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Copyright

Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
45 E. Main St.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
740-702-2722

Chamber education session a chance

to explore a good alternative

By Marvin Jones

President and CEO

Tuesday evening’s session is an opportunity for anyone vitally interested in or directly involved in the education of our children to learn first-hand about a program that is making a deep impact elsewhere.

Representatives from the FranklinCovey Education division plan to talk about The Leader in Me program that has transformed schools into ones where parents want to send their children, where students are eager to learn from teachers who are highly motivated and ones that have great support from their communities. The session starts at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria of Chillicothe High School on Yoctangee Parkway.

Invitations went this week to every public school elementary teacher, principal, superintendent and school board member. This serves as an invitation to all chamber members and their employees who are interested in the education of their own children and of their potential future employees and managers.

Why is the chamber involved? Good schools produce good people who will be good employees or who will start their own business. Better schools produce a better workforce and improve the entire community. When “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” become part of the learning process, the core of “The Leader in Me” program, then schools become better and the students learn about habits that they will carry with them their entire lives.

Why should a school become involved? If a district’s parents, teachers, principals, superintendents and board members are satisfied with what they are doing now and are convinced they are getting the best possible results, then maybe this isn’t for you. But if you want to hear about how other districts and schools, already good ones, have improved using this process, then we encourage you to spend 60-90 minutes learning how they are doing it.

What is the chamber offering? Our Board of Directors pledges to help find the funds it would take to train teachers and staff to incorporate “The Leader in Me” program for at least three years in their school to demonstrate the results. It has to be an entire school, not just a few classrooms. That’s a one-time cost of roughly $25,000 and up to about $5,000 annually after that. It also means the school will have a real partner in the chamber for at least three years.

So, if you have a real passion about the education of our children and have 60-90 minutes to spare Tuesday evening, we hope you’ll be able to hear first-hand about how many other schools across the country, including ones in Cincinnati, Worthington and Marysville, are becoming better by incorporating the program into their daily routines.

Optimism could grow on Carlisle Building issue

The seventh anniversary of the fire that created the open boil at the crossroads of our historic community is only days away. The first meeting in a long time to renew the process of addressing the issue is at Monday’s review session of Chillicothe City Council.

Newly elected Council Member Jeremy Siberell drew the assignment for his Finance Committee from newly elected Council President Bruce Arnold, a downtown business owner. Past attempts by those involved with the HyettPalma study, including the chamber, to convince council to address the issue fell on deaf ears.

The approach being taken by Siberell and others, from all accounts, is exactly what has been needed for at least six years: Meet with the owners to learn about their latest intentions, work with the owners so that the building is made at least presentable in the shortest possible time or help these owners find new owners who can get the job done.

It means exploring every possibility, every alternative, every incentive. The administration has made some attempts in the past to work with the two sets of owners, but the involvement of council brings a new dimension. About 40 downtown property owners made more than $1 million in improvements last year and they deserve to see that investment grow. Making the Carlisle presentable goes a long way in making that happen.

Chamber board endorses both local issues on May ballot

The Board of Directors of the chamber Thursday endorsed passage of the levies on the county-wide ballot May 4 for the Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library and the Ross County Board of Developmental Disabilities. If approved, the community becomes stronger with a better library system and by taking care of a growing population of those who need our help.

The library levy is for 1 mill for five years. Passage means the Northside Branch re-opens and hours are restored at the branches around the county in addition to funding the book and materials budget.

The number of adults using services through the board of developmental disabilities is expected to swell by nearly 100 percent to more than 400 in five years. Repairs to the Pioneer Center on County Road 550 have been on hold. The 3.8-mill replacement levy for five years allows the board to address these and other issues.

Work moves into high gear at USEC complex

The $45 million in matching funds from the U.S. Department of Energy for USEC’s American Centrifuge Plant means 355 highly skilled workers in Piketon and two other states will continue to develop and demonstrate the technology.

“We appreciate DOE’s vote of confidence in the American Centrifuge technology,” said USEC President and CEO John Welch. “We have made significant progress and continue to work hard to address the recommendations of DOE’s independent engineer. These activities will give us valuable operational data and experience as we prepare to update our loan guarantee application.”

Meanwhile, LATA/Parallax, DOE’s environmental remediation contractor, is dismantling the electrical switchyard towers and the cooling tower complex at the site of the former gaseous diffusion operation. Both were built in the mid-1950s and the projects are funded by federal stimulus dollars.

The switchyard at one point provided as much as 2,200 megawatts of electrical power daily for the operation, enough power to light up New York City at the time. About 689 million gallons of water circulated through the cooling towers and 20 million gallons evaporated into the air on a daily basis. Production at the plant ended in 2001.

Western Avenue widening not on state’s radar screen

Only the proposed bypass around Portsmouth and Chesapeake is on the Ohio Department of Transportation’s list of projects for future funding for District 9. The widening of Western Avenue from Limestone Boulevard to Veterans Parkway, despite being Ross County’s top priority on its thoroughfare plan, has yet to make the list.

Chillicothe City Council has legislation to authorize paying for the city’s share of the design phase, about $45,000, on its agenda and ready for second and third readings.

In other transportation-related issues, a study commissioned by the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission looking at the Appalachian Highway (Ohio 32), U.S. routes 50 and 35 recommended a website be created to market the available industrial sites along the corridors. It also noted, “Long term, it is of necessity for stable and adequate funding to be provided for the county and regional economic development offices. Without a steady source of revenue, these entities cannot adequately address the economic needs of the region.”

Other recommendations from the plan, available at www.ovrdc.org, include a better dialogue between businesses, educators and workforce folks to develop training programs that fit the need of business; proactive land use planning and development of a corridor access plan.

Chamber offers chance to hear Brokaw, meet lawmakers

This chamber is planning to take a contingent to Columbus on Tuesday, May 11 to hear former NBC anchorman Tom Brokaw who is the keynote speaker for the “Chamber Day at the Capital” for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. The day also will include a presentation on “Excellence in Entrepreneurship” awards and a reception with lawmakers in the Capital Club in the Huntington Building downtown. The cost is $100 per person if we have at least five attend, otherwise it’s $125 each. If you’d like to join us, call 702-2722 or email mjones@chillicotheohio.com by April 26.

Area jobless rates hover in the teens

The latest figures from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services show few changes in the jobless rates for Ross and surrounding counties from a month ago with all up substantially from a year ago. The largest jumps to a year ago came in Fayette and Highland counties, hard hit by the closing the DHL operations in nearby Wilmington where the rate for Clinton County was 19.0 percent. Ross County’s rate translates into 4,900 without a job.

Vendors licenses issued recently by the Ross County Auditor:

• S&K Hill Farms, 1075 Trego Creek Road.
• Chillicothe Discounters, 5851 U.S. 23, by Melanie Violette.
• Bella’s Greenhouse, 468 Belleview Ave., by Leressa Deem.