 N. Main Street London, OH 43140 (740)852-0654 Americanism winners in West Jeff American Legion Post 201, West Jefferson, sponsored the Americanism & Government program at West Jefferson High School. The program tests students in grades 10-12. Questions cover local, state and national government topics. The Legion awarded $50 to the top girl and boy in each grade. Local winners are entered into the district competition and from there have a shot at the state competition which comes with a trip to Washington D.C. Bob Penry (left), Post 201 service officer, and Mike O’Reilly (right), Post 201 commander, congratulates this year’s winners: (from left) 10th grade, Kassandra Simmons and Charles Stephens; 11th grade, Cortney Hunter and Jeffery McClish; 12th grade, McKayle Woodford and Aiden Clerico.
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Madison Messenger - January 2nd, 2022

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