As the upcoming Christmas weekend signals times of joy and excitement, it is only fitting and proper that we talk for a minute about the end to one of the most deadly and divisive wars that lasted over nine years and cost the United States both in blood and in millions of dollars.
The Iraq war came to an end this week. To be honest I feel a little disappointed that there was not more said in the local media and among our politicians and local leaders. This war has in one way or another found its way into every home in our nation. A controversial war by most everyone's view, this war caused permanent loss of family and also permanent physical and emotional injury to many who returned.
I just wanted to take a few minutes and tell everyone who may read this column that I am very proud and thankful to all the men and women who volunteered to go to Iraq. And yes, it was a war where no one was drafted. It was an all-volunteer effort and it worked out fantastically. I am so proud of these fine people and of this great country. I wish all these military personnel and their families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Long life.
Mike Payton
12-20-2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA, CHRISTMAS PARADE, TOY DRIVE ALL SHOW NEW BOSTON CARES ABOUT KIDS
Once again the Village of New Boston has stepped forward and provided area children and adults with a great beginning to the Christmas season.
Mayor Warren's annual Breakfast with Santa was held Saturday, December 3 in the New Boston Community Center and over 500 meals were served. Village council, police, fire and service personnel as well as local volunteers participated in this wonderful event. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus met with children in the Community Center lobby and gave free toys to each child.
Later that evening the 2nd Annual New Boston Christmas Parade was held with over 70 units participating. Glenwood High School's marching band led the way with former Fire Chief Elwood Turner serving as Grand Marshall. Entries from throughout Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky participated including schools, churches, businesses and civic organizations.
On December 19, the New Boston Police Department's annual Christmas Toy Drive will go through the streets of New Boston giving toys to children throughout the village with Santa Claus and a variety of Police, Fire, Service and council members helping. Additionally children from throughout Scioto County will also receive toys from the event but their families will pick those packages up at the police station.
I am so proud of our employees and community for the great and tireless effort that they put into these projects each year. This year once again, the community of New Boston is stepping up to help children have a great Christmas. My thanks to all who have helped in any of the Christmas projects and I wish them all a very Merry Christmas and great New Year.
Mike Payton
12-07-2011
Mayor Warren's annual Breakfast with Santa was held Saturday, December 3 in the New Boston Community Center and over 500 meals were served. Village council, police, fire and service personnel as well as local volunteers participated in this wonderful event. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus met with children in the Community Center lobby and gave free toys to each child.
Later that evening the 2nd Annual New Boston Christmas Parade was held with over 70 units participating. Glenwood High School's marching band led the way with former Fire Chief Elwood Turner serving as Grand Marshall. Entries from throughout Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky participated including schools, churches, businesses and civic organizations.
On December 19, the New Boston Police Department's annual Christmas Toy Drive will go through the streets of New Boston giving toys to children throughout the village with Santa Claus and a variety of Police, Fire, Service and council members helping. Additionally children from throughout Scioto County will also receive toys from the event but their families will pick those packages up at the police station.
I am so proud of our employees and community for the great and tireless effort that they put into these projects each year. This year once again, the community of New Boston is stepping up to help children have a great Christmas. My thanks to all who have helped in any of the Christmas projects and I wish them all a very Merry Christmas and great New Year.
Mike Payton
12-07-2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
VETERANS DAY - SAY THANKS TO OUR VETS
This afternoon myself, along with councilmen Dan Fetty and Terry Salyers were invited to join local veterans at Applebees Restaurant in New Boston for dinner. The dinner was sponsored by Applebees and was in honor of all veterans. Our group was coordinated by Mike Bell of American Legion Post 471. It was an honor to be with these gentlemen today and I want to thank them for the invitation.
On Monday, November 14, Golden Corral in New Boston will host a dinner honoring area veterans. The Glenwood High School Band and the Oak Street and Stanton choirs will perform. Free dinners will also be given to all veterans and Mike Bell will be the keynote speaker for the event.
I was happy to learn today that the United States Senate has passed a critical piece of the President's jobs plan: two provisions to get veterans back to work - the Returning Heroes and the Wounded Warrior Tax Credits. They help get veterans back to work by giving tax credits to businesses that hire disabled veterans or unemployed vets.
I also want to personally thank all veterans who have fought for me and my family. I truly believe every day should be Veterans Day. I also thank God for the job these brave men and women have done throughout the years to preserve this great country.
Mike Payton
11-11-2011
On Monday, November 14, Golden Corral in New Boston will host a dinner honoring area veterans. The Glenwood High School Band and the Oak Street and Stanton choirs will perform. Free dinners will also be given to all veterans and Mike Bell will be the keynote speaker for the event.
I was happy to learn today that the United States Senate has passed a critical piece of the President's jobs plan: two provisions to get veterans back to work - the Returning Heroes and the Wounded Warrior Tax Credits. They help get veterans back to work by giving tax credits to businesses that hire disabled veterans or unemployed vets.
I also want to personally thank all veterans who have fought for me and my family. I truly believe every day should be Veterans Day. I also thank God for the job these brave men and women have done throughout the years to preserve this great country.
Mike Payton
11-11-2011
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME ANOTHER TERM
I was very humbled and extremely proud to be re-elected to another term as your Village Councilman.
New Boston has came a long way the past four years. It truly has been a team effort, not just with council but with all our departments.
The police department has been moving forward with drug-related arrests as well as working closely with city, state and federal law enforcement on various criminal issues. Equipment in the police department has been upgraded and all state mandated training is provided when needed.
The Fire Department has all fire hydrants in perfect working order, safety checks and tests done in a timely manner and new equipment has been added. Fire and safety inspections are done throughout the village in the various businesses on a scheduled basis.
The service department has maintained 2-day a week garbage collection, repaired sewer and road problems in a timely manner and maintained a strong presence throughout the high water periods earlier in the year. New equipment has been provided for the service department and safety standards have been greatly improved.
We continue to make improvements throughout the village with major repair and replacement of traffic light systems, utility poles, as well as improved flood defense and recreational equipment.
We have had a good four years. Yes there were problems. Layoffs, budget issues, and crime but these issues really mirror the whole nation. I look forward to the next four years with both caution and enthusiasm.
Again, thank you so much for your support. As always I promise to do my very best.
Mike Payton
11-11-2011
New Boston has came a long way the past four years. It truly has been a team effort, not just with council but with all our departments.
The police department has been moving forward with drug-related arrests as well as working closely with city, state and federal law enforcement on various criminal issues. Equipment in the police department has been upgraded and all state mandated training is provided when needed.
The Fire Department has all fire hydrants in perfect working order, safety checks and tests done in a timely manner and new equipment has been added. Fire and safety inspections are done throughout the village in the various businesses on a scheduled basis.
The service department has maintained 2-day a week garbage collection, repaired sewer and road problems in a timely manner and maintained a strong presence throughout the high water periods earlier in the year. New equipment has been provided for the service department and safety standards have been greatly improved.
We continue to make improvements throughout the village with major repair and replacement of traffic light systems, utility poles, as well as improved flood defense and recreational equipment.
We have had a good four years. Yes there were problems. Layoffs, budget issues, and crime but these issues really mirror the whole nation. I look forward to the next four years with both caution and enthusiasm.
Again, thank you so much for your support. As always I promise to do my very best.
Mike Payton
11-11-2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
INFRA-METALS BREAKS GROUND IN NEW BOSTON
This past Thursday, October 27, I had the pleasure of joining other New Boston Village Council members, the Mayor, Scioto County Commissioners and leaders from the Southern Ohio Port Authority(SOPA), Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI), and the United States Department of Energy in attending the ground breaking ceremony for the new Infra-Metals steel distribution center located at the Bob Walton Industrial Park in New Boston.
Infra-Metals is a subsidiary of Reliance Steel. In March I attended the signing of the developmental contract between Reliance Steel and the Southern Ohio Port Authority which in effect started the construction process for the $13 million steel plant.
The Department of Energy, because of recycling more than 18 million pounds of steel, was able to raise money for economic development projects and contributed $150,000 in financial assistance to SOPA for the relocation of electrical power lines at the industrial park so this project could move forward.
New Boston will be the company's seventh plant with others operating in Florida, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut and Illinois. The New Boston plant will begin with approximately 66 employees and would like to have 100 employed when operating at full production.
It was raining and cold most of the morning, but with not only the eventual plant jobs but the many construction jobs that will be utilized throughout the process of building the facility, I thought the sun shined all day.
Mike Payton
10-28-2011
Infra-Metals is a subsidiary of Reliance Steel. In March I attended the signing of the developmental contract between Reliance Steel and the Southern Ohio Port Authority which in effect started the construction process for the $13 million steel plant.
The Department of Energy, because of recycling more than 18 million pounds of steel, was able to raise money for economic development projects and contributed $150,000 in financial assistance to SOPA for the relocation of electrical power lines at the industrial park so this project could move forward.
New Boston will be the company's seventh plant with others operating in Florida, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut and Illinois. The New Boston plant will begin with approximately 66 employees and would like to have 100 employed when operating at full production.
It was raining and cold most of the morning, but with not only the eventual plant jobs but the many construction jobs that will be utilized throughout the process of building the facility, I thought the sun shined all day.
Mike Payton
10-28-2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
NEW BOSTON RECEIVES MONEY FOR INDUSTRIAL PARK IMPROVEMENTS
I want to publicly thank the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI) for approving $150,000 in financial assistance to the Southern Ohio Port Authority (SOPA) for improvements at the Bob Walton Industrial Park in New Boston.
These funds will be used to pay for relocation of electrical power lines which is part of the site preparation needed for plant construction of Reliance Steel's Infra-Metals project.
This is the first allocation of funding to support economic development efforts in the four-county region as a result of proceeds SODI has received from the recycling of excess clean scrap metals at the Department of Energy's Piketon plant.
Reliance Steel is expected to begin construction in New Boston before the end of the year and projected to be in operation by mid 2012. The company plans to begin with approximately 66 employees and hopes to employ about 100 workers at full production. It will be a subsidiary of Reliance-Infra-Metals of Wallingford, Conn.
I would also point out that SODI is a Department of Energy recognized Community Reuse Organization. Under an agreement between DOE and SODI, non-radioactive scrap metals from the cleanup of the former uranium enrichment plant in Piketon are being transitioned to SODI for recycling with a portion of the recycling proceeds returned to the local communities to support economic growth in Scioto, Pike, Ross and Jackson counties.
Mike Payton
9-15-2011
These funds will be used to pay for relocation of electrical power lines which is part of the site preparation needed for plant construction of Reliance Steel's Infra-Metals project.
This is the first allocation of funding to support economic development efforts in the four-county region as a result of proceeds SODI has received from the recycling of excess clean scrap metals at the Department of Energy's Piketon plant.
Reliance Steel is expected to begin construction in New Boston before the end of the year and projected to be in operation by mid 2012. The company plans to begin with approximately 66 employees and hopes to employ about 100 workers at full production. It will be a subsidiary of Reliance-Infra-Metals of Wallingford, Conn.
I would also point out that SODI is a Department of Energy recognized Community Reuse Organization. Under an agreement between DOE and SODI, non-radioactive scrap metals from the cleanup of the former uranium enrichment plant in Piketon are being transitioned to SODI for recycling with a portion of the recycling proceeds returned to the local communities to support economic growth in Scioto, Pike, Ross and Jackson counties.
Mike Payton
9-15-2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
LABOR DAY IN NEW BOSTON AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY
I wanted to take some time and talk about Labor Day. As we all know, it is celebrated the first Monday of each September. Here in Scioto County Labor Day is marked by the annual Riverdays festival and parade.
Labor Day pays tribute to America's work force. Created by the labor movement of the late 19th century, it became a federal holiday in 1894.
As we in New Boston know, and also unfortunately other towns throughout Ohio and the U.S., organized labor has taken a beating at the hands of corporate leaders, with companies being merged, closed or moved out of the country. What is left is huge empty buildings, parking lots with grass growing through the cracked concrete and countless people on unemployment, working two or more jobs, and relocating their families all over the country.
In the past year our current governor has tried hard to strip Collective Bargaining Rights from state and county employees, effectively eliminating teacher, nurse, police, fire, and other public service unions. Salaries and benefits will be determined by the state legislature and the governor.
As the governor of Wisconsin tried to bring the American Labor Movement to a complete end in his state, our governor is now trying the same in Ohio.
Here in Scioto County, already Governor Kasich has closed the Ohio River Valley Youth Detention Center in Franklin Furnance. He has eliminated over 300 state jobs from Scioto County alone, a county that ranks in the top five in unemployment in the state.
If Senate Bill 5 is not repealed, the remaining hopes for any type of quality salaried jobs, quality benefits and decent working conditions will be thrown to the wind in Ohio. The American Labor movement will once again have taken a huge blow.
As those of us in New Boston, Scioto County, and all of Ohio enjoy this Monday, we need to remember it is a gift to all of us working people from those who worked so hard for us. I urge all
voters in New Boston, Portsmouth, Scioto County and Ohio to remember the hard work those of the late 19th century did on our behalf and lets honor them by keeping their hard work alive for future generations of American Workers. Please vote to stop Governor Kasich and stop Senate Bill 5.
Mike Payton
9-5-11
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