Madison Messenger - February 18th, 2024
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<strong>February</strong> 18, <strong>2024</strong> www.columbusmessenger.com Vol. XXXIX No. 7<br />
Paid for by Friends of Cory Coburn<br />
Expansion project will triple size of food pantry<br />
By Kristy Zurbrick<br />
<strong>Madison</strong> Editor<br />
The Mount Sterling Community Center’s<br />
food pantry will triple in size this year,<br />
thanks to an anonymous donor. Organizers<br />
expect to break ground on the 30x40 squarefoot<br />
expansion in late March or early April.<br />
“The donor came to us in August last<br />
year. They knew our numbers were growing<br />
and we needed more space,” said Megan<br />
Barker Witteman, the center’s director.<br />
In 2023, the food pantry had 10,207 individual<br />
visits, an increase of 2,200 visits over<br />
2022. The numbers have been climbing for<br />
several years, Witteman said.<br />
The pantry serves income eligible households<br />
in the <strong>Madison</strong>-Plains, Miami Trace,<br />
and Westfall school districts. Pre-packed<br />
food boxes are distributed in a drivethrough<br />
format every Tuesday and the first<br />
Thursday of each month.<br />
To stock the pantry shelves, the center<br />
works with Mid-Ohio Food Bank, which<br />
supplies items at no cost or at a steep discount.<br />
Additionally, Kroger in London donates<br />
fresh meat each week, and individuals<br />
and groups donate non-perishable items<br />
and money to purchase items.<br />
Last year, the pantry took delivery of a<br />
total of 52,990 pounds of miscellaneous pro-<br />
duce and 96,191 pounds of other food items<br />
from Mid-Ohio Food Bank, along with 9,164<br />
pounds of chosen produce for Thanksgiving<br />
and Christmas distributions. The 2023 food<br />
intake also included 10,074 pounds of meat<br />
from Kroger. All of these numbers are up by<br />
thousands over 2022.<br />
The pantry needs more room to store the<br />
food that goes out each week and to stockpile<br />
free items from Mid-Ohio that have<br />
long expiration dates.<br />
“We are just busting at the seams,” Witteman<br />
said.<br />
The expansion will connect directly to<br />
the existing food pantry space. The center<br />
plans to replace its existing walk-in<br />
cooler/freezer with a larger one and will continue<br />
to use its existing free-standing<br />
cooler/freezers.<br />
The pantry will continue to operate during<br />
construction which is expected to take a<br />
few months to complete once ground is broken.<br />
Hours are 3-6 p.m. Tuesdays and 10<br />
a.m.-noon the first Thursday of the month.<br />
Clients are asked to provide proof of residence<br />
at their first visit and identification<br />
at every visit.<br />
Witteman welcomes monetary donations<br />
and donations of food and other necessities.<br />
See PANTRY page 2<br />
<strong>Messenger</strong> photo by Kristy Zurbrick<br />
Megan Barker Witteman, director of the Mount Sterling Community Center, stands inside<br />
the center’s food pantry. Thanks to an anonymous donor, an expansion is planned for<br />
the food pantry this year.<br />
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Night To Shine offers prom-like experience<br />
By Dedra Cordle<br />
Staff Writer<br />
Seated at a table near the dance floor at <strong>Madison</strong><br />
County Vineyard Church in London, Gayla Heckel watched<br />
the action unfold with tears in her eyes and a soft smile<br />
spread across her face.<br />
In her direct line of sight was her younger brother, Mike<br />
Zbleski, her son, Fred, and her daughter-in-law, Fritzi, all<br />
dancing up a storm and having the time of their lives as<br />
part of a jubilant crowd.<br />
“I feel like my heart might burst from happiness right<br />
now,” she said.<br />
Heckel and her family members were among the guests<br />
taking part in Night To Shine on Feb. 9, an event designed<br />
to give an unforgettable prom night experience to individuals<br />
with special needs.<br />
Growing up in Wisconsin in the 1950s, Heckel said there<br />
were no social functions designed for differently abled people<br />
such as her brother, Mike.<br />
“I don’t think society really thought of things like that<br />
back then,” she stated. “I don’t remember any places where<br />
he could go to interact with other people like<br />
him, and I don’t remember any places where<br />
he could go so others could discover how<br />
much of a sweetheart he is.”<br />
She said she believes that lack of connection<br />
made life a little harder on her “baby<br />
brother.”<br />
“He has always been so social, always<br />
wanting to get out there and make friends,”<br />
she added. “But sometimes people were not so<br />
willing to be as nice to him as he was to them.”<br />
What makes Heckel feel optimistic about<br />
the world today, she said, is that it seems as<br />
if cultural attitudes toward individuals with<br />
See SHINE page 2<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Messenger</strong> photo by Dedra Cordle<br />
Janet Messer and Mike Zbleski share a dance at Night To<br />
Shine, held Feb. 9 at <strong>Madison</strong> County Vineyard Church.
PAGE 2 - MADISON MESSENGER - <strong>February</strong> 18, <strong>2024</strong><br />
SHINE<br />
Continued from page 1<br />
special needs are evolving for the better.<br />
“There seems to be more acceptance of people like my brother<br />
which is a good thing,” she said.<br />
She also said her family could not have landed in a better spot<br />
when they relocated to <strong>Madison</strong> County.<br />
“They are so supportive of the special needs community here,”<br />
she said. “The local board [for developmental disabilities] is very active,<br />
and they have Special Olympics which allows people like Mike<br />
to get out there and have fun with his crowd.”<br />
Heckel said she would like to see more social gatherings like<br />
Night To Shine.<br />
“It means so much to be here, to see this,” she said, as she<br />
watched her 74-year-old brother dance with new friends while<br />
dressed to the nines. “I hope it will be back next year, too.”<br />
The local residents who organized the prom night experience<br />
said the event was so well received, their intention is to repeat it.<br />
“I think we have to at this point,” quipped Melinda Scott, a member<br />
of London First United Methodist Church, who co-organized the<br />
event with <strong>Madison</strong> County Vineyard Missions and Outreach Pastor<br />
Cindy Taylor. “We might be the most hated people in the county<br />
if we didn’t try to do it again!”<br />
This marked the first time churches in <strong>Madison</strong> County have<br />
hosted Night To Shine, a movement sponsored by the Tim Tebow<br />
Foundation. Founder Tim Tebow, a former collegiate and profes-<br />
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started the event in 2014 as a way to show<br />
children and other individuals with special<br />
needs that they are cherished and loved.<br />
Since then, hundreds of churches around<br />
the world have hosted Night To Shine, honoring<br />
more than 7,000 “kings and queens”<br />
who have attended the events.<br />
Scott said she and Taylor had always<br />
wanted to see Night To Shine come to <strong>Madison</strong><br />
County and decided to take matters into<br />
their own hands.<br />
“Cindy and I had been talking about it<br />
for years, and we finally decided to bite the<br />
bullet,” Scott said.<br />
Planning started to take shape last year in<br />
the hallways of London Elementary School.<br />
Scott, a second-grade teacher at the school,<br />
struck up a conversation about the topic with<br />
Taylor, a substitute teacher for the district.<br />
The discussion revolved around the news<br />
that the Tim Tebow Foundation had just<br />
opened up grant opportunities for religious<br />
organizations to host Night To Shine.<br />
“I had this wild idea that the church<br />
where I am a member—London First United<br />
Methodist Church—should team up with<br />
<strong>Madison</strong> County Vineyard to throw this<br />
prom night experience for our beloved special<br />
needs community,” Scott explained. “I<br />
didn’t know if it would work out, but I<br />
thought it wouldn’t hurt to try.”<br />
With the approval of the two local<br />
churches, Scott and Taylor submitted an application<br />
to the foundation with a request to<br />
host the county’s very first Night To Shine<br />
on Feb. 9, <strong>2024</strong>. Within weeks, they received<br />
an email stating they were the recipients of<br />
a $6,500 grant to host the inclusive event.<br />
“We were beyond thrilled,” said Scott.<br />
“And then came the nerves.”<br />
Although the Tim Tebow Foundation<br />
provides each host church with an official<br />
Night To Shine planning manual and personalized<br />
guidance and support from a Tim<br />
Tebow Foundation staff member, Scott said<br />
she had no idea how stressful it would be to<br />
plan an event like this.<br />
“I think I was more nervous for this prom<br />
than my own,” she joked.<br />
She said she worried that local businesses<br />
would not donate time to provide<br />
hair and makeup services or goods for the<br />
swag bags. She worried that individuals<br />
who were more adept at decorating event<br />
centers and light staging and DJ planning<br />
would vanish off the face of the Earth. She<br />
worried the community would not volunteer<br />
to be chaperones and dates and the cheering<br />
section. She worried the special needs community<br />
would not want to come.<br />
As it turned out, she had no reason to<br />
worry. More than 10 local businesses donated<br />
food, prizes, and hair and makeup<br />
services, and more than 10 local residents<br />
stepped forward to help with decorating,<br />
light staging, and DJ services.<br />
PANTRY<br />
Continued from page 1<br />
High priority items include skillet meals, toilet<br />
paper, laundry detergent, and personal<br />
care supplies, such as shampoo and deodorant.<br />
She also welcomes volunteers to pack<br />
www.madisonmessengernews.com<br />
<strong>Messenger</strong> photos by Dedra Cordle<br />
Ben Allour of London and Olivia Dickey of Lancaster were among<br />
the kings and queens honored at Night To Shine, a prom experience<br />
hosted by <strong>Madison</strong> County Vineyard and London First<br />
United Methodist Church. Allour and Dickey are longtime friends<br />
but have not been able to meet in person for several years. They<br />
both said they were excited to be at the event and experience the<br />
festivities together.<br />
Night To Shine’s honored guests were greeted by cheers from the<br />
“paparazzi” as they entered the gymnasium.<br />
When it came to the three-hour main event on Feb. 9 in the gymnasium<br />
at <strong>Madison</strong> County Vineyard, more than 50 volunteers were<br />
on hand to cheer on the special guests, as well as volunteer as chaperones,<br />
dates, and dance partners. More than 20 individuals ages<br />
14 and older with special needs and different abilities tore up the<br />
dance floor and made new friends in the process.<br />
The kings and queens in attendance said they felt adored and<br />
supported.<br />
“This has been such a wonderful night, a wonderful experience,”<br />
said Kendra Chapman as she took a short break from dancing the<br />
night away with her boyfriend, Brandon North.<br />
food boxes, sort and pack produce deliveries the second and fourth<br />
Tuesdays of the month, and serve clients during pantry hours.<br />
The Mount Sterling Community Center is a non-profit organization<br />
funded solely by donations. It is located at 164 E. Main St. and<br />
offers a wide variety of programs, recreational opportunities, and<br />
space rental. For more information, call (740) 869-2453.
www.madisonmessengernews.com <strong>February</strong> 18, <strong>2024</strong> - MADISON MESSENGER - Page 3<br />
Nest and Bloom opens on Main Street<br />
By Kristy Zurbrick<br />
<strong>Madison</strong> Editor<br />
Nest and Bloom, a locally owned retail<br />
store offering furniture, home decor, gifts,<br />
and live plants, opened at 70 S. Main St.,<br />
London. A soft opening took place on Feb. 6<br />
followed by a grand opening on Feb. 10.<br />
The business is co-owned by London residents<br />
Kyleen and Luis Garcia and Kyleen’s<br />
mother, Christi Frea.<br />
“Kyleen wants to bring nice businesses<br />
and options to London. She’s very interested<br />
in investing in London,” Frea said.<br />
Kyleen also owns the Union Street Salon<br />
next door. The Nest and Bloom location was<br />
formerly home to an H&R Block office.<br />
Furniture offerings at Nest and Bloom are<br />
ever changing and consist primarily of new<br />
items, such as sofas, end tables, kitchen tables,<br />
and desks. New and refurbished home<br />
decor items are available, running from mirrors<br />
and wall hangings to rugs. The store also<br />
is a good place to visit for gifts, from tumblers<br />
and mugs to books and devotionals.<br />
Indoor plants are another part of the<br />
store’s inventory. Frea said customers can<br />
shop for pothos, snake plants, rubber plants,<br />
spider plants, and the like.<br />
The store also has what the owners call<br />
a Bloom Room, a space where they plan to<br />
hold plant-related classes, like how-to’s on<br />
fairy garden assembly. The space will be<br />
available for birthday parties, team-building<br />
activities, and other events, as well.<br />
Hours are: Tuesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.;<br />
Wednesday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Thursday, 10<br />
a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; and Saturday,<br />
9 a.m.-1 p.m.<br />
NOTICE TO<br />
MOBILE HOME TAXPAYERS<br />
• The last day to pay first-half <strong>2024</strong> Mobile Home<br />
Taxes in <strong>Madison</strong> County is Friday, March 1, <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
• Payments must be made in person at the <strong>Madison</strong><br />
County Treasurer’s Office until 4:00 P.M. Friday,<br />
March 1, <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
• Mailed payments must be postmarked by the Post<br />
Office by midnight Friday, March 1, <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
• By law, first-half taxes paid after March 1st, will<br />
incur 5% penalty for the first ten days and after ten<br />
days; a 10% penalty will incur regardless of<br />
whether the taxpayer has received a bill.<br />
• If you have not received a first-half <strong>2024</strong> Mobile<br />
Home tax bill, call the Treasurer’s Office<br />
immediately at 740-852-1936 or 1-877-454-3309.<br />
Stacey L. McKenzie<br />
<strong>Madison</strong> County Treasurer<br />
MM FEBRUARY 18 & 25, <strong>2024</strong><br />
MM<strong>2024</strong>148<br />
<strong>Messenger</strong> photo by Jeff Pfeil<br />
Nest and Bloom, 70 S. Main St., London, held their grand opening on Feb. 10. Co-owners<br />
Kyleen and Luis Garcia and Christi Frea are joined here by members of their families<br />
and the <strong>Madison</strong> County Chamber of Commerce.<br />
Help with language barrier<br />
By Linda Dillman<br />
Staff Writer<br />
The Jefferson Local School District board<br />
of education is taking steps to help the local<br />
international community, approving testing<br />
assistance for Ukrainian students.<br />
At their Feb. 13 meeting, board members<br />
approved an as-needed contract with Marta<br />
Shishio to serve as a bilingual end-of-course<br />
translator for the high school/middle school<br />
at a rate of $90 per test section.<br />
The four students are taking proficiency<br />
level tests. The state is reimbursing the district<br />
for translation costs.<br />
“This doesn’t happen too often,” reported<br />
Superintendent William Mullett.<br />
In other action, the board accepted the<br />
following donations:<br />
• $850 worth of basketballs and footballs<br />
from Toys for Tots;<br />
• $2,800 from the music boosters for<br />
stand carts and chair carts for the middle<br />
school/high school band;<br />
• $500 from the family of Jake Forrest to<br />
the class of <strong>2024</strong> for senior scholarships;<br />
• $150 in clothing from Lauren Holbert<br />
and family; and<br />
• winter coats valued at $800 to Norwood<br />
Elementary from Ron Mast.<br />
On April 8, the district is closing school<br />
buildings and using a calamity day due to<br />
the total solar eclipse occurring on that day.<br />
Mullett said the closure is in anticipation of<br />
a large volume of traffic in the area.<br />
“All school activities will be cancelled, including<br />
athletic events,” he said. “The district<br />
will provide students with solar eclipse<br />
glasses to take home with them on April 5.”<br />
Norwood Elementary second-graders are<br />
holding a donation drive Feb. 26-March 1 to<br />
benefit the Humane Society of <strong>Madison</strong><br />
County. Students are collecting original<br />
Clorox bleach, puppy pads, towels, treats,<br />
toys, dog/puppy food, and cat/kitten food.<br />
Purina brand is preferred.<br />
A new scholarship at the high school is<br />
helping marching band students pursue<br />
higher education. The Bidwell-Hall scholarship,<br />
named for Frederick and Sharon (Bidwell)<br />
Hall, is for graduating seniors to assist<br />
them with college costs. One $7,500 scholarship<br />
will be awarded on an annual basis and<br />
is non-renewable.
PAGE 4 - MADISON MESSENGER - <strong>February</strong> 18, <strong>2024</strong><br />
Al-Anon meetings in West Jefferson<br />
Al-Anon meetings are taking place at 12 p.m. on Wednesdays at<br />
West Jefferson United Methodist Church, 36 S. Center St. (Room 4<br />
on the second floor). Parking and the entrance are located on the<br />
side of the church. Al-Anon is a fellowship of relatives and friends<br />
of alcoholics who share their experiences, strength, and hope.<br />
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Casey Michael Murphy, Sr.<br />
(71) passed away unexpectedly on<br />
Wednesday, <strong>February</strong> 7, <strong>2024</strong>. Casey was<br />
a lifelong resident of <strong>Madison</strong> County<br />
since his birth on <strong>February</strong> 13, 1952. He<br />
was the son of Donald W. and Mary<br />
Catherine (Lanigan) Murphy. He was<br />
preceded in death by his parents. Casey<br />
is survived by the love of his life of 50+<br />
years, Richi (Naeder) Murphy; His children, Casey Jr. and wife Chrissy<br />
Murphy, Donald and his wife Kristina Murphy and Elizabeth Murphy;<br />
his grandson, Carter Michael Murphy; sister-in-law Cheryl Naeder<br />
along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.<br />
Casey was a 1971 graduate of London High School. After graduation,<br />
he began his lifelong career of farming and excavating. He was<br />
proud to be a lifetime member of the F.F.A. and belonged to the local<br />
Farm Bureau. He was also a member at St. Simon and Jude Catholic<br />
Church. Throughout his lifetime he was a devoted dog owner as<br />
well. Two notable companions were Fluffy and Willy. For many he<br />
was a faithful friend who in his later years could be found casually<br />
checking in on them to see if they needed anything, engaging in<br />
conversation, or telling a story or two. One of his favorite pastimes<br />
was spending time with his grandson Carter "C-Man" Murphy, whom<br />
he adored. You may also find him out in the shop, tinkering with his<br />
antique tractors or supervising his 2 sons and special nephew Bruce<br />
Daily Jr. The legacy of love and caring that Casey has left behind will<br />
ring throughout eternity with his family and friends.<br />
Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 pm on THURSDAY, <strong>February</strong> 15,<br />
<strong>2024</strong>, at the RADER-McDONALD-TIDD FUNERAL HOME, 1355 W.<br />
MAIN STREET, WEST JEFFERSON, OH, 43162. Funeral Services will<br />
be held at the Funeral Home on FRIDAY, <strong>February</strong> 16, <strong>2024</strong>, at 11:00<br />
AM, with a 1 hour Visitation prior to service. Casey will be laid to rest<br />
at the Dennison Chapel Cemetery.<br />
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to be<br />
made to <strong>Madison</strong> Plains FFA or St. Simon and Jude Catholic Church.<br />
www.madisonmessengernews.com<br />
Village administrator resigns<br />
By Kristy Zurbrick<br />
<strong>Madison</strong> Editor<br />
Tom Byrne is resigning as village administrator for<br />
the village of Mount Sterling, effective Feb. 29.<br />
Byrne was hired to fill the seat in August 2022. He<br />
is retiring to spend more time with family, especially<br />
his grandchildren.<br />
“I think we got a lot done here in Mount Sterling,”<br />
he said about his time with the village. “I think we have<br />
a lot of potential. There are a lot of good things going<br />
on. I’ve enjoyed all of it. It’s just time for me to move<br />
on.”<br />
As for filling the administrator’s position, Mayor<br />
Andy Drake said he is taking a few days to evaluate the<br />
role and talk with village staff before making a recommendation<br />
to council on next steps.<br />
“Once council has had time to consider and make<br />
changes to the role, we would then post a position with<br />
their approval,” he said.<br />
About Byrne’s service to the village, Drake commented,<br />
“He leaves on a very high note, with the village<br />
significantly better than when he found it. Tom’s ongoing<br />
contributions will be greatly missed, and we hope<br />
he will stop by once in a while to share some of his famous<br />
Irish cheer.”<br />
Council accepted Byrne’s resignation in a 6-0 vote.<br />
Potholes<br />
Resident Jacob Keever attended the Feb. 12 village<br />
council meeting to express concerns about potholes.<br />
“People want an action plan,” he said, regarding not<br />
just pothole fixes for the short term but also fresh<br />
paving of roads for the long term.<br />
Drake agreed the village needs a plan. He noted that<br />
funding is the challenge when it comes to paving, explaining<br />
that the village only gets so much from the<br />
state for such projects. He said the village borrowed<br />
$400,000 for repaving High Street, the last full paving<br />
project the village tackled.<br />
“We are still repaying that loan. We need to be careful<br />
about borrowing more money,” Drake said.<br />
In the short-term, Drake said the village’s goal is to<br />
patch potholes within 24 hours of discovering them.<br />
Byrne noted that the village’s two streets employees<br />
filled over 400 potholes last year.<br />
Arbor Day/Clean-Up Days/Trees<br />
The village’s tree/beautification committee will hold<br />
Streets of Plain City<br />
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two Arbor Day events. The first is set for April 19 at<br />
Mason Park. Organizers hope to have third-graders<br />
from <strong>Madison</strong>-Plains Local Schools plant a couple of<br />
trees at the event, as has been done in past years.<br />
The second Arbor Day event is set for 10 a.m.-noon<br />
April 20 during which the committee plans to give away<br />
tree saplings to the community at the town gazebo and<br />
on the town hall lawn.<br />
The village will hold its annual spring Community<br />
Clean-Up Days May 3-5. Details will be shared as the<br />
dates get closer.<br />
The tree/beautification committee plans to participate<br />
in the spring Clean-Up Days, helping with tree<br />
trimming projects and planting another six trees at<br />
Mason Park. They also plan to clear out brush and other<br />
natural growth around Mount Sterling’s oldest tree<br />
which stands near the water plant and Mason Park.<br />
The committee’s work over the past year has earned<br />
the village the designation of a Tree City USA. Members<br />
will attend the Tree City USA conference in Worthington<br />
on May 9 to accept the designation.<br />
Committees<br />
Council unanimously approved the appointment of<br />
several community members to village committees:<br />
• Linda Blankenship and Phil Starr to the zoning<br />
committee;<br />
• Alice Hix to the planning committee (council member<br />
Craig Hix abstained on this vote); and<br />
• Jacob Keever and Joann Schobeloch to the<br />
tree/beautification committee.<br />
Council held a first reading on a proposal to expand<br />
the tree/beautification committee from five members to<br />
eight members. Becky Martin, committee chair, said<br />
she has received a lot of interest from community members<br />
who want to serve.<br />
Martin also serves as chair of the nuisance and<br />
abatement committee. She reported that the committee<br />
has openings for two community members. Anyone interested<br />
in filling the seats can contact Courtney<br />
Bricker, village clerk, by sending a message via email<br />
to cbricker@mtsterling.org.<br />
Council member Ross Anderson reported that Mike<br />
Miller is a new member of the Tri-County Joint Fire<br />
District committee. Darrell Champer is the committee’s<br />
new chairperson. Anderson serves as council’s representative<br />
on the committee.<br />
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www.madisonmessengernews.com <strong>February</strong> 18, <strong>2024</strong> - MADISON MESSENGER - Page 5<br />
Road closures approved for Mt. Sterling special events<br />
By Kristy Zurbrick<br />
<strong>Madison</strong> Editor<br />
On Feb. 12, Mount Sterling village council<br />
members unanimously approved temporary<br />
road closures for several Mount<br />
Sterling Chamber of Commerce events<br />
slated for <strong>2024</strong>, along with American Legion<br />
Post 417’s Veterans Day ceremony.<br />
Council member Becky Martin, also a<br />
Chamber member, originally requested the<br />
road closures at the Jan. 22 meeting. Council<br />
deferred a vote on the request at that time,<br />
instead sending the matter to the street committee<br />
which met later that week. At issue<br />
were concerns about traffic control and safety.<br />
Representatives from the Ohio Department<br />
of Transportation (ODOT) and <strong>Madison</strong><br />
County Sheriff’s Office provided input<br />
at the committee meeting. This year, there<br />
will be more traffic pattern signage, better<br />
placement of the signage, and improved<br />
bracing so the signage doesn’t blow over.<br />
During the events, the village will close off<br />
an alleyway that has caused issues with<br />
CRUM<br />
Sharon Lee Crum, 79, of Pataskala, Ohio, died on Feb. 5, <strong>2024</strong>,<br />
in Licking Memorial Hospital, Newark. Born on Feb. 3, 1945, in<br />
Blacklick, she was a daughter of William Daugherty and Nellie<br />
Frances (Crabbe) Daugherty.<br />
Sharon went on to pursue a career in welding, where she worked<br />
for J-I-C for over 20 years. She married the love of her life, Oscar,<br />
on Dec. 14, 1972, and they enjoyed 47 years together until his passing<br />
in 2019. Sharon was an avid bowler in her younger days. She<br />
enjoyed fishing, watching westerns, playing the lottery, and listening<br />
to country music. She was a big Buckeye and Reds fan. Also,<br />
she made the best peanut butter fudge around!<br />
She leaves behind grandson, Daniel (Brandy) Stinson, and four<br />
stepchildren and their family. Sharon was preceded in death by her<br />
parents, husband Oscar Crum, and daughter Cecelia Leann Knott.<br />
Private interment will be completed at the convenience of the<br />
family. Memorials in Sharon’s name may be sent to benefit the<br />
American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.<br />
The family is being served by Eberle-Fisher Funeral Home and<br />
Crematory, London. Condolences may be shared at www.eberlefisherfuneralhome.com.<br />
DARLINGTON<br />
Daniel “Danny” Dean Darlington, 53, of Greenfield, Ohio, died<br />
on Feb. 7, <strong>2024</strong>, in Riverside Methodist Hospital. Born on June 15,<br />
1970, in Columbus, he was a son of John Ivan and Judith Ann<br />
(Brubaker) Darlington.<br />
Danny loved hunting and fishing. He would hunt almost anything<br />
that was in season and traveled far and wide to scout out the<br />
best fishing locations. Some of his favorite finds included Louisiana<br />
and the southern part of the country.<br />
He is survived by: two sons, Dylan (Heather) Darlington and<br />
Nathan (Chelsea) Darlington; grandchildren, Uriah Darlington,<br />
Trazara Darlington, Jasiah Darlington, and Arianna Darlington;<br />
siblings, John Darlington, Kim (Rudy) Deschler, and Darrel<br />
Williams; mother of his children, Connie Darlington; many nieces,<br />
nephews, and cousins.<br />
Danny was preceded in death by: his parents; brothers, Lewis<br />
Williams, Bryan Darlington, and Scott Darlington; and grandson,<br />
Eli Darlington.<br />
Private graveside services will be held at the convenience of the<br />
family. Interment will be completed in Kirkwood Cemetery.<br />
traffic flow in the past. The Sheriff’s Office<br />
will have more deputies on duty to enforce<br />
the traffic flow changes, and ODOT is working<br />
on Google map designations with the<br />
goal of diverting traffic around the village<br />
during special events.<br />
Josh Narwald, a High Street resident, attended<br />
the Feb. 12 council meeting. He said<br />
his children often play on the sidewalk outside<br />
their home. He worries for their safety<br />
when traffic increases during special events.<br />
After hearing the traffic safety measures<br />
planned for this year’s events, Narwald<br />
said, “That doesn’t completely allay my concerns,<br />
but I appreciate the effort.”<br />
Gerald Spradlin, another High Street<br />
resident, said the Chamber does a great job<br />
of providing entertaining events for the community.<br />
However, he said he took exception<br />
to Martin’s comments from the Jan. 22<br />
meeting in which she referred to residents<br />
with safety concerns as “complainers.”<br />
“Just try to envision yourself living there<br />
with the tsunami of traffic and big semi<br />
obituaries<br />
Memorials donations in Danny’s name may be sent to the American<br />
Heart Association at www.heart.org.<br />
The family is being served by Eberle-Fisher Funeral Home and<br />
Crematory, London. Condolences may be shared online at<br />
www.eberlefisherfuneralhome.com.<br />
ANDERS<br />
Hester M. Anders, 95, of London, Ohio, died on Feb. 9, <strong>2024</strong>, at<br />
the <strong>Madison</strong> House, London, surrounded by her loving family.<br />
She was born on July 10, 1928, in Fayette, County, Ohio, the<br />
daughter of Albert and Louie (Estep) Alltop. Hester was a hard<br />
worker all of her life. She and her husband owned the Matador<br />
Restaurant. She retired from Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy.<br />
After retirement, Hester worked and volunteered at <strong>Madison</strong><br />
County Senior Center. She loved to go to bingo and auctions. She<br />
loved to cook and probably gave away more<br />
food than she kept. She loved helping and<br />
doing things for others.<br />
Hester is survived by: her daughters,<br />
Mary Anders Smith, Carolyn Farish, and<br />
Sharon (Jack) Kerns; grandchildren, Michelle<br />
Powers, Scott Farish, and Jason (Patty)<br />
Kerns; great-grandchildren, Stephanie<br />
(John) DeFalco, Samuel Kerns, and Daniel<br />
Kerns; great-great-grandchildren, Emma<br />
Hass and Luke Hass; grand-daughter-in-law,<br />
Elizabeth Finchum; and special neighbors,<br />
Pat and Mary Davis and family.<br />
Hester was preceded in death by: her<br />
husband of 59 years, Harold Anders; granddaughter,<br />
Lara K. Finchum; grandson, Gregory<br />
Eric Finchum; sisters, Louise Gordon,<br />
Barbara Butcher, Lucille White, and Alberta<br />
Buchanan; and special family member,<br />
Rod Ryan.<br />
Calling hours were set for 11 a.m.-1 p.m.<br />
Feb. 17 at Lynch Family Funeral Home &<br />
Cremation Services, London, with a funeral<br />
service to follow and an interment service<br />
at Oak Hill Cemetery, London.<br />
Condolences may be shared at<br />
www.lynchfamilyfuneralhome.com.<br />
trucks, parking issues, and all that,” he<br />
said. “People have their own concerns, and<br />
they should be able to express those concerns<br />
without being referred to as ‘complainers.’”<br />
Martin apologized for her choice of<br />
words, saying she uttered them in a heated<br />
moment. She assured Spradlin that she<br />
takes all complaints seriously.<br />
Martin thanked council for approving the<br />
road closures. She also thanked the community<br />
members and business owners who expressed<br />
frustration to her over council’s lack<br />
of a vote on the matter at the previous meeting.<br />
She noted that the Chamber has met<br />
with ODOT and the Sheriff’s Office in previous<br />
years to work out traffic issues.<br />
“No one at any time was flying by the<br />
seat of their pants in the Chamber of Commerce,<br />
I’ll tell you that. We’ve done this for<br />
years,” she said, regarding consultation<br />
with authorities and village representatives<br />
regarding traffic safety.<br />
The Chamber events planned for <strong>2024</strong> include:<br />
Summer Jam, June 13-15; Independence<br />
Day parade, July 4; Downtown Street<br />
Market and Car Show, Sept. 21; and Christmas<br />
in the Village, Dec. 7. The Legion Post’s<br />
Veterans Day ceremony is set for Nov. 11.<br />
madison<br />
<strong>Messenger</strong><br />
Distribution: 8,400 • Published Sundays<br />
Denise Hill ................Advertising Manager<br />
Kristy Zurbrick .................................Editor<br />
Becky Barker....................Office Assistant<br />
78 S. Main St., London, Ohio 43140<br />
(740) 852-0809<br />
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This coming Monday, <strong>February</strong> 19, <strong>2024</strong> is<br />
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honor two of our most famous Presidents: George<br />
Washington, “The Father of Our Country,” and Abraham<br />
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PAGE 6 - MADISON MESSENGER - <strong>February</strong> 18, <strong>2024</strong><br />
www.madisonmessengernews.com<br />
Taxpayer Bill of Rights covers 10 important points<br />
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights is the 10 rights all taxpayers have<br />
any time they interact with the IRS. These rights cover a wide<br />
range of topics and issues, and they explain what taxpayers can expect<br />
if they need to work with the IRS on a tax matter. This includes<br />
when a taxpayer files a return, pays taxes, responds to a letter or<br />
notice, goes through an audit, or appeals an IRS decision.<br />
Taxpayers have a right to:<br />
Be Informed. The right to know what to do to comply with the<br />
tax laws.<br />
Quality Service. The right to receive prompt, courteous, and professional<br />
assistance when working with the IRS.<br />
Pay No More than the Correct Amount of Tax. The right to pay<br />
and to have the IRS apply all tax payments properly.<br />
Challenge the IRS's Position and Be Heard. The right to raise<br />
objections and provide additional documentation in response to formal<br />
IRS actions or proposed actions.<br />
Appeal an IRS Decision in an Independent Forum. The right to<br />
a fair and impartial administrative appeal of most IRS decisions.<br />
Finality. The right to know when the IRS has finished an audit.<br />
Privacy. The right to expect that any IRS inquiry, examination,<br />
or enforcement action will comply with the law and be no more intrusive<br />
than necessary.<br />
Confidentiality. The right to expect that any information taxpayers<br />
provide to the IRS will not be disclosed unless authorized by the<br />
Retain Representation. The right to retain<br />
an authorized representative of the taxpayer’s<br />
choice to represent them when<br />
working with the IRS. Taxpayers have the<br />
right to seek assistance from a Low Income<br />
Taxpayer Clinic if they cannot afford representation.<br />
A Fair and Just Tax System. The right to<br />
expect the tax system to consider facts and<br />
circumstances that might affect their underlying<br />
liabilities, ability to pay, or ability to<br />
provide information in a timely manner.<br />
only the amount of tax legally due, including interest and penalties, taxpayer or by law.<br />
Follow IRS checklist to make filing taxes easier<br />
The Internal Revenue Service offers the following checklist to<br />
help taxpayers as they prepare to file their 2023 tax returns during<br />
filing season. These easy tips will help make tax preparation<br />
smoother in <strong>2024</strong>. Much of this information is also available on a<br />
special IRS.gov free help page:<br />
1. Gather all necessary tax paperwork and records for accuracy<br />
to avoid missing a deduction or credit. Taxpayers should have all<br />
their important and necessary documents before preparing their return.<br />
This will help file a complete and accurate tax return. Errors<br />
and omissions slow down tax processing, including refund times.<br />
Before beginning, taxpayers should have:<br />
• Social Security numbers for everyone listed on the tax return<br />
• Bank account and routing numbers<br />
• Various tax forms such as W-2s, 1099s, 1098s, and other income<br />
documents or records of digital asset transactions<br />
• Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace statement<br />
• Any IRS letters citing an amount received for a certain tax deduction<br />
or credit.<br />
2. Remember to report all types of income on the tax return.<br />
Taxes By<br />
Jeff<br />
Johnson<br />
54 S. MAIN ST.<br />
LONDON, OH 43140<br />
740-852-6500<br />
Cell: 740-837-0858<br />
This is important to avoid receiving a notice or a bill from the IRS.<br />
Don’t forget to include income from:<br />
• Goods created and sold on online platforms<br />
• Investment income<br />
• Part-time or seasonal work<br />
• Self-employment or other business activities.<br />
online filing services; or hire a tax professional.<br />
4. Don’t wait on hold when calling the<br />
IRS. Use online resources at IRS.gov to get<br />
answers to tax questions, check a refund status,<br />
or pay taxes. There’s no wait time or appointment<br />
• Services provided through mobile apps.<br />
needed. Online tools and<br />
3. Consider which filing option to use; each one has its own<br />
benefits. Taxpayers should decide based on their personal situation<br />
and comfort level with tax preparation: personally file taxes; use<br />
resources are available 24 hours a day. The<br />
IRS’s Interactive Tax Assistant tool and Let<br />
Us Help You resources are especially helpful.<br />
Childcare tax credit for business<br />
The Internal Revenue Service announced the launch of a new<br />
page on IRS.gov explaining the Employer-Provided Childcare Tax<br />
Credit, an incentive for businesses to provide child care services to<br />
their employees.<br />
“This business tax credit helps employers provide their employees<br />
with child-care services and facilities,” said IRS Commissioner Danny<br />
Werfel. “We’ve heard that some employers may be overlooking this<br />
important credit, so the IRS has created a new one-stop shop for information<br />
on IRS.gov that provides an easy place to learn more.”<br />
The information is available at IRS.gov/employerchildcare or by<br />
searching “employer child care.”<br />
Reminder!<br />
Tax season<br />
is approaching.<br />
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740-852-3656<br />
mwalters@columbus.rr.com<br />
Get the best pricing<br />
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This tax credit is designed to help employers<br />
cover some of the qualified child care<br />
facility and resource and referral expenditures<br />
associated with providing child care<br />
services to their employees. A qualified child<br />
care facility is one that meets the requirements<br />
of all applicable laws and regulations<br />
of the state or local government in which it<br />
is located.<br />
The credit is limited to $150,000 per year<br />
to offset 25 percent of qualified child care facility<br />
expenditures and 10 percent of qualified<br />
child care resource and referral expenditures.<br />
Employers should complete Form 8882,<br />
Credit for Employer-Provided Child Care<br />
Facilities and Services, to claim the credit<br />
for qualified child care facility and resource<br />
and referral expenditures. The credit is part<br />
of the general business credit subject to the<br />
carryback and carryforward rule. This<br />
means employers may carryback unused<br />
credit one year and then carryforward 20<br />
years after the year of the credit. Taxpayers<br />
whose only source for the credit is from<br />
pass-through entities can report the credit<br />
directly on Form 3800, General Business<br />
Credit.<br />
The Employer-Provided Childcare Tax<br />
Credit homepage on IRS.gov has more information<br />
about claiming the credit, including<br />
the requirements for qualified child care expenditures<br />
and qualified child care facilities.
www.madisonmessengernews.com <strong>February</strong> 18, <strong>2024</strong> - MADISON MESSENGER - Page 7<br />
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Receive an Oil Change and Multi-Point<br />
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PAGE 8 - MADISON MESSENGER - <strong>February</strong> 18, <strong>2024</strong><br />
Archaeology Society<br />
The Darby Creek Chapter of the Archaeological<br />
Society of Ohio will meet on Feb. 21<br />
at the <strong>Madison</strong> County Historical Society<br />
Museum, 260 E. High St., London. Doors<br />
open at 5:30 p.m. The meeting starts at 6<br />
p.m. The group will talk about artifacts of<br />
North America’s Early Native Americans,<br />
as well as metal detecting finds related to<br />
Ohio pioneers. The public is welcome. Attendees<br />
are encouraged to bring artifacts (arrowheads,<br />
stone or bone tools, and/or metal<br />
detecting finds) to show and talk about.<br />
Health District and Advisory<br />
Council Meetings<br />
The <strong>Madison</strong> County London City Health<br />
District Board will hold its next regular<br />
Puzzle solution<br />
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<strong>Messenger</strong><br />
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community calendar<br />
meeting at 5 p.m. March 14 at <strong>Madison</strong><br />
County Public Health, 306 Lafayette St.,<br />
London.<br />
The <strong>Madison</strong> County District Advisory<br />
Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. March 11 at<br />
the <strong>Madison</strong> County Engineer’s Office, 825<br />
U.S. Rte. 42, London.<br />
Open Mic Night<br />
American Legion Post 201, 9701 W.<br />
Broad St., West Jefferson, is hosting an<br />
open mic night at 7 p.m. Feb. 20. For details,<br />
send email to music@thepenry.net.<br />
Somerford Township Trustees<br />
The date for the Somerford Township<br />
trustees’ <strong>February</strong> meeting has moved to<br />
Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. at the township hall.<br />
Alzheimer’s Family Support<br />
The Alzheimer’s Family Support Group<br />
meets at 6 p.m. the first Thursday of each<br />
month at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 380<br />
Keny Blvd., London. For more information,<br />
call Pat Baynes at (937) 269-3605. Everyone<br />
is welcome.<br />
<strong>Madison</strong> County Senior Center<br />
280 W. High St., London, (740) 852-3001.<br />
Feb. 19—Closed for Presidents Day<br />
Feb. 20—9 a.m., quilting class, 10 a.m.,<br />
bowling; 4-7 p.m., billiards, hand and foot<br />
cards, workout room open<br />
Feb. 21—8:30 a.m., indoor walking/exercise<br />
class; 9 a.m., chair volleyball; 12 p.m.,<br />
bridge<br />
Feb. 22—9 a.m., chair volleyball; 9:30<br />
a.m., museum trip departs; 1:30 p.m., Prime<br />
Tour trip presentation<br />
Feb. 23—8:30 a.m., indoor walking/exercise<br />
class; 9 a.m., painting class; 1 p.m., free<br />
movie for members.<br />
London Public Library<br />
20 E. First St., (740) 852-9543.<br />
• Closed. The library will be closed on<br />
Feb. 19 for Presidents Day.<br />
• Blind Date with a Book. Let the library<br />
set you up on a blind date this <strong>February</strong>.<br />
Don't worry about the awkwardness of the<br />
first date; the books are great conversationalists.<br />
Stop by to pick out a book or two and<br />
get a “Rate Your Date” card to go with it.<br />
Each book is wrapped so you don’t know<br />
what you’re getting. The only thing you will<br />
be told is the book’s genre and first line.<br />
Complete the book and fill out the rate card<br />
to be entered into a prize drawing.<br />
• Toddler Time. Tuesdays, 10-10:30 a.m.,<br />
for ages 0-3. Stories, songs, and finger-plays<br />
revolve around a different theme each week.<br />
Some weeks involve musical instruments,<br />
balls, and a parachute.<br />
• Preschool Storytime. Tuesdays, 11-<br />
11:45 a.m., for ages 3-6. Books, songs, and<br />
finger-plays revolve around a different<br />
theme each week. Some weeks involve musical<br />
instruments, balls, and a parachute.<br />
Preschoolers can practice the alphabet with<br />
a letter activity after the regular storytime<br />
is over.<br />
• Cookbook Club. The group will meet<br />
at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 to share Cajun dishes and<br />
recipes. Each month, the club picks a cookbook<br />
or cookbook author, then members<br />
make and share dishes the third Wednesday<br />
of the month<br />
• Kindergarten Club. On Feb. 22 from<br />
6:30 to 7:15 p.m., children ages 3-6 can practice<br />
the alphabet and motor skills to prepare<br />
for kindergarten. Participants will practice<br />
letter sounds and writing letters using multisensory<br />
literacy activities. Children can<br />
master important fine motor skills and gross<br />
motor skills needed to start school. Participants<br />
will work on numbers and counting,<br />
scissors, sorting, patterns, and more.<br />
HBMLibrary<br />
270 Lilly Chapel Rd., West Jefferson,<br />
(614) 879-8448.<br />
• Storytime. Wednesdays and Friday at<br />
10:30 a.m.<br />
• Companions for Kids. Through <strong>February</strong>,<br />
the library is collecting new stuffed animals<br />
for first responders of <strong>Madison</strong><br />
County.<br />
• Closed. The library will be closed Feb.<br />
19 for Presidents Day.<br />
• Friends of the Library. The group will<br />
meet at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 21. To learn more<br />
about the group, contact library Director<br />
Chris Siscoe at (614) 879-8448.<br />
• Local Author Talk. The <strong>Madison</strong><br />
County Masters Gardener volunteers are<br />
hosting this event featuring <strong>Madison</strong><br />
County resident Teresa Woodard. At 6 p.m.<br />
Feb. 27, Woodard will talk about her travels<br />
across the United States and will have<br />
copies of her book, “American Roots: Lessons<br />
and Inspiration from the Designers<br />
Reimaging Our Home Gardens,” available<br />
for purchase.<br />
Mount Sterling Library<br />
60 W. Columbus St., (740) 869-2430.<br />
• Little Free Library Pantry. Anyone is<br />
welcome to donate or take books, non-perishable<br />
canned and boxed food items (unexpired<br />
and undamaged), pet food, and<br />
unopened hygiene items. The pantry is located<br />
across from the library and accessible<br />
around the clock, year-round.<br />
• Storytime. 10:30 a.m. Mondays for<br />
ages 2-5 years old.<br />
• Closed. The library will be closed Feb.<br />
19 in observance of Presidents Day.<br />
• Ladies Night Out Movie. The next<br />
night out is Feb. 26. The library will show<br />
“Love Again” (PG-13) on its big screen; the<br />
title will be announced soon. Doors open at<br />
6:30 p.m. Ladies only are invited to RSVP<br />
for this potluck event by calling the library<br />
or texting Melissa at (614) 315-7939. Seating<br />
is limited. The library provides popcorn,<br />
cold drinks, and flavored coffees.<br />
• Around Town Book Club. The group<br />
will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 29 on the library’s<br />
www.madisonmessengernews.com<br />
Meetings for<br />
new farmers<br />
The <strong>Madison</strong> County and Franklin<br />
County Extension offices are hosting<br />
three beginning farmer informational<br />
meetings. The series is designed to introduce<br />
beginning farmers to important<br />
topics and resources.<br />
The series kicks off on Feb. 20 with<br />
the USDA Beginning Farmer Team.<br />
Numerous programs, resources, and financing<br />
are available to beginning<br />
farmers. Participants will connect with<br />
staff managing these programs. The<br />
session is set for 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the<br />
Kunz-Brundige Franklin County Extension<br />
Building, 2548 Carmack Rd.,<br />
Columbus.<br />
Tim McDermott, OSU Extension educator<br />
in Franklin County, will lead the<br />
March 5 session which will focus on<br />
marketing and alternative sales channels.<br />
This session is set for 5:30-6:30<br />
p.m. at Hurt-Battelle Memorial Library,<br />
270 Lilly Chapel Rd., West Jefferson.<br />
The series will wrap up on March 19<br />
with business plan development and ag<br />
lending. Amanda Douridas, OSU Extension<br />
educator in <strong>Madison</strong> County, will<br />
talk about the basics of a business plan,<br />
and Hallie Hiser of Farm Credit will<br />
talk about what lending through them<br />
might look like for a beginning farmer.<br />
This session is set for 5:30-6:30 p.m. at<br />
the Prairie Township Community Center,<br />
5955 W. Broad St., Galloway.<br />
Participants attending one or all of<br />
these sessions will gain information to<br />
improve their farms and make connections<br />
with resource providers. The sessions<br />
are free to attend. Pre-registration<br />
is advised in case of cancellations. Details<br />
and registration are available at<br />
go.osu.edu/24begfarmerseries.<br />
Questions can be directed to Amanda<br />
Douridas at Douridas.9@osu.edu.<br />
main level. The theme for <strong>February</strong> is<br />
“Blind Date with a Book.” Participants will<br />
choose a wrapped book on display based on<br />
a brief description, read it, then talk at the<br />
meeting about whether they would recommend<br />
it. Refreshments are served and a<br />
game is played. Adult men and women are<br />
welcome.<br />
• Batters, Splatters, & Platters. Registration<br />
is open for this kids’ cooking club for<br />
ages 9-12. Classes will be held at 6 p.m.<br />
March 4, March 18, April 1, April 15, and<br />
April 22. Call the library for details.<br />
• Bright Beats. Registration is open for<br />
Bright Beats classes. Classes are free and<br />
run for 30 minutes. They will be held<br />
Wednesdays March 6-May 9 (no class<br />
March 27 due to spring break) and are open<br />
to children ages 1-4 years old.
PAGE 12 - MADISON MESSENGER - <strong>February</strong> 18, <strong>2024</strong><br />
www.madisonmessengernews.com