Brooke Beam, Ph.D.
Ohio State University Extension, Highland County
Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator
January 16, 2019
Participants of Leadership Highland toured the maintenance buildings at the Highland County Engineer’s Office. From left to right: Rob Holt, Mat Greene, Mike Hart, Diana Grooms, Michelle Unsworth, and Brooke Beam.
The participants of Leadership Highland met on January 16, 2019, for Community Government Day. The participants learned more about the infrastructure of the county government and the history of the courthouse.
Leadership Highland participants attended the Highland County Commissioners meeting. Commissioners Terry Britton and Gary Abernathy received a check from Nate Jester, manager of the Pike State Forest, for a tree removal program. Also present at the meeting were Jared Warner, from the Highland County Health Department, and Bill Fawley, Highland County Auditor.
Commissioners Gary Abernathy and Terry Britton led the Highland County Commissioners meeting on Januery 16, 2019.
The last remaining jail cell in the old jail is now used for storage of books. The other cells have been converted into modern office spaces.
Tom Parrin, the custodian of the Highland County Administrative Building and Courthouse, provided a tour of the old jail and courthouse buildings. Parrin showed the last remaining jail cell, the law library, and the circus banners that were repurposed to build the roof of the old jail building. Tom Horst provided additional historical context for the old jail building by providing detailed informational packets. Horst said that the old jail building originally cost $22,000.00 to build and the woodwork alone cost $4,000.00.
On the third floor of the old jail, participants of Leadership Highland were able to see parts of the circus poster that was repurposed to build the roof.
Judge Rocky Coss, Common Pleas judge, provided an additional tour of the courthouse and described the inner workings of the Common Pleas Court. Judge Coss showed the history and renovation of the courthouse, as well as the historical fixtures in the building. Judge Coss introduced the participants of Leadership Highland to Ike Hodson, the Clerk of the Highland County Clerk of Courts. The Clerk of Courts maintains records from court cases and also processes passports.
Judge Coss describes the history of the Common Pleas Court to the participants of Leadership Highland.
In the afternoon, participants met with Dean Otworth, the Highland County Engineer, and Chris Fauber, the Deputy Engineer, at the Highland County Engineer’s Office. Otworth and Fauber described the process of maintaining a budget, providing proper maintenance for the roadways, and the process of plowing the roads during the winter. Otworth and Fauber provided a tour of the vehicle maintenance building and the storage facility for the salt.
The next meeting of Leadership Highland will be in February, focusing on business and industry. For more information about Leadership Highland, contact the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918 or email beam.49@osu.edu.
Upcoming Events:
The next Beef Quality Assurance Training will be held at Union Stockyards on Tuesday, January 22, 2018, at 6:30 P.M. A meal will be served at 5:30 P.M. prior to the class. Please RSVP to the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.
Another Beef Quality Assurance Training will be held at United Producers Inc., at 2 P.M. on January 29, 2019. There will not be a meal included at this training. Please RSVP to the Highland County Extension Office at 927-393-1918.
The next Highland County Master Gardener Volunteer meeting will be held on Thursday, January 17, 2019, at 10 AM in the Large Meeting Room in the basement of 110 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH.
On Tuesday, February 5, 2019, a live webinar of the 2019 Ohio Beef Cattle School will be held in the Large Meeting Room of 119 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH. The program will begin at 7 P.M. The 2019 Ohio Beef Cattle School is free to attend, but RSVPs are required. The topic of the webinar is on the winter management of the cow herd to ensure a productive 2019. RSVP to the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918 or via email to beam.49@osu.edu.
Fertilizer and Pesticide Recertifications:
February 19, 2019
Ponderosa Banquet Center, 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133
5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial
6:30 pm Pesticide Recertification (Core, 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6) Private Applicators Only
March 4, 2018
Ponderosa Banquet Center, 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133
10:00 am to 11:00 am Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial
11:30 am Pesticide Recertification (Core, 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6) Private Applicators Only
Registration details will come in the mail from the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Registration for OSU Extension Pesticide and Fertilizer and your renewal application for ODA Pesticide/Fertilizer must both be completed. Meals will be included at each recertification training at Ponderosa.