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OAK HILL
Many, many years ago
Mother Earth stooped down;
Cupper her hands full of soil,
And whispered, “My town.”
She stood there, knowing
That she held the little gem,
She knew of some Welsh men,
And said, “This is for them.”
She knew they would come,
That they would gather in;
Seeking
a home away from home,
Her wheels began to spin.
Down through the years,
So much has happened here;
In this hamlet of the Welsh,
They came from far and near.
Perhaps this is imagination,
But it gives one a thrill
To know one way or another,
It ended up “Oak Hill.”
By Mary K. Kiser Evans,
Oak Hill
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The Telegram,
October 12, 2008
Oak Hill's Central Memorial Park
to receive 'Good Neighbor Award'

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JACKSON - There are many good things going on in
and around the Jackson area, and one of the most
notable occurred this year in southern Jackson
County.
This is where, in the village of Oak Hill, a
group of men, women and organizations banded
together to bring a new life to the area known
as the old Central School, and the result is the
outstanding Central Memorial Park.
For this achievement, the Oak Hill Central
Memorial Park Committee will receive the Good
Neighbor Award this year from the Jackson Area
Chamber of Commerce.
They will be honored at the chamber's Annual
Appreciation Banquet to be held on Thursday,
October 23 at the Christ United Methodist Church
Family Life Center on Portsmouth Street.
This is the first time the chamber has given
such an award, and Randy Heath, executive
director of the Jackson Area Chamber of
Commerce, thinks he knows why, ‘This was such a
notable achievement, I believe it 'has captured
the attention of not only all of Jackson County,
but southeastern Ohio as well,’ said Heath.
‘This park just speaks volumes about the
commitment and love the residents of the Oak
Hill area have for their property and their
community.’ |
The man who spearheaded the committee and served
as its chairman, was a gentlemen who has
spearheaded many of the advancements Oak Hill
has seen during his lifetime, Evan Davis. '1t
was Evan's vision and his energy that caused
this to come together,’ said Ed McQueen, the
vice-president of the Oak Hill Chamber of
Commerce and member of the park committee. ‘But
it takes a lot of good people to get something
like this accomplished.’
And there were many good people who played an
integral role.
Betty Jenkins funded the, quarter-mile walking
track and Don LeGrand funded the construction of
the shelter house in memory of his wife, Eileen.
WesBanco was responsible for supplying the
financial sup-, port for the pavilion and an
anonymous donor paid for the fence.
The Planning Committee for the project included
Davis, McQueen, Dan Brisker, Sam Crawford,
Crystal Davis, Joyce McClurg, Linda Morgan,
Kurtis Strickland and Howard Lemon. Lemon was
recognized, along with McQueen, for leading -the
way for this project and for personally donating
countless hours to the project by Strickland,
who is the president of the Oak Hill Chamber of
Commerce. |
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Photo By Pete Wilson
Oak Hill Area Chamber of Commerce officers (from the left) Becky Coleman,
John Barkhurst, Kurtis Strickland and Sandy
Borden are pictured with the membership plaques
that were distributed during the June 14th
meeting. From The Telegram 06/19/10.
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Oak Hill has
much to Appreciate
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BY PETE WILSON
Telegram Editor
The Oak Hill Chamber of Commerce conducted its
first-ever Appreciation Banquet Saturday night,
honoring some of the people who have worked to
make the community a better place to live and
work.
A large crowd of approximately 150 persons was
on hand at the Oak Hill High Schoo1/ Middle
School cafetoriurn to celebrate recent success
stories in the Oak Hill area. The objective was
also to honor those who have worked to bring new
jobs 'and services to the community and also to
beautify it and provide the civic and volunteer
service and support to make it better.
Chamber President Kurtis Strickland, who served
as emcee of the event, introduced the award
winners and also provided an overview of the
progress made in the Oak Hill area the past two
years, including the establishment of the
IronOak Center at the site of the former Davis
Home, the development and opening of Central
Memorial Park and painting of historically
significant murals at nine different locations
in the village.
The main awards of the evening were as follows:
Beautification Award to the Beautify Oak Hill
Committee and the Oak Hill Festival of Flags for
the new murals; Volunteer of the Year Awards to
Howard Lemon and Ed McQueen for their work on
the Central Memorial Park project; Meritorious
Service Award to Mildred Bangert for her civic
service to the Chamber and many other community
organizations; Citizen of the Year Award to Evan
Davis for his service, leadership and ,his role
as a benefactor; Entrepreneur of the Year Award
to Patrick and Melissa Ball for their
development of the IronOak Center; and Business
of the Year Awards to Adena Health Center-Oak
Hill and Abbott Home Care for establishing
businesses in the lronOak Center. |
Strickland and
oilier Chamber officers presented the awards and
State Senator John Carey and State
Representative Clyde Evans were also on hand to
present honorary resolutions to each of the
award recipients.
The Oak Hill High School Band and the Oak Hill
Community Choir provided live entertainment and
the main meal was catered by Kentucky Fried
Chicken of Oak Hill. Other local businesses also
stepped up to support the banquet with material
donations.
Presentation of Awards
Beautification Award - Strickland noted that the
Beautification Committee (or Beautify Oak Hill
Committee) and the Oak Hill Festival of Flags
Committee have worked together to commission the
painting of nine large murals at various
locations in the village.
The twin goals are to not only beautify the
village, but also to promote and preserve local
history and heritage as many of the scenes
depict local scenes from past years. The artist
of these murals, Cindy Gibson of South Webster,
was present and was recognized.
Committee member Denver Wolford, who was among
those accepting the award, stated that the
project has stirred "a lot of memories" and
served as a conversation piece for visitors and
residents alike.
Festival of Flags President Dan Brisker, in a
separate part of the program that included a
slide show, told more about the murals program
and how the public can support the painting of
additional murals. |
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Oak
Hill's community pride in spotlight
Citizens, businesses
honored at Chamber's
inaugural Appreciation Banquet
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Volunteer of
the Year - President Strickland saluted
award recipients Howard Lemon and Ed McQueen for
being "tireless workers" in the project to plan,
develop and build Central Memorial Park, which
opened in the summer of 2008 on the grounds of
the historic Central School.
"Without Ed and Howard, the park ~ould not have
become a reality," Strickland praised.
Strickland credited Lemon with using his
community contacts to help secure business and
community support for the park and for
continuing to be a presence overseeing its
maintenance. McQueen, Strickland added, deserves
the credit for drafting the layout and design of
the park and for supervising the work of the
contractors. Lemon was most impressed that the
project was done without governmental grants or
financial support, and saluted the community for
stepping up to make it happen.
McQueen echoed that sentiment. “We would not
have gotten it done without all the other
volunteers and donors, it was a bunch of
people," he commented.
McQueen also wanted to recognize Evan Davis,
crediting his original "vision" for the park,
and both Lemon and McQueen had kind words for
one another as well.
Meritorious
Service – Strickland noted that Mildred
Raugert had earned the Meritorious Service Award
not only for her work for the Chamber, but also
for her community service through many other
community organizations.
For the Chamber, Bangert orders the meals for
Chamber luncheons, takes reservations for
Central Memorial Park and keeps an eye on the
park from her nearby residence. Strickland
referred to the retired teacher as "a pillar of
the community" whose service includes being the
curator of the Welsh-American Heritage Museum,
an organizer and leader of other Welsh culture
activities, a member and leader of the St.
Paul's United Methodist Church, a founder of the
Oak Hill Christmas parade, a member of the Oak
Hill Festival of Flags Committee, the Oak Hill
Beautification Committee, the Oak Hill Community
Choir and being a long-time columnist for the
local newspapers.
When it came time to accept the award, Bangert
smiled and simply said, "Thank you."
Citizen of
the Year - Very likely, no one person has
given more and done more in recent years to
contribute to the betterment of Oak Hill than
Evan Davis. President Strickland stated that
Davis' motivation to contribute to Oak Hill is
his "strong sense of community."
As a generous benefactor, his financial support
helped make the Davis Stadium complex possible
at the new Oak Hill High School campus. He also
donated the use of an office building on Front
Street that now serves as the new village
administration building.
Also, Davis has been an active member of the Oak
Hill Chamber and served as chairman of the
Central Memorial Park Planning Committee. He
also is allowing the Chamber to hold its monthly
luncheon meetings in his Cardigan Office
Building on South Front Street.
In his remarks made after accepting the award,
it was clear Davis takes pride in his hometown,
and will always do much to support it.
"It's just what I like to do," Davis responded.
"I feel it's my job to repay all the people in
the community who have helped make my business
life and my personal life successful." |
Entrepreneur
of the Year - Husband and wife Patrick nod
Melissa Ball were honored for their commitment
to purchase the former Davis Home building on
Washington Street and reopen it as an office
building with the vision that it would provide
badly needed jobs and services for the people of
Oak Hill.
Yes, it was a business opportunity in the long
run, but the Balls also had a strong desire to
do something with the empty Davis Home building
that would help the community.
The first tenant, Adena Health Center-Oak Hill,
has provided the village with a much needed
primary care medical facility. Abbott Home Care
followed soon after by opening its home health
care branch there and since adding to its
payroll. The latest tenants to be announced are
certified public accountant David Dilley and the
Northwestern Mutual Financial planning services
office of Ben Ball.
In accepting the award, both Patrick and Melissa
were deeply grateful for the support they have
received and publicly thanked many of those
supporters.
Mr. Ball recalled that he likened the news that
Adena had committed to locating in the facility
as the initial and anchor tenant as
"Thanksgiving coming early" and that he was
truly humbled by the support he and his wife
have received.
Business of
the Year - While the Balls were honored for
setting the table, both Adena Health Center Oak
Hill and Abbott Home Care received the Business
of the Year Award for coming to the table.
Nurse Practitioner Alicia Kammler, who returned
to her hometown to work at the new office, was
proud to report that Adena Health Center-Oak
Hill was a big success in its first year in
2009, receiving 2,700 patient visits.
But rather than numbers, Kammler says she
measures the success by the positive human
impact she and other staffers have experienced
by providing "a medical home" that is available
without traveling away from Oak Hill.
Meanwhile, Abbott Home Care also seems pleased
with its experience in Oak Hill to date,
according to Registered Nurse Amanda McNeal and
Marketing Executive Brian Gilpin.
"Our motto is 'Caring Professionals Caring for
the Community' and we're glad to be here,"
McNeal stated. |
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"Thanksgiving has come early to Oak Hill, Ohio."

Photo By Pete Wilson
The Governor's Office of Appalachia delivered a
$42,500 check Wednesday that will help Adena
Health Systems place a primary-care medical
office in the IronOak Center (former Davis Home)
in Oak Hill. Pictured (from the left) are:
County Commissioners Tom Walton and Rick McNelly,
Adena Dr. Stephen Owen, IronOak co-owners
Melissa and Pat Ball, Adena Health System
President and CEO Mark Shuler and Fred Deel, the
director of the Governor's Office of Appalachia. |
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By Pete Wilson
Telegram Editor
With those joyful words, building co-owner Pat
Ball was happy to announce on Wednesday afternoon that Adena Health Systems
would soon become the first tenant in the new IronOak Center on Washington
Street in Oak Hill.
The IronOak Center, owned by Jackson residents
Pat and Melissa Ball, represents a second chance at life for the former Davis
Home For The Aged, which closed last year after 50-plus year history in the
village.
Wednesday's announcement was the first step in
the Balls' dream to bring much needed new jobs and services to Oak Hill.
"Melissa and I could not be happier," Mr. Ball
said. "For the first time in nearly a decade, people in small, isolated
communities across southern Jackson County, northern Lawrence County and western
Gallia County will have access to truly exceptional primary-care services.
"This partnership with Adena Health Systems will
improve the quality of life for the residents of our region and help further our
efforts to bring new jobs and services to Southeastern Ohio."
Adena Health Systems representatives were present
to announce that the IronOak Center would become the site of the new Adena
Health Center – Oak Hill. The new medical facility is tentatively scheduled to
open sometime in mid-December after renovation work is completed. A
ribbon-cutting ceremony will be scheduled once the office has opened.
Fred Deel, the director of the Governor’s Office
of Appalachia, was on hand at the IronOak Center to officially present a $42,500
check from his office that will help Adena pay for some of the equipment in the
building.
Deel commented, "The Adena Health Center here in
Oak Hill presents a direct opportunity for Ohio and the Governor’s Office of
Appalachia to make a contribution to our quality-of-life standards. Partnerships
like these serve to revitalize our communities."
Meanwhile, Adena’s decision to open a health
center in Oak Hill ends a long period of the village not having a medical
facility that began when the Oak Hill Community Medical Center closed.
Mark Shuler, President and CEO of Adena Health
System said, "Having resources to make primary care available in the village of
Oak Hill is something that has been one of our priorities, and we are truly
appreciative of the funds presented today by the Governor’s Office of Appalachia
that will assist us in this venture." |
Shuler also expressed his gratitude to Mr. Ball
for his energy, focus and for the support of the local community. He also
thanked Jackson-based physician, Dr. Stephen Owen, for providing physician
leadership throughout all stages of the site planning and development for the
Oak Hill facility.
Shuler described Dr. Owen as being a "driving
force" in the project and Mr. Ball said Dr. Owen’s commitment to help staff the
Oak Hill facility was a critical piece of the puzzle.
Adena Health Center – Oak Hill will feature
family-oriented healthcare services provided by the Jackson Area Family Practice
and Pediatrics. In addition to primary care, diagnostic treatment and services
will be available, including EKGs, blood-sugar checks, blood pressure, pulse
oximetry and nebulizer/breathing treatments.
Former Oak Hill area residents Alicia Kammler
will serve as full-time nurse practitioner at Adena Health Center – Oak Hill.
Dr. Owen will be at the Oak Hill center one day a week and Jackson-based
pediatrician Dr. Jill Neff will see patients at Oak hill a half-day each month.
A grateful and excited Ball thanked many who
supported his efforts to place Adena in the IronOak Center, in addition to Adena
and the Governor’s Office of Appalachia, this list included the Jackson County
commissioners, the renovation contractor, Sunrush Construction, the Ohio Valley
Regional Development Commission, the Oak Hill Chamber of Commerce, the village
of Oak Hill, Mr. Ball’s co-worker, Angie Sprouse, and the Davis family, who were
founders and owners of The Davis Home.
Speaking for the Oak Hill Chamber, President
Kurtis Strickland noted that the development of the former Davis Home was one of
the Chamber’s main goals for the year. He feels this is another positive
development that will make Oak Hill a good place to live.
Meanwhile, the Balls are hoping to attract other
tenants to the IronOak Center as the medical facility will use only 2,300 square
feet of the 14,000-square-foot building. Mr. Ball told The Telegram other
possible uses considered for the remainder of the building includes Child care
providers, respite care services, a diner, home health care services and medical
transport services.
"Anything that provides a job with a decent wage
will be welcomed with open arms," Ball told The Telegram.
There is also space upstairs that the Balls think
could be used for residential apartments or perhaps as a base for home health
care services.
Those interested in possible leasing options at
the IronOak Center may call Pat or Melissa Ball at 256-4992.
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Martha Stewart
Living |
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from the experts
Wondering where to find the most impressive foliage? This month on Martha Stewart Living Radio's Home-Grown gardening experts Andrew Beckman and Margaret Roach suggest scenic sites throughout the United States, including the following:
• New England
Mohawk State Forest. Cornwall and Goshen. Connecticut; Pineland Public Reserved Land, Gray, Maine: Cape Cod, .Massachusetts; Northeast Kingdom, Vermont
• Mid-Atlantic
Hudson Valley. New York; Greene County, Pennsylvania
• South
Cullman County, Alabama; Ozark National Forest, Arkansas: Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Georgia; Asheville. North Carolina:
Shenandoah Valley, Virginia |
more on health each month
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia will debut two health-related initiatives this fall. The Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mount Sinai, in New York City, will support awareness$ about healthy aging, and every magazine will include more coverage of health-related topics: Martha Stewart Living. Martha Stewart Weddings. Everyday Food, Blueprint, and Body+Soul as well as the Martha Stewart Newsletter and Dr. Andrew Weil's Self Healing newsletter. Whether the focus is fitness, nutrition or how to attain a more balanced life, each article will promote the lifestyle that Martha lives and advocates.

PLANT A SEED The Garden for Living, located across the street from the center at Mount Sinai, was designed by Martha Stewart Living gardening editors and neighborhood volunteers to promote ga1'dEming enthusiasm in the community.
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• Midwest
Ohio River Valley. Illinois: Carter Caves State Resort Park, Olive Hill, Kentucky; Bear Head Lake State Park, Ely, Minnesota: Jackson Lake State Park. Oak Hill. Ohio |
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• Southwest
Guanella Pass. Scenic and Historic Byway, Georgetown, Colorado; Lost Maples State Natural Area. Vanderpool. Texas
• West
Yosemite National Pork, California; Aspen Alley, Wyoming
• Pacific Northwest
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon: North Cascades Highway. Washington
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