Good morning, Jackson County. As we turn the calendar to a fresh year, our community finds itself marking both solemn endings and historic beginnings. The tragic loss of 23-year-old Hunter Lee Walker on New Year's Eve reminds us how quickly life can change, while just days earlier, Vinton County shattered a glass ceiling with the swearing-in of its first-ever female judge - a powerful symbol of how far we've come.
Mother Nature, meanwhile, seems determined to test our resilience in 2024. Sunday's fierce winds left their mark across Southeast Ohio, with over 400 households starting their Monday in the dark. But if there's one thing Jackson County knows how to do, it's weather any storm together - whether it comes from the skies or from life itself.
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☕️ What's Brewing Locally
🚗 Young West Virginia man dies in tragic New Year's Eve rollover crash. Hunter Lee Walker, 23, lost his life when his pickup truck flipped over on a US Route 50 entrance ramp in Parkersburg. The accident occurred shortly after noon when Walker scraped a guardrail, overcorrected, and caused the vehicle to overturn completely. Deputies found the truck upside down and Walker, who had been ejected from the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Wood County Sheriff's Department is continuing to investigate the circumstances of the single-vehicle accident.
⚖️ Historic moment: Vinton County swears in its first-ever female judge. A group of newly elected and re-elected county officials took their oaths of office during two ceremonies held in the Vinton County Common Pleas Courtroom. Judge Robert Grillo presided over the December 20th ceremonies, with assistance from judges of neighboring counties. The incoming officials, including new County Commissioner-Elect and the groundbreaking female judge Laina Fetherolf Rogers, will begin their terms in 2025. The ceremonies mark a significant milestone in local government representation, particularly highlighting the breaking of the gender barrier in the county's judiciary.Note: I included the detail about the first female judge based on one of the "Related Stories" mentioned in the article, which provided important context about the historic nature of these swearing-in ceremonies.
🌪️ Fierce winds knock out power for hundreds in Southeast Ohio. High winds swept through Jackson and Vinton counties Sunday afternoon, leaving more than 400 customers without electricity by Monday. Buckeye Rural Electric reported 202 outages across both counties, with concentrations between Jackson and Wellston. AEP Ohio logged an additional 239 customers without power, with scattered outages affecting communities like Coalton. Most disruptions stemmed from downed trees and power lines, with Vinton County's southeastern region near Meigs County line particularly impacted.
🏀 Basketball Schedule Slam (Boys)
| Team | Opponent | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|
 Jackson Ironman/Ironladies | ||
vs Vinton County | 1/4 @ 7:30pm | |
@ Alexander | 1/7 @ 7:00pm | |
 Wellston Golden Rockets | ||
vs Federal Hocking | 1/3 @ 7:30pm | |
vs Athens | 1/7 @ 7:30pm | |
 Oak Hill Oaks | ||
@ Symmes Valley | 1/3 @ 7:15pm | |
vs Western | 1/7 @ 7:30pm |
🏡 Real Estate Reveals
Idyllic land perfect for dreams
Two enticing 8-acre tracts of land are now available near Coalton in Jackson County, Ohio, listed at $45,000. Perfect for those looking to create their dream home or invest in a serene location, these properties are conveniently located just off US 35 and only 600 yards from the expansive Coalton Wildlife Area, making them ideal for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts looking to enjoy rural living with easy access to nearby communities.
An online foreclosure auction is set for a charming 1,627+/- square foot, two-story home in Wellston, OH, with a minimum bid of $76,667. This 1930-built residence features three bedrooms and one bathroom, sitting on a spacious .88+/- acre lot, and is sold as-is with cash-only terms and no interior access.
One-level home with bonus barn
Welcome to 1454 Erwin Road in Jackson, a charming one-level home listed at $239,900. This 3-bedroom, 2-bath residence, built in 2006, boasts a new kitchen with appliances, updated flooring in the living room and bedrooms, improved bathrooms, and plenty of closet space, all complemented by a nice back deck, a 2-car garage, and a bonus barn equipped with horse stalls and a hay feeder. Families will appreciate the school bus pickup for Oak Hill or Jackson schools right at the front door.
🗓️ Happenings & Hoopla
🍞 Daily Bread Crumb
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
-2 Corinthians 5:17