It was great news Friday afternoon that House Bill 93, designed to regulate pain clinics throughout Ohio was signed into law.
With the countless children and adults being victim to drug abuse in New Boston and the Scioto County area it is good to see state law in place to help law enforcement combat this plague that has hit southern Ohio.
I want to also particularly commend the efforts of Joanna Krohn and the SOLACE group formed in Scioto County that provides so much inspiration and hope to families that have suffered horrific loss due the crime, violence and death that has followed illegal drug sales throughout the area.
Also I would like to express my appreciation to Lisa Roberts, RN, of the Portsmouth City Health Department, who has worked tirelessly with the Scioto County Prescription Drug Action Team to make H.B. 93 a reality.
With the recent crackdown on pain clinics in Scioto County and the implementation of H.B. 93, and well as the leadership of people like Lisa Roberts and Joanna Krohn, a major blow has impacted the drug trade in southern Ohio. But let me caution all citizens that this is only the beginning. Like any other program, it can only be as good as we the people of New Boston, Scioto County and southern Ohio make it. We must continue to work tirelessly to expose pain clinics, report drug deals and support each other through this long and dangerous battle.
Again my congratulations to all who worked so hard for the successful passage of H.B. 93. Now lets make it work!
Mike Payton
5-21-2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
PRISONS FOR PROFIT - GOVERNOR'S PLAN TO DESTROY PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT CONTINUES
This past week I attended a forum sponsored by OSCEA and the American Civil Liberties Union involving the privatization of Ohio's prisons.
Governor Kasich's plans from the beginning of his administration has been to eliminate state public employeees jobs in all areas, i.e. guards, teachers, fire fighters, police, etc. He has also moving toward abolishment of unions, collective bargaining, and attacking state pensions.
The governor's latest attacks have been against Ohio's prison systems, of which two, the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility and the Ohio River Valley Juvenile Detention Facility, are here in Scioto County.
At this time Ohio's governor is planning to contract out Ohio prisons to organizations such as the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) which is the nations leading private prison operator.
This organization will employee staff that will work at dramatically reduced hourly rates, few and no benefits and absolutely no protection under any collective bargaining bill.
I would point out that many states have recently began ending their contractual relationships with private prison operators as they have found the costs and risks of privatization outweigh any short-term benefits. Statistics show that Ohio's proposal of selling five prisons will only yield a short-term surge of cash as the state will eventually loose all future revenue. Studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. General Accounting Office have shown that private prisons yield little or no long-term savings.
As New Boston, Portsmouth and the remaining areas of Scioto county continue to loose community members to other areas of the state or even out of state for employment, Ohio's governor continues to destroy public employment and endanger citizens throughout the state. Please continue to write our state Representative Terry Johnson and state Senator Tom Niehaus and oppose the privatization of state prisons.
Mike Payton
5-17-2011
Governor Kasich's plans from the beginning of his administration has been to eliminate state public employeees jobs in all areas, i.e. guards, teachers, fire fighters, police, etc. He has also moving toward abolishment of unions, collective bargaining, and attacking state pensions.
The governor's latest attacks have been against Ohio's prison systems, of which two, the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility and the Ohio River Valley Juvenile Detention Facility, are here in Scioto County.
At this time Ohio's governor is planning to contract out Ohio prisons to organizations such as the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) which is the nations leading private prison operator.
This organization will employee staff that will work at dramatically reduced hourly rates, few and no benefits and absolutely no protection under any collective bargaining bill.
I would point out that many states have recently began ending their contractual relationships with private prison operators as they have found the costs and risks of privatization outweigh any short-term benefits. Statistics show that Ohio's proposal of selling five prisons will only yield a short-term surge of cash as the state will eventually loose all future revenue. Studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. General Accounting Office have shown that private prisons yield little or no long-term savings.
As New Boston, Portsmouth and the remaining areas of Scioto county continue to loose community members to other areas of the state or even out of state for employment, Ohio's governor continues to destroy public employment and endanger citizens throughout the state. Please continue to write our state Representative Terry Johnson and state Senator Tom Niehaus and oppose the privatization of state prisons.
Mike Payton
5-17-2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
GROUNDBREAKING FOR NEW BOSTON SCHOOLS HUGE SUCCESS
Despite rain showers throughout the day, the groundbreaking for the new New Boston Schools took place April 19 at New Boston Stadium.
It was my pleasure to attend the event and be one of the guest speakers along with State Representative Terry Johnson, Scioto County Commissioner Skip Riffe and a representative from U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown's office.
My congratulations to Superintendent Mike Staggs, the New Boston School Board and the students of New Boston on this great opportunity. As I said Tuesday morning, I was never as proud of the New Boston community as I was three years ago when the citizens put their children first and voted in the levy to move forward with the construction.
In 2008, the voters of New Boston approved a 7.61 mill levy to build a new $20 million school building on the property that was once the Sun and Funland Pool on Lakeview Avenue. The local share was $3 million and $17 million was from the Ohio School Facilities Commission.
A single school will replace Glenwood High School, which was built in 1917, and Oak Intermediate and Stanton Primary, both built in 1913. The goal is to have the new school completed in August, 2012.
I have been very privileged and honored to be part of the New Building Committee for the school and it has been my distinct pleasure to work closely with community members as well as teachers, students and administrators in this great endeavor. I look forward to be of service in any way I may be needed as we move toward the first day of school in the new facility.
Congratulations to the New Boston School district and its great teachers, administrators and students. And thanks so much to the community who indeed put its children first.
Mike Payton
4-23-2011
It was my pleasure to attend the event and be one of the guest speakers along with State Representative Terry Johnson, Scioto County Commissioner Skip Riffe and a representative from U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown's office.
My congratulations to Superintendent Mike Staggs, the New Boston School Board and the students of New Boston on this great opportunity. As I said Tuesday morning, I was never as proud of the New Boston community as I was three years ago when the citizens put their children first and voted in the levy to move forward with the construction.
In 2008, the voters of New Boston approved a 7.61 mill levy to build a new $20 million school building on the property that was once the Sun and Funland Pool on Lakeview Avenue. The local share was $3 million and $17 million was from the Ohio School Facilities Commission.
A single school will replace Glenwood High School, which was built in 1917, and Oak Intermediate and Stanton Primary, both built in 1913. The goal is to have the new school completed in August, 2012.
I have been very privileged and honored to be part of the New Building Committee for the school and it has been my distinct pleasure to work closely with community members as well as teachers, students and administrators in this great endeavor. I look forward to be of service in any way I may be needed as we move toward the first day of school in the new facility.
Congratulations to the New Boston School district and its great teachers, administrators and students. And thanks so much to the community who indeed put its children first.
Mike Payton
4-23-2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
MIRANDA LITZ GLENWOOD HIGH SCHOOL'S 2011 RIVERDAYS CANDIDATE
I want to congratulate Miranda Litz for being selected as Glenwood High School's Riverdays Candidate for 2011, and wish her good luck in the upcoming pageant.
Miranda, a junior at Glenwood High School, is the daughter of Darren and Shelly Litz.
The Village of New Boston is very proud to have Miranda represent not only the school but the entire community in this year's Riverdays Queen Pageant held at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts at Shawnee State University.
Mike Payton
4-17-2011
Miranda, a junior at Glenwood High School, is the daughter of Darren and Shelly Litz.
The Village of New Boston is very proud to have Miranda represent not only the school but the entire community in this year's Riverdays Queen Pageant held at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts at Shawnee State University.
Mike Payton
4-17-2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
ORV CLOSURE HURTS NEW BOSTON & SCIOTO COUNTY
Saturday afternoon, March 26, myself and some 600 people attended a community rally at Green High School voicing our objections to the closing of the Ohio River Valley Correctional Facility at Franklin Furnance.
Employees, office holders and community supporters spoke of the economic devastation to not only Franklin Furnace but much of Southern Ohio because of the recently announced decision by Ohio Governor John Kasich to close the facility by the end of the year.
Several residents of the New Boston community currently work at the ORV. The impact of this closure will cost 368 people throughout Southern Ohio their jobs. There has been no logical reason given by the governor for this closure. ORV is the most modern and secure youth facility in Ohio.
As has been pointed out to Governor Kasich in letters from community members and employees, the infrastructure of the community, the neighborhoods will decline due to families forced to relocate, vacant businesses and homes, home foreclosures and the inability to improve properties. Tax revenues will decline which will put additional strain on already stressed city, village and township budgets.
State Representative Terry Johnson appeared at the rally and highly opposed the closing. He commented that, "politics should have nothing to do with our presence today..", but with all due respect to Mr. Johnson, the Governor is going to have to prove that politics has nothing to do with this.
I urge all citizens of Scioto County to continue to write Governor Kasich's office, Representative Johnson, and all local leaders. Pressure must be kept on the governor's office to change this devastating decision for our area.
Mike Payton
3-27-2011
Employees, office holders and community supporters spoke of the economic devastation to not only Franklin Furnace but much of Southern Ohio because of the recently announced decision by Ohio Governor John Kasich to close the facility by the end of the year.
Several residents of the New Boston community currently work at the ORV. The impact of this closure will cost 368 people throughout Southern Ohio their jobs. There has been no logical reason given by the governor for this closure. ORV is the most modern and secure youth facility in Ohio.
As has been pointed out to Governor Kasich in letters from community members and employees, the infrastructure of the community, the neighborhoods will decline due to families forced to relocate, vacant businesses and homes, home foreclosures and the inability to improve properties. Tax revenues will decline which will put additional strain on already stressed city, village and township budgets.
State Representative Terry Johnson appeared at the rally and highly opposed the closing. He commented that, "politics should have nothing to do with our presence today..", but with all due respect to Mr. Johnson, the Governor is going to have to prove that politics has nothing to do with this.
I urge all citizens of Scioto County to continue to write Governor Kasich's office, Representative Johnson, and all local leaders. Pressure must be kept on the governor's office to change this devastating decision for our area.
Mike Payton
3-27-2011
OHSAA HONORS NEW BOSTON'S JON WICKLINE
I would like to congratulate New Boston native Jon Wickline who was recently honored by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) in being awarded the Friend of Youth Award for recognition of 34 years announcing sports events for the New Boston School District.
Over the years Wickline has been the "Voice of the Tigers" for high school soccer, basketball and football (which was discontinued in 1979).
The presentation of the award came at halftime of the high school tournament basketball game between Wheelersburg and Ironton at Athens Convocation Center on the campus of Ohio University.
It has been my pleasure to know Jon Wickline for over 30 years. He has always been helpful to not only the high school sports programs but the youth leagues as well. He is a valued asset of our community and I wish him the best.
Congratulations. The honor was long-coming and well deserved.
Mike Payton
3-27-2011
Over the years Wickline has been the "Voice of the Tigers" for high school soccer, basketball and football (which was discontinued in 1979).
The presentation of the award came at halftime of the high school tournament basketball game between Wheelersburg and Ironton at Athens Convocation Center on the campus of Ohio University.
It has been my pleasure to know Jon Wickline for over 30 years. He has always been helpful to not only the high school sports programs but the youth leagues as well. He is a valued asset of our community and I wish him the best.
Congratulations. The honor was long-coming and well deserved.
Mike Payton
3-27-2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
INFRA-METALS OFFICIALLY COMING TO NEW BOSTON
This past Monday afternoon, councilmen Dan Fetty, Ralph Imes, Terry Salyers, Junior Williams and myself along with Mayor Warren attended the official signing of the purchase agreement between the Southern Ohio Port Authority (SOPA) and Infra-Metals to construct and operate a new $13 million dollar steel plant in New Boston.
The plant is expected to add 100 jobs to Scioto County. According to SOPA Vice-Chairman Bob Walton, Sr., the plant could break ground in 60 days and be complete 90 days after that, depending on the weather.
Based in Wallingford, Conn, Infra-Metals (a subsidary of Reliance Steel) already ships steel to locations in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky and Michigan.
Infra-Metals will join SFI of Ohio, OSCO, and A & M Refractory in the New Boston Industrial Park.
The addition of Infra-Metals to our community is not only a major accomplishment for New Boston but for all of Scioto County and southern Ohio. A major industry locating in our area signals to other industry throughout the country that southern Ohio does have much to offer, in property, location, and trained manpower and is worthy of serious consideration for future investment.
Mike Payton
3-16-11
The plant is expected to add 100 jobs to Scioto County. According to SOPA Vice-Chairman Bob Walton, Sr., the plant could break ground in 60 days and be complete 90 days after that, depending on the weather.
Based in Wallingford, Conn, Infra-Metals (a subsidary of Reliance Steel) already ships steel to locations in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky and Michigan.
Infra-Metals will join SFI of Ohio, OSCO, and A & M Refractory in the New Boston Industrial Park.
The addition of Infra-Metals to our community is not only a major accomplishment for New Boston but for all of Scioto County and southern Ohio. A major industry locating in our area signals to other industry throughout the country that southern Ohio does have much to offer, in property, location, and trained manpower and is worthy of serious consideration for future investment.
Mike Payton
3-16-11
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
