United Way Parade and Chicken BBQ Return Under Leadership of New Jaycees

Photo above - Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb with granddaughter Marley Young prepare for the parade.

On Sunday, September 21st a Licking County tradition was renewed with the staging of the United Way Parade. Originally, the signature kick-off event for the United Way charitable appeal in Licking County, the parade had faded in recent years and was not staged in 2007.

The new Chapter of the Jaycees, in our community, revived the tradition and put on an excellent parade. Supplemented with a few of the 'old hands' the new Chapter had the event well organized and it was enjoyed by all. Some 80 to 100 units made the Sunday afternoon trip from Wilson Middle School in west Newark, to the downtown Square and thousands lined the streets.

On the Square the Jaycees continued the excitement with a return of the old fashioned chicken BBQ. The smell of grilled chickens filled the air as hundreds came to eat, and enjoy a variety of live music from the Gazebo.

Commissioner Tim Bubb congratulates all the Jaycees and their supporters, and was pleased to see Newark City Councilman and Jaycee Ryan Bubb hard at work that afternoon grilling and helping to revive a community tradition!

Commissioner Tim Bubb On Hand For Historic Groundbreaking In Etna

Photos Above...

(Top) - Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb on hand for the Etna groundbreaking and beside an artist's rendering of the new Township Building.

(2nd) - Etna Trustees Knapp, George and Johnson with construction and community VIP's breaking ground for the project.

(3rd) - Etna Township Trustees Paul George, Jeff Johnson and Dick Knapp.

(4th) - Posting the colors members of Etna Boy Scout Troop #141.

(5th) - With the Trustees, Dorrece Tanawat of the Full Gospel Sons, Church of God offers the invocation.

On Monday, September 15 (2008) history was made with the groundbreaking in Etna of their new and long awaited Township Community Center and Administration Building. Robertson Construction Service is the general contractor. Work will begin the week of September 22nd, with the building slated to be complete in the spring of 2009.

Planning for the Etna facility began in 2000, with the voters adding their approval of a funding request in 2003. Longtime Etna Township Trustee Paul George was the driving force in deciding to build on publicly owned land off Liberty Street, and east of the community park.

Those taking part in the official groundbreaking ceremonies included...Etna Township Trustees Dick Knapp, Paul George and Jeff Johnson; State Representative Dan Dodd; Brian Marsh of Prologis (who contributed $150-thousand to the project); Dorrece Tanawat of the Full Gospel Sons, Church of God; and members of Etna Boy Scout Troop #141 and Troop Master Rick Eader.

The current Township Building is an antiquated facility on Hazelton-Etna Road (State Route 310) in the area known as old Etna or Etna proper. Trustee Board President Dick Knapp says plans for the future of the old Township House have not been determined.

Also recognized at the event were...Licking County Commissioners Tim Bubb, Doug Smith and Mark Van Buren; Pataskala Mayor Steven Butcher; Reynoldsburg City Engineer Jim Miller; Christian Robertson and staffers from Robertson Construction Service; Luke Baus Project Construction Company; refreshments by the Pataskala Chamber of Commerce; and special thanks to Judy Knapp and Claudette VanDyne. Candidate for County Commissioner Brad Feightner also attended the event.

Commissioner Bubb with Pataskala Mayor Steve Butcher and 'Flat Stanley'

Photo above - Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb (l), Flat Stanley (center), and Pataskala Mayor Steve Butcher (r) in Etna on Monday!

On Monday, September 2008 Commissioner Tim Bubb and a variety of Etna Township and other community leaders met in Etna for the historic groundbreaking for the new Etna Township Community Center and Administration Building.

*See the related blog for details and photos on the Etna event!

However, before the groundbreaking Commissioner Bubb noted Pataskala Mayor Steve Butcher carrying a 'Flat Stanley'. "Flat Stanley' is a tool used in schools, through children's literature, to widen the horizons of young people. The premise is that Stanley is a small boy who is flat or paper thin, and students ask community leaders to carry their Stanley and later share the adventures. Commissioner Bubb carried a 'Flat Stanley' a couple of years ago for a Newark elementary student and later presented the student with a collection of photos and information on Stanley's adventures in the community with a County Commissioner!

Mayor Butcher is to be commended for carrying a 'Flat Stanley' for Victor, who is a third grade student of teacher Erin Wright at Licking Heights South Elementary on Summit Road. The above photo has been forwarded to Mayor Butcher to later share with Victor!

Some 175 Licking County Residents Attend Reception For Commissioner Tim Bubb's ReElection Bid

Photos...

(top) - Commissioner Tim Bubb visiting with Republican Party Vice Chair Melissa Shilling.

(2) - Juvenile Probate Judge Robert Hoover speaking.

(3) - Commissioner Tim Bubb talking with Kurt Harden

(4) - Candidate for County Commissioner Brad Feightner

(5) - County Commissioner Doug Smith entertaining and auctioneering.

(6) - Commissioner Bubb listening to remarks by Sheriff Randy Thorp.

(7) - Commissioner Tim Bubb addressing the attendees at the reception in his honor.

An event in support of Commissioner Tim Bubb's ReElection bid was a major success on Wednesday, September 10th. The evening event was held at Heritage Catering & Deli at The Works in downtown Newark.

The event was hosted by Sheriff Randy Thorp, Jim and Judie Scarrett, Dean Edie, Doug Smith, Ceil Pretzman, Brian and Lisa Crock, Dave and Beverly Brenner, Prosecutor Ken Oswalt, Councilman John and Julia Uible, Neil Carson, Bob and Sandy Baldwin, Sharon Hendren, Jay and Beth Barker, Dave and Sandy Evans, Councilman Ryan Bubb, and Biff and Terre Matthews.

A special thanks to Skip Salome and Heritage Catering; Prosecutor Ken Oswalt and members of his staff; Barb and Al Kanuch; Jay, Beth and Spencer Barker; Jeff Hall; Marianne Bubb; and Ryan Bubb and Jennifer Long for their special assistance with the event.

Licking County Library District Established

photos above...

Commissioner Tim Bubb addresses the Board of the new County Library.

Judge Thomas Marcelain and Commissioner Tim Bubb presenting an official Licking County Flag to the new County Library District at their first meeting.


Officially on September 1st, 2008, after 100-years of service in the greater Licking County community, the Newark Public Library (school district library) was disbanded and replaced with a newly constituted Licking County Library District.

Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb, and his fellow Commissioners, were unanimous in their support, earlier this summer, of a proposal to expand the scope of the Newark Public Library to better reflect the regional nature of their services. The Library system has operated a regional bookmobile service since the 1930's, and operates a Main Library in Newark, a branch library in west Newark; and branches in Buckeye Lake, Hebron, Utica and Johnstown. After approval of a County Library by the Commissioners, encompassing a substantial part of Licking County, the State Library of Ohio also added its stamp of approval.

The new County Library District does not overlap the other four existing libraries in the County in Alexandria, Granville, Homer and Pataskala. They remain independent and continuing service as three school district libraries (Granville, Pataskala and Alexandria), while Homer is a township affiliated library.

The school districts included in the new County Library District include all of the Newark City, Heath City and Lakewood Local; and the part of these districts lying in Licking County - Johnstown-Monroe, Licking Heights, Licking Valley, North Fork, River View, West Muskingum, and Northern Local.

The Board for the County Library includes four members appointed by the County Commissioners, and three members appointed by the Common Pleas Court Judges. The judges reappointed (from the previous Board) three members - Martha Morrison, Barry Riley and Martin Altmaier. The Commissioners reappointed two members - Thad Claggett and Laura Appleman, and appointed two new members - Donald Urban and Kathy Myers. Urban and Myers replaced John Uible and Carey Sullivan who did not seek reappointment.

Commissioner Bubb spoke at the historic meeting on August 31st (held that Friday as the official start of the new Library District fell on September 1st which was the Labor Day holiday) officially retiring the previous Newark Public Library and commissioning the new Licking County Library District.

He commended the Library Board for their courage in taking the Newark Public Library in this new direction, which is more reflective of the nature of the regional services provided. The President of the new Licking County Library is Barry Riley and the Vice President is Martha Morrison.

Commissioner Bubb Congratulates Dawes Arboretum for the Labor Day Weekend 'Bluegrass, BBQ, and Boom'

photos...

Some three thousand visitors on the hillside at the Arboretum's amphitheatre enjoying the holiday weekend music.

Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb (left), Brad Feightner candidate for County Commissioner (center), and Licking County Commissioner Doug Smith (right).

Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb with wife Marianne.

Licking County Commissioner Doug Smith with Johnstown Councilmember Sharon Hendren.

Hot Air Balloon rides were a big hit.



As summer winds down the Dawes Arboretum hosted some three thousand visitors for their first Bluegrass, Barbeque and Boom event on Sunday evening, August 31st.

It was one of many great Labor Day weekend events in Licking County and was held in conjunction with the County's Bicentennial celebration.

Musical performances during the day included Frosty Morning Bluegrass featuring Kenny Sidle, The Dappled Grays, and the Andy Carlson Band.

The evening concluded with the Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra, and concluded with a spectacular fireworks show at sundown.

Upcoming Licking County Bicentennial Events

Annual Graveyard Walk – Cedar Hill Cemetery in east Newark – Friday evening, September 12th – 6:00pm – 9:00pm. Event held in conjunction with the Licking County Historical Society. Tickets $5 each. Celebrating departed Licking County residents as they reappear to tell their unique stories.

Bicentennial Pioneer Days (Fall) – Joint Licking and Knox County Counties Bicentennial Celebration – September 13th – at 4-H Camp Ohio. A wide variety of family oriented outdoor activities are planned.

Saturday and Sunday, September 27th-28th – In conjunction with the County Bicentennial, Pataskala is staging an Antique Power Show. The location is Foundation Park in Pataskala during daylight hours. The event is free and is sponsored by the Pataskala and Summit Station Lions Clubs. Featured will be exhibits of antique power equipment, on Sunday a church service and later in the day a car show, children’s activities, garden produce and canned items, a pie baking contest and tractor pulls both days. Call Mike Compton at (740) 927-5757 for details.


Bicentennial ‘Don’t Miss The Bus’ Tour – Licking County Historical Society
Saturday, October 18th. Enjoy an enjoyable bus tour visiting historic points of interest in the southern half of Licking County. It begins with a continental breakfast at 8:30 at Buckingham House in Veterans Park in Newark. The motor coach departs Veterans Park at 9:00am. Tickets $30 for LCHS members and $35 for non-members, and includes breakfast and lunch. For details contact – Licking County Historical Society – 740-345-4898.


Sunday evening, October 19th at 7:00pm at the Midland Theatre in downtown Newark, enjoy “Licking County Celebrating 200 Years.
This Bicentennial event will be a multi-media extravaganza and a patriotic celebration of our county and our country, featuring a narrated rendition of “A Lincoln Portrait”, a photo montage of Licking County set to “An American in Paris”, and several other quintessential American pieces. This event is part of the Newark Granville Symphony Orchestra’s (NGSO) season and in partnership with the Midland.
Plans call for a showing of excerpts of the 'Our Home Town', a 1940's movie showing many local landmarks, with symphony accompaniment. After intermission the Newark Granville Symphony Orchestra we'll do the same with the contemporary video created by Gary Baker of Baker Video.
Tickets are available from The Midland Box Office – call 740-345-LIVE (5483) of stop by the Midland in downtown Newark. The Box Office is open Monday thru Friday from 9:00am till 4:00pm.



Bicentennial Licking County Passport – Concluding event Sunday, November 2nd - Tourism, Education and Promotion event highlighting area attractions. Program began in April and concludes with a program at the Newark Public Library featuring Fritz Klein as Abraham Lincoln.


Friday, November 28th – 6:00pm - 60th Annual Christmas Courthouse Lighting – continuing a holiday tradition that began in 1949.

Heimerl Farm Featured by Ohio Pork Producers

Photos above of the Heimerl Farm on Mink Street in the Johnstown area.


In August the Heimerl family in Johnstown (Jim, Kathy and sons Matt, Brad and Jeff, and daughter-in-law Rachel) hosted a community visit to their farm on Mink Road. The purpose was to inform local leaders and neighbors about their efforts to implement environmentally safe operations while maintaining high standards of animal welfare.

Attendees included Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb, as well as other commissioners, townships trustees, leaders from Johnstown and other neighboring communities, the local farm community, and local residents.

According to Commissioner Bubb, Heimerl Farms of Johnstown is a family farm consisting of grain, cattle, and swine production. The home farm consists of a beef feedlot, swine finishing, grain production, Pioneer seed sales, and a 'state of the art' feed processing facility. Three swine multiplier units are located in Fairfield, Brown and Highland Counties. Heimerl Farms also delivers hogs to packing plants in Pennsylvania and Indiana, and feed to many of the contract facilities. Also contracted are cattle at various locations around Ohio.

According owner-operator Jim Heimerl, "Being pork producers is our business and it is in our best interest, as well as our community's, to run an environmentally safe operation while maintaining high standards for animal welfare. Livestock agriculture is a major force in the local and statewide economy. Our hope is that visits such as these for the community will be both educational and beneficial to the greater community."

Commissioner Bubb noted, "Agriculture is a huge economic driving force in Licking County, with Licking ranking 21st in pork production in Ohio and with pork production registering over $6-million in cash receipts.