South & Canal Winchester Messenger - March 10th, 2024

PAGE 4 - SOUTH & CANAL WINCHESTER MESSENGER - March 10, 2024
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The giant things are on the move
Honoring Black History
As we celebrate Black History Month, let us not only reflect
on the past but also commit ourselves to building
a brighter future. As your State Senator, I am honored
to stand in solidarity with you during Black History
Month, a time dedicated to commemorating the resilience,
achievements, and cultural richness of the
Black community. This month serves as a poignant reminder
of the struggles and triumphs that have shaped
our nation. From the courageous leaders of the Civil
Rights Movement to the trailblazing innovators who
have revolutionized every facet of society, Black Americans
have left an indelible mark on our collective consciousness.
Their unwavering determination in the face
of adversity and their relentless pursuit of justice continue
to inspire us all.
However, Black History Month is not merely a time for
reflection; it is a call to action. At the community level,
there are countless ways to honor Black History Month
and contribute to its celebration. Here are a few suggestions:
Support Black-Owned Businesses.
Patronize Black-owned businesses in your community
and amplify their voices through social media and
word-of-mouth recommendations. By investing in the
economic success of Black entrepreneurs, we can promote
economic empowerment and foster a more equitable
society.
Attend public hearings and meetings where issues
affecting black communities are discussed.
These hearings provide an opportunity for community
members to voice their concerns, share their experiences,
and advocate for change directly to lawmakers
and policymakers. By showing up and speaking out,
you can ensure all voices and perspectives are heard
and considered in the decision-making process.
Engage directly with your elected officials.
Writing letters, making phone calls, and scheduling
meetings with local government officials and state legislators
are all powerful tools for advocacy. Building relationships
with your elected officials and holding us
accountable can help drive positive change from the
ground up.
Get involved with local organizations and advocacy
groups actively working to address issues facing
black communities.
These groups often have deep connections and relationships
with state government officials and can provide
valuable insights and support for your advocacy
efforts. By collaborating with problem solvers who are
dedicated to advancing black communities, you can
amplify your impact and contribute to meaningful
change in your community and beyond.
Together, let us strive to create a society where every
individual is valued, respected, and empowered to live
up to their fullest God-given potential. By honoring the
legacy of Black Americans, we can forge a more just and
unified future for generations to come.
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By Rick Palsgrove
Managing Editor
The Groveport Police are working to
stay on top of a situation involving the
movement of huge, heavy equipment along
Groveport area roads headed for Licking
County as part of the $20 billion Intel semiconductor
chip factory project.
According to the Ohio Department of
Transportation (ODOT), the first of nearly
two dozen extremely large truck loads,
known as “super loads,” were expected to
journey from Manchester along the Ohio
River to Central Ohio as soon as March 6.
Each load will be transported by semitruck
via a predetermined route to destinations
in either New Albany or Hebron.
Most, but not all, of the loads are associated
with the future Intel semiconductor
facilities. The loads will not contain any
hazardous material.
ODOT officials said some of the loads will
weigh 900,000 pounds, be 19 feet wide, 24
feet high, and 270 feet long. Each oversized
and overweight load will take approximately
8-15 days to reach its destination. While
no official closures or detours are planned,
slow-rolling road blocks will be necessary
during transit, and drivers should plan
ahead for long delays along the route.
Groveport Police Chief Casey Adams
said representatives from the Columbus
Police Department and ODOT provided
him with the following information:
•Over a period of months, there are
approximately 40 oversized transports that
will come through Groveport and Madison
Township.
•Four of the oversized transports will be
the largest loads police have been anticipating
coming through the community, and
will most likely cause some traffic delays in
Groveport (slower speeds and wider turns
on the roadways). The loads will be approximately
266 in length, over 20 feet in
height, and over 500,000 pounds in weight
•The other 36 oversized loads will vary
in size (height, weights, and length). They
Easter Egg hunt in CW
Hop into Canal Winchester on March 23
at 10 a.m. for the Canal Winchester
Community Easter Egg Hunt at McGill
Park, located at 6725 Lithopolis-
Winchester Road. Visit with the Easter
Bunny, have your face painted by one of
the Miss Canal Winchester queens, enjoy
the new playground, and join your friends
for a fun egg hunt.
Children up to age 10 are invited to participate.
There will be nearly 15,000 colorful
eggs, with special prize eggs in each age
category. Age groups are as follows: under
3 years, 4-6 years, 7-8 years, and 9-10
years. Bring your own bag to collect
eggs/candy.
The hunt begins promptly at 10 a.m. so
families are encouraged to arrive early.
When the parking lot is full, the entrance
will be closed to vehicular traffic. The park
can also be accessed via foot or bike along
Walnut Creek Trail. The event will occur
will be smaller compared to the four largest
transports, and some of these oversized
loads can be transported on shorter time
frame compared to the four largest transports,
along with a different route - State
Route 317 to U.S. 33 eastbound/ bypassing
the Bixby Road route.
•Weekend only transports through
Franklin County.
•Transports will take place during daylight
hours only.
•Utility companies will be staging
ahead of the oversized transports to minimize
traffic delays as the trucks move
through the designated routes.
Adams said the following Groveport
area roads will be affected by these oversized
transports: Alum Creek Drive (south
of Rohr Road), Rohr Road, Opus Drive ,
Green Pointe Drive South, Saltzgaber
Road, State Route 317 (South Hamilton
Road), Old Hamilton Road, Bixby Road,
Ebright Road, and U.S. 33 (heading east
towards Gender Road in Canal
Winchester).
“When the city of Groveport and the
Groveport Police Department are made
aware of these transports through ODOT
media releases, I will make sure to keep
the community informed of this information
in the coming months,” said Adams.
Adams said the humongous equipment
cannot be transported on Interstate freeways
because it will not fit under overpasses,
so local roads must be used.
ODOT officials stated they analyzed
and planned the route to make sure these
super loads can be accommodated. Since
each load will be escorted by several Ohio
State Highway Patrol troopers, emergency
traffic will get around the rolling road
block with minimal delay. Working with
partners like local governments and utility
companies, obstructions along the route
such as large overhead signs, traffic signals,
and utility lines have been adjusted
and moved.
“For months, we have been working in
rain or shine.
Canal Winchester Human Services, in
cooperation with the City of Canal
Winchester, will host the free familyfriendly
event.
Wagnalls Scholarships
There have been changes by The
Wagnalls Memorial Foundation regarding
its scholarships for graduating high school
seniors. The scholarships are offered from
the endowment left by Mabel Wagnalls
Jones and the changes will increase the
value of the scholarship awards. Students
must be residents of Bloom Township.
American Legion Post 677 in Lithopolis
has also revised their agreement with The
Wagnalls Foundation for administering
scholarships. Starting this year, there will
be three, $3,000 scholarships awarded, one
for a Bloom-Carroll graduate, one for a
Canal Winchester graduate, and one for
graduate who has a relationship with a
coordination with the Ohio State Highway
Patrol and local stakeholders along the
route to ensure each move goes as smoothly
as possible with minimal impacts to those
who live and work in the communities
along the route,” said ODOT Director Jack
Marchbanks. “We will work to provide as
much notice as possible so that drivers can
plan ahead and use alternate routes.”
The schedule of each of these loads will
be checked against local events, like festivals
and fairs, to further minimize impacts.
“Moving loads like these is not new for
ODOT and our various partners. However,
what makes this situation unique is the
number of these types of loads arriving in
short succession,” said Mike Moreland,
administrator of ODOT’s Office of Special
Hauling Permits.
Notifications will be made in advance of
each load leaving the dock on the Ohio
River near Manchester. Updates will be
provided as each load moves toward central
Ohio.
The route in central Ohio the loads will
follow: north on Rickenbacker Parkway
North to Alum Creek Drive; north on Alum
Creek Drive to Rohr Road; east on Rohr
Road to Commerce Center Drive; north on
Commerce Center Drive to Green Pointe
Drive South; east on Green Pointe Drive
South to Saltzgaber Road; south on
Saltzgaber Road to State Route 317; north
in the southbound lanes on State Route 317
past Groveport to Bixby Road east; east on
Bixby Road to U.S. 33; east in the westbound
lanes of U.S. 33 to the Gender Road
southbound to U.S. 33 westbound ramp in
Canal Winchester; travel the wrong way on
the Gender Road southbound to U.S. 33
westbound ramp; take State Route
674/Gender Road north to Brice Road; take
Brice Road north to the intersection with
Tussing Road/State Route 204 in
Columbus; east on Tussing Road/State
Route 204 east to State Route 310; and
north on State Route 310 to U.S. 40 in
Etna.
member of American Legion Post 677.
The application period is Feb. 1 to
March 15. See the website for information
and to download the applications at
https://www.wagnalls.org/page/scholarships.
Dr. Bender Scholarship
Canal Winchester City Council
announced two $1,000 scholarships will be
awarded in honor of the late Dr. John
Bender, a former council member for 17
years. Graduating seniors are encouraged
to review eligibility requirements and submit
applications online at www.canalwinchesterohio.gov.
Applications will also be
available in the guidance offices at Canal
Winchester High School and Bloom-Carroll
High School. Completed applications and
materials are due by 4:30 p.m. on March
28. Recipients of the Dr. John Bender
scholarship will be recognized at the April
15 city council meeting.