Friends of Greenlawn speaks before City Council
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
PORTSMOUTH- Four years ago this week, the Friends of Greenlawn Cemetery Foundation approached Portsmouth City Council with the idea of a public-private agreement.
On Monday, Debbie Gambill spoke before the council during the City Manager’s session to update them on its progress in maintaining one of what she called the oldest operating cemeteries in the Midwest.
“We thought it was a lot for any city to take care of,” she said, describing the 40-acre site home to 8,500 graves. “And we did believe that we could work together, and with many other non-profits, to make the necessary improvements come to fruition.”
City considering building a new code enforcement division
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
PORTSMOUTH To boost its response to code enforcement matters in the city, CE officer Andy Gedeon and City Engineer Nathan Prosch proposed multiple changes to the department before Portsmouth City Council Monday.
In the past few weeks, Gedeon, Prosch, City Manager Sam Sutherland, and City Solicitor John Haas have been discussing what can be done to improve the department’s abilities.
“As we all know, we have been battling a big fight with code enforcement,” said Sutherland during the City Managers session that evening. “I believe we finally got something to put to writing.”
Local band reuniting for Final Friday concert
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
Members of the 1980’s “WIZARD” band have spred out to varying parts of the country in the years since, but have stayed in touch. On Friday, the rock group will perform again as the Final Friday headliner.
Courtesy Photos
PORTSMOUTH- Back for its eighth season, Final Friday in Boneyfiddle kicks off this week with a free, outdoor concert featuring several local and visiting bands.
One such band will being making a reunion years in the making. With its performers spread across the country, “WIZARD” will be back in town as the concert’s headliner starting at 8:45 p.m. at the Three Bridges venue on 2nd Street.
DeWine signs $20 million broadband expansion program
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
COLUMBUS On Monday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law a bill that could have major implications to counties like Scioto where broadband access remains an issue.
Through legislation sponsored by state Reps. Rick Carfagna, R-Genoa Township and Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, House Bill 2 creates the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant Program.
“Broadband is the great social equalizer of our time, it will bring employment, education, health care and commerce opportunities presently denied to so many throughout Ohio,” said Carfagna in a press release earlier this week. “Nearly 1 million Ohioans lack access to reliable high-speed internet service simply because of where they reside. We need to change that through cooperative efforts between the state and broadband providers, and House Bill 2 is the first step in doing so.”
Portsmouth PD makes its case for Lenco Medcat
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
PORTSMOUTH- Last week’s Portsmouth City Council session found divergent voices in regards to the need for an armored vehicle to be used by the city’s police department.
1st Ward Councilman Sean Dunne has opposed the purchase of a Lenco Medcat as it reemerged last month, voting against during the City Manager’s session on April 26 and in first reading on May 10 after originally attempting to table the measure that evening.
“There is not one person that I’ve spoken to at Shawnee State University that thinks this is a good idea,” the sociology professor said, later clarifying that he was not delivering a direct message from SSU but rather relaying what administration, faculty, and staff that he has held conversations with have said.