Good morning, Pike County. In an effort to inspire young readers, the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is launching a Reading Ranger series featuring the book *Fry Bread*, with hands-on fun and cultural exploration planned for January. Meanwhile, Chillicothe is gearing up for a $34.5 million renovation of Yoctangee Park, emphasizing community feedback and improved pedestrian access. On the housing front, Ross County is witnessing a slight dip in home prices this November while homes are selling faster than the national average, suggesting a cooling market despite some price spikes.
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0% ☕️ What's Brewing Locally
📚 Ranger Reading Series Planned for Kids at Mound City Visitor’s Center. Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is set to delight young readers with its new Reading Ranger series, where rangers will guide kids through the book *Fry Bread*. Participants will explore the delicious Native American treat, its cultural significance, and learn how to make it at home, bridging the gap between ancient and contemporary Native American diets. The series will run from January 11th-12th at 1 PM, with an additional session on January 13th at 10 AM. Families are also invited to join a playful puppet show on January 31st at 10 AM, which promises to be both fun and educational, providing a glimpse into the tools and materials used by Native Americans 2,000 years ago.
🌳 Chillicothe’s Yoctangee Park renovation plans were unveiled during a lively open house event at the Memorial Armory, where around 100 community members engaged with the designs presented by American Structurepoint LLC. The proposed $34.5 million project, funded in part by the federal Appalachian Community Grant and slated to be completed in under two and a half years, aims to enhance park facilities while respecting the area’s natural beauty. Plans include a new visitors center, a market pavilion, and improved traffic flow to prioritize pedestrian enjoyment over vehicular shortcuts. Senior architect Bill McEwan emphasized the importance of public feedback in the planning process, with more opportunities for community involvement on the horizon. With the new designs aimed at complementing the historic armory, the transformation is set to create a welcoming and functional park space for all.
🏡 Ross County sees a dip in home prices this November. The median listing price for homes dropped to $269,450, down 3.3% from October's $278,725, although it's up 7.8% from last year. Homes sold briskly in the area with a median of 44 days on the market, less than the national average of 62 days. Interestingly, there was a 23.5% decline in new listings compared to last year, with 52 homes put up for sale. Overall, Ross County's housing market appears to be cooling slightly, even as the price per square foot trends upward.
🏀 Basketball Schedule Slam (Boys)
| Team | Opponent | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|
 Piketon Redstreaks | ||
| vs Adena | 12/20 @ 7:30pm | |
 Waverly Tigers | ||
| vs Eastern | 12/20 @ 3:15pm | |
| @ Gallia Academy | 12/21 @ 6:00pm |
🏡 Real Estate Reveals
Cozy home with spacious amenities
This cozy singlewide home, listed at $120,000, is nicely maintained and ready for new owners. It features two bedrooms, two full baths, stainless steel appliances, and both a covered front porch and back deck, all set on acres that include a whole house generator, a detached two-car carport, a storage building, a small barn, and a convenient dog kennel.
Farmhouse retreat with expansive porch
Listed at $459,900, this newly constructed farmhouse-style home is set in a serene landscape with no neighbors in sight. It features a charming wraparound front porch, vaulted ceilings, a custom kitchen, a main floor primary suite, and several extra spaces upstairs, along with unfinished rooms in the basement, a fenced yard, and existing structures like a barn with stalls.
Spacious country retreat with flair
This move-in-ready 4-bedroom, 3-bath home listed at $299,900 offers a perfect country retreat on over 5 acres. With updated flooring, an expansive rear deck for wildlife watching, and a spacious eat-in kitchen that flows into the living area, it’s an inviting space for family gatherings, plus a lower level that features additional flexible living options.
🗓️ Happenings & Hoopla
🍞 Daily Bread Crumb
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
-Galatians 5:22-23