Good morning, Perry County. April brings not just showers but a rare opportunity to be part of conservation history. Ohio's sandhill crane population, once completely vanished from our landscape, has rebounded to over 400 birds—and now wildlife officials are seeking volunteers for the annual count on April 12. These magnificent creatures with their distinctive red foreheads represent one of Ohio's most remarkable wildlife comeback stories, having returned to our wetlands after a complete absence that ended only in 1987.
While some natural treasures are returning, we're also saying farewell to one of our human ones. Navy veteran Gene Bednarski, who served aboard the USS Constellation before dedicating 35 years to Lucent-Celestica Technologies, has passed at 83, leaving behind a legacy of service both in uniform and as an original Violet Township volunteer firefighter. Meanwhile, the state is pumping an additional $27 million into cleaning up abandoned oil wells, bringing the environmental remediation total to over $73 million.
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83%☕️ What's Brewing Locally
🦢 Ohio seeks volunteers for annual sandhill crane count on April 12. The ODNR Division of Wildlife is partnering with conservation groups to survey these threatened birds in 33 counties across the state. Volunteers will spend about two hours outdoors counting cranes in wetland habitats where they typically nest. Last year's count identified 412 sandhill cranes, with Wayne County reporting the most at 106 birds. Once extirpated from Ohio, these distinctive gray wading birds with red foreheads returned in 1987 and have been slowly expanding their presence.
🪖 Navy veteran Gene Bednarski leaves legacy of service and family devotion. The 83-year-old Pickerington resident passed away peacefully on April 1, surrounded by loved ones after a life well-lived. A skilled electrician who served aboard the USS Constellation, Bednarski later worked 35 years at Lucent-Celestica Technologies while remaining active in his community as an original Violet Township volunteer firefighter. His passions included hunting, fishing, Ohio State football, and most importantly, spending time with his three daughters, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Military honors will accompany his interment following services in both Pickerington and his hometown of Adena.
🛢️ Ohio pumps $27 million more into abandoned oil well cleanup. The Ohio Controlling Board approved the additional funding Monday, bringing the total budget for plugging "orphan wells" to over $73 million. The money comes from oil and gas permit fees and severance taxes collected by the state. Officials are tackling the tens of thousands of idled and abandoned oil and gas wells scattered throughout Ohio that pose environmental risks. The Department of Natural Resources oversees this ongoing remediation program to address the legacy of past drilling operations.
⚾ Baseball Scoreboard
The Sheridan Generals brought their own version of spring cleaning to New Concord, sweeping away the John Glenn Little Muskies in a commanding 15-0 shutout. The Generals' offense was firing on all cylinders while their pitching staff slammed the door, improving to 2-0 in what's becoming a lopsided rivalry. These same teams will run it back Tuesday, with the Little Muskies (0-3) hoping to find some answers before the Generals march into town looking for seconds.
| Team | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
Crooksville (1-2) | ||
vs New Lexington | L 3-2 | |
New Lexington (1-0) | ||
@ Crooksville | W 3-2 | |
Sheridan (2-0) | ||
@ John Glenn | W 15-0 |
🥎 Softball Scoreboard
Sheridan's Generals pitched a 2-0 shutout against John Glenn's Little Muskies in Monday's Muskingum Valley showdown, improving to an impressive 4-1 on the season. The pitching duel in New Concord left Little Muskie fans disappointed as their squad dropped to 1-6, with these same teams set for a quick rematch Wednesday in what's shaping up to be either sweet revenge or déjà vu all over again.
| Team | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
Crooksville (9-0) | ||
vs New Lexington | W 4-3 | |
New Lexington (3-3) | ||
@ Crooksville | L 4-3 | |
Sheridan (4-1) | ||
@ John Glenn | W 2-0 |
🏡 Real Estate Reveals
Affordable Fixer-Upper Needs Love: Bargain alert: $89,900 for this 2-story fixer-upper with 4 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, living/dining rooms, kitchen, porch, deck and detached garage. Sold as-is, so bring your renovation skills.
History Size Location Price Potential: A historic 11,072-square-foot property on Main Street in Crooksville is available for $200,000. The versatile building features multiple residential areas and sits in a prime location with easy access to local amenities.
Lakefront Paradise With Boathouse: This splendid Buckeye Lake waterfront home priced at $655,000 offers generous living space with an open floor plan, chef's kitchen, multiple bedrooms, and 132 feet of canal frontage with a two-slip boathouse.🗓️ Happenings & Hoopla
🍞 Daily Bread Crumb
Do everything in love.
-1 Corinthians 16:14
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