This past Monday I had the opportunity to attend Golden Corral's annual Military Appreciation Ceremony to thank local veterans for their sacrifice and service to our country.
This is a wonderful program put together each year by New Boston's Golden Corral. Included this year was high school bands from New Boston and Portsmouth High School. Choirs from South Webster and New Boston performed at the event.
Members of the Order of the Purple Heart, Ladies in White, and Veterans Helping Veterans were present and American Legion Post 23 gave a 21 gun salute. Speakers included Barney Goodwin, Pastor Gary Dheel and Mayor James Warren.
It was heart-warming to see the many young people present at the event. The need to express to children the importance of Veteran's Day is, in my opinion, vital to providing outstanding citizens for our country. My personal thanks goes to the New Boston, Portsmouth and Bloom-Vernon School Districts for permitting us to share our Veterans Day observance with their students.
I would also like to express my personal thanks to the New Boston Golden Corral for a wonderful ceremony and the great care and respect showed for all our area veterans.
Mike Payton
11-17-2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
WE NEED TO REMEMBER TO VOTE
1966 VS. 2010
There are some interesting parallels in this mid-term election and the mid-term election of 1966. For those of us who remember, in 1964 Lyndon Johnson won a landslide election over Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona. In 2008, Barrack Obama won a landslide victory over Senator John McCain of Arizona.
In 1966 it was called the year of the Republican Comeback. The Republicans came roaring back eliminating House and Senate losses of two years earlier. Although Democrats held their majorities in both houses, President Johnson lost his liberal mandate that had allowed him to push through his Great Society legislation in 1965. Barrack Obama pushed through a huge comprehensive health care reform in 2009 and 2010. Now his mandate from the 2008 election is in danger.
Republicans gained in the Senate. Moderates Charles H. Percy of Illinois, Mark Hatfield of Oregon and Howard Baker, Jr., of Tennessee took seats formerly held by Democrats. Now Republicans Sharon Angle of Nevada, John Rasee of West Virginia, and Linda MacMahon of Connecticut have strong chances of taking away Senate seats held for years by Democrats. Additionally the Kennedy dynasty ended with a Republican replacing the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy in Massachusetts. One other interesting note was that in 1966 Senator Edward R. Brooke of Massachusetts became the first black elected to the US Senate in the twentieth century. It took until 2008 for the same thing to happen to the Presidency.
In 1966 Republicans took 52 House seats from Democrats that more than made up for their 38 seat loss two years earlier. Liberal Democrats in the House took a particularly hard beating. Twenty of the forty-seven Democrats who took House seats in 1964 were defeated. Four more of those Democrats who retired were replaced by Republicans.
Republicans made their biggest gains in governor races picking up eight new governorships for a total of 25. When Ronald Regan won in California, Raymond Shaffer in Pennsylvania, and with the re-election of James A. Rhodes in Ohio and Nelson Rockefeller in New York, Republicans had the governorships of five of the seven most populous states. How ironic that now Jerry Brown is battling a fierce competitor in Meg Whitman in California, Republican John Kasich is battling Governor Ted Strickland in a tense race in Ohio, and New York is having another election where the Republican candidate is trying to mount an upset. Also, George Romney's son Mitt, looks to be a favorite for the 2012 Republican nomination.
By the way, there was also war in 1966. Vietnam was raging. Today Iraq seems to be winding down but Afganistan is a whole other story. And Don't Ask Don't Tell had mostly to do with smoking pot.
At any rate, my only real point here is that Democrats and Republicans could really benefit from looking at the past. 1966 wasn't that long ago. Is history going to repeat itself in a few days? Did Democrats make the same mistakes they made after the Johnson landslide of 1964? Will Republicans take advantage of those mistakes as they did in 1966? Maybe in 1966 many of you were like me and to young to vote but now we all can. No matter how you vote, just vote. History depends on it.
Mike Payton
10-30-2010
There are some interesting parallels in this mid-term election and the mid-term election of 1966. For those of us who remember, in 1964 Lyndon Johnson won a landslide election over Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona. In 2008, Barrack Obama won a landslide victory over Senator John McCain of Arizona.
In 1966 it was called the year of the Republican Comeback. The Republicans came roaring back eliminating House and Senate losses of two years earlier. Although Democrats held their majorities in both houses, President Johnson lost his liberal mandate that had allowed him to push through his Great Society legislation in 1965. Barrack Obama pushed through a huge comprehensive health care reform in 2009 and 2010. Now his mandate from the 2008 election is in danger.
Republicans gained in the Senate. Moderates Charles H. Percy of Illinois, Mark Hatfield of Oregon and Howard Baker, Jr., of Tennessee took seats formerly held by Democrats. Now Republicans Sharon Angle of Nevada, John Rasee of West Virginia, and Linda MacMahon of Connecticut have strong chances of taking away Senate seats held for years by Democrats. Additionally the Kennedy dynasty ended with a Republican replacing the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy in Massachusetts. One other interesting note was that in 1966 Senator Edward R. Brooke of Massachusetts became the first black elected to the US Senate in the twentieth century. It took until 2008 for the same thing to happen to the Presidency.
In 1966 Republicans took 52 House seats from Democrats that more than made up for their 38 seat loss two years earlier. Liberal Democrats in the House took a particularly hard beating. Twenty of the forty-seven Democrats who took House seats in 1964 were defeated. Four more of those Democrats who retired were replaced by Republicans.
Republicans made their biggest gains in governor races picking up eight new governorships for a total of 25. When Ronald Regan won in California, Raymond Shaffer in Pennsylvania, and with the re-election of James A. Rhodes in Ohio and Nelson Rockefeller in New York, Republicans had the governorships of five of the seven most populous states. How ironic that now Jerry Brown is battling a fierce competitor in Meg Whitman in California, Republican John Kasich is battling Governor Ted Strickland in a tense race in Ohio, and New York is having another election where the Republican candidate is trying to mount an upset. Also, George Romney's son Mitt, looks to be a favorite for the 2012 Republican nomination.
By the way, there was also war in 1966. Vietnam was raging. Today Iraq seems to be winding down but Afganistan is a whole other story. And Don't Ask Don't Tell had mostly to do with smoking pot.
At any rate, my only real point here is that Democrats and Republicans could really benefit from looking at the past. 1966 wasn't that long ago. Is history going to repeat itself in a few days? Did Democrats make the same mistakes they made after the Johnson landslide of 1964? Will Republicans take advantage of those mistakes as they did in 1966? Maybe in 1966 many of you were like me and to young to vote but now we all can. No matter how you vote, just vote. History depends on it.
Mike Payton
10-30-2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
APPOINTMENT TO OHIO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE BOTH AN HONOR AND RESPONSIBILITY
It was with much honor and humility that I recently accepted an appointment to the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Municipal League .
The Ohio Municipal League is a non-profit organization, established in 1952, to provide state assistance to municipal, village and city governments across Ohio.
When an Ohio municipality becomes an active League member, as New Boston now is, the village is eligible for all available services from the League. Among those on the board of trustees are mayors of various cities and villages, councilmen, village administrators, law representatives and city managers.
The Ohio Municipal League is divided into districts. Scioto County is in District 11, with Pickaway, Ross, Hocking, Vinton, Pike, Jackson and Lawrence counties.
Again, I want to thank all in the village who supported me since my election to Village Council. I have always tried to give one hundred percent to my responsibilities as a councilman and I can promise everyone I will give the same effort in this position.
Mike Payton
10-24-2010
The Ohio Municipal League is a non-profit organization, established in 1952, to provide state assistance to municipal, village and city governments across Ohio.
When an Ohio municipality becomes an active League member, as New Boston now is, the village is eligible for all available services from the League. Among those on the board of trustees are mayors of various cities and villages, councilmen, village administrators, law representatives and city managers.
The Ohio Municipal League is divided into districts. Scioto County is in District 11, with Pickaway, Ross, Hocking, Vinton, Pike, Jackson and Lawrence counties.
Again, I want to thank all in the village who supported me since my election to Village Council. I have always tried to give one hundred percent to my responsibilities as a councilman and I can promise everyone I will give the same effort in this position.
Mike Payton
10-24-2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
CLEAN-UP DAY IN NEW BOSTON A GREAT SUCCESS
A great thanks goes out to all who participated in this year's Clean-Up Day in New Boston.
The very successful day was Saturday, October 2, 2010. The weather was fantastic and it seemed everyone had a great time.
The Lawrence-Scioto Waste Management Board sponsored the event again this year, providing four huge dumpsters and volunteers from local businesses, the high school honor society, Daymar College and individual citizens took garbage sacks in hand and roamed throughout the village picking up trash.
A special thanks also goes to the Village Service Department. Trucks were available all day to go to various homes of elderly citizens to make pickups.
Pride in the community is what it is all about and once again Tiger Pride prevailed all through New Boston in the annual Clean-Up Day.
Again, my thanks to all.
Mike Payton
10-06-2010
The very successful day was Saturday, October 2, 2010. The weather was fantastic and it seemed everyone had a great time.
The Lawrence-Scioto Waste Management Board sponsored the event again this year, providing four huge dumpsters and volunteers from local businesses, the high school honor society, Daymar College and individual citizens took garbage sacks in hand and roamed throughout the village picking up trash.
A special thanks also goes to the Village Service Department. Trucks were available all day to go to various homes of elderly citizens to make pickups.
Pride in the community is what it is all about and once again Tiger Pride prevailed all through New Boston in the annual Clean-Up Day.
Again, my thanks to all.
Mike Payton
10-06-2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
NEW BOSTON SCHOOLS PREP SHOULD GO TO BID IN OCTOBER
According to reports from the New Boston School District, bids for the early site preparation work should go out in October for the new K-12 school building. The district expects to award the bid contract on November 12.
This project has been met with one frustration after another since 2008 when residents of New Boston voted to accept a tax levy to build the $21 million K-12 school building on Lakeview Avenue.
The Ohio School Facilities Commission has been putting obstacles in front of the district almost since the inception of the project involving site location, costs, and redesign of the building. It has caused what was hoped to be a opening for the 2011-12 school year to a projected opening in 2012-2013.
Early site preparation will prepare the land for construction. Jobs to initially be needed include tearing out the old Sun and Funland Pool, cutting down trees and removing a gas line from the property.
Before actual construction can begin, the architects first have to complete recent changes to the building plans which cut $2.9 million from the project and move the placement of the building. After that, building plans will need to be approved by the Ohio School Facilities Commission, the New Boston School District and the Village of New Boston.
Mike Payton
09-17-2010
This project has been met with one frustration after another since 2008 when residents of New Boston voted to accept a tax levy to build the $21 million K-12 school building on Lakeview Avenue.
The Ohio School Facilities Commission has been putting obstacles in front of the district almost since the inception of the project involving site location, costs, and redesign of the building. It has caused what was hoped to be a opening for the 2011-12 school year to a projected opening in 2012-2013.
Early site preparation will prepare the land for construction. Jobs to initially be needed include tearing out the old Sun and Funland Pool, cutting down trees and removing a gas line from the property.
Before actual construction can begin, the architects first have to complete recent changes to the building plans which cut $2.9 million from the project and move the placement of the building. After that, building plans will need to be approved by the Ohio School Facilities Commission, the New Boston School District and the Village of New Boston.
Mike Payton
09-17-2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
ABANDONED HOUSES CONCERN NEW BOSTON VILLAGE
New Boston is having a major issue with abandoned houses. As of now there are six abandoned properties on Stanton Avenue and others throughout the village. Most of these houses are easily entered as windows are broken, doors are either unlocked or dont have locks and grass and various varments are throughout the properties. Additionally, children are getting in and can easily be injured. We also have had situations where vagrants have been living in some of these dwellings.
Because of the condition of these houses, the New Boston Service Department is forced to cut grass and provide safety precautions at each. Not only does this create additional work for the service employees but these houses bring down the property values for surrounding properties.
Another major concern this coming winter is if vagrants get into these houses and try to build fires they could not only burn the houses up but other homes in the area as well.
The village has tried continuously to contact owners of these houses but many are out of state and just don't respond. There are bank mortgages on some and back taxes owed as well.
We are trying hard to work out a mechanism whereby some of these properties can be purchased by developers but that is taking some time. If you know of anyone interested in acquiring any of these properties, please contact me or Village Administrator Steve Hamilton at the New Boston Community Center.
Mike Payton
9-12-2010
Because of the condition of these houses, the New Boston Service Department is forced to cut grass and provide safety precautions at each. Not only does this create additional work for the service employees but these houses bring down the property values for surrounding properties.
Another major concern this coming winter is if vagrants get into these houses and try to build fires they could not only burn the houses up but other homes in the area as well.
The village has tried continuously to contact owners of these houses but many are out of state and just don't respond. There are bank mortgages on some and back taxes owed as well.
We are trying hard to work out a mechanism whereby some of these properties can be purchased by developers but that is taking some time. If you know of anyone interested in acquiring any of these properties, please contact me or Village Administrator Steve Hamilton at the New Boston Community Center.
Mike Payton
9-12-2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
NEW BOSTON'S KAYLA MCDANIEL CROWNED 2010 MISS RIVER DAYS QUEEN
With great pleasure I want to congratulate Glenwood High School's Kayla McDaniel on being crowned the 2010 Miss River Days Queen at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts on the campus of Shawnee State University.
At the September 7 meeting, New Boston Village Council unanimously voted a resolution of congratulations to Miss McDaniel on her accomplishment.
The entire New Boston community is extremely proud of Kayla. She represented her school, community and parents with pride and dignity.
I wish Kaya the best throughout her high school and college career.
Mike Payton
09-08-2010
At the September 7 meeting, New Boston Village Council unanimously voted a resolution of congratulations to Miss McDaniel on her accomplishment.
The entire New Boston community is extremely proud of Kayla. She represented her school, community and parents with pride and dignity.
I wish Kaya the best throughout her high school and college career.
Mike Payton
09-08-2010
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