Good morning, Jackson County. America's deadliest coal plant just changed hands in our backyard, with the Gavin Power Plant's sale raising significant environmental concerns. The Sierra Club estimates this 50-year-old facility causes 224 premature deaths annually, while advocates worry the new private equity owners might prioritize profits over pollution controls as regulatory oversight relaxes. This transaction represents the complex intersection of energy policy, environmental health, and economic reality affecting our region.
On a brighter note, the Meigs County Fair returns August 11-16, bringing rodeo thrills, livestock competitions, and family fun to southeastern Ohio. The fairgrounds have received impressive upgrades thanks to grants and community support, with special promotions including Kids Day (August 13) and Senior Day (August 14). The $10 daily admission includes rides—a welcome respite from more serious local news, including the recent sentencing of a Parkersburg businessman who employed a Madagascan national without compensation for a decade.
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0%☕️ What's Brewing Locally
🏭 Dirty coal plant changes private equity hands amid environmental concerns. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the sale of Ohio's General James M. Gavin Power Plant from Blackstone and ArcLight to Energy Capital Partners. Environmental groups are alarmed because the Sierra Club identified it as America's deadliest coal plant, causing an estimated 224 premature deaths annually. Private equity firms, heavily invested in fossil fuels, spent significantly in the last election cycle as the Trump administration rolls back climate regulations. Advocates fear the new owners won't invest in making the 50-year-old plant cleaner or transitioning it to renewable energy.
🎡 Meigs County Fair brings farm, family, and fun to Ohio. The annual event running August 11-16 offers rodeo, motocross, livestock shows, and a petting zoo for visitors of all ages. Fair board president Wes Karr credits 18 hardworking board members and an excellent junior fair board for preparing the grounds, which received numerous upgrades thanks to grants and donations. Special promotions include Kids Day on August 13 with free admission for youth under 17 until noon, and Senior Day on August 14. Daily admission costs $10 including ride access, with gates open from 7am to 11pm.
🏢 Parkersburg man fined for employing illegal immigrant for a decade. John Robert Coe, 66, paid $54,740 in restitution and a $500 fine after admitting he continued to employ a foreign national from Madagascar despite knowing her unlawful status. The woman worked without monetary compensation at Coe's water testing laboratory business from 2011 until 2021, while living in an office converted into a bedroom. She performed various duties including shipping supplies, handling customer service calls, and managing accounts receivable. Coe's business partner Frederick Anderson, who originally brought the woman to the US on an expired fiancée visa, was previously sentenced to three years of federal probation.
🏡 Real Estate Reveals
Prime Jackson spot development ready: This development-ready lot priced at $65,000 sits near downtown Jackson and US Route 35, with water, electric and sewer already connected and natural gas available for your business or residential building plans.
Affordable land awaits dream builder: Bargain alert: This $28,000 building lot on a quiet, dead-end road in Wellston offers 1.5 acres to build your dream home, with electricity and city water already available.
Ranch Beauty Awaits Modern Family: This darling ranch priced at $279,000 features 3BR/2BA on 1/3 acre with new appliances, Pella windows, soft close cabinetry and a 2-car garage.🗓️ Happenings & Hoopla
🍞 Daily Bread Crumb
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
-Psalm 23:4
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