Norm Blanchard Provides Economic Encouragement

“We have a good team that tries to bring businesses here,” said Norm Blanchard, director of economic development, to the Cambridge Lions Club. “We look for ways to present a competitive package. Companies shop around in different states to get the best deal.”

Blanchard discussed the impact of recent changes in corporate taxes under that Taft administration. The changes were designed to make Ohio more competitive with other states. Private investment has grown significantly since changing from corporate income and inventory taxes to the corporate activities tax.

“I want to get the negative things out of the way,” Blanchard said in discussing the impact of the recent closing of the Plastech plant in Byesville, the closing of the Appalachian Behavioral Health Care Center, and the uncertainties related to the recent sale of Advantage Bank.

“I want to emphasize the positive things that are going on in the county,” said Blanchard. “We have upgraded Gander Road making more industrial building sites available. We are working to get other businesses to move into the Plastech facility. We have the building and a trained work force and railroad access.”

“We are trying to get another group to use the buildings at the former Appalachian Behavioral Health Care Center. There is nothing definite yet.”

Blanchard discussed recent additions and planned additions to Ridgid Tools, Island Aseptics, BSI and other businesses and the potential for increased future employment. “We are trying to get a business for the former Ames True Temper building,” Blanchard said.

“One of the problems in trying to get businesses to locate here is the lack of acreage for building sites, said Blanchard. “It’s hard to find a place that doesn’t have an old mine under it. Trying to build on an old strip mine area requires extra soil compaction. That increases building costs.”

“Another problem in our area is our Cambridge school board situation and the inability to get a levy passed in Rolling Hills,” said Blanchard. “Businesses look at the school systems when they consider relocating. Their employees want to have a good school system for their children.”

Guests of the club included John and Margaret Patton from the Weirton Lions Club and Fred Shimp.

Help Needed for Cambridge Run and Countryside Ride

Lion Tom Davey is looking for volunteers to assist the runners and riders in the Cambridge Run and Countryside Ride Saturday July 26th. Volunteers to direct traffic and keep vehicles away from the runners need to arrive at the Courthouse by 7:30 to get their assignments. This is a great event! Contact Lion Tom with any questions or to sign up!

7/ 26 / 2008 Cambridge Run & Countryside Ride The Cambridge Downtown Classic is a 5-K and 10-K run over a challenging and enjoyable course. Registration is $15.00 if postmarked by July 14th and $18.00 after the 14, or day-of-the-race. The race starts at 8:00 A.M. Trophies are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place overall and age categories. T-shirts are given to all pre-registered runners. The Countryside Ride is a 25 mile and 45 mile bicycle tour from downtown Cambridge to the beautiful Salt Fork State Park. The tour begins at approximately 10:30 A.M. Riders will have lunch at Salt Fork beach and return to downtown for refreshments. Registration is $20.00 and includes T-shirt, lunch. Sponsored by Coca Cola, U.S. Bank and Riesbeck's Register Online or Download Registration Form Information: Cambridge Main Street 740-439-2238 or Tom Davey 740-584-0857

Salt Factory gives teens a fighting chance

“The S.A.L.T. Factory was started sixteen years ago to give kids someplace safe to be,” said Kelly Severt. “S.A.L.T. stands for serving all local teens.” Trevor Mourer, a local teenage boxer, accompanied Severt when they spoke to the Cambridge Lions Club. (Photo at left, Lion Brown, Kelly Severt, director of the S.A.L.T. Factory, Trevor Mourer, boxer).

“We offer boxing lessons; we have dances on weekends; we have pool tables, air hockey, foosball, board games, and computers for the kids to use,” Severt said. “When kids come to the S.A.L.T. Factory they have to sign in so we always know who is there. Parents can come in to see what is going on. They have to sign in too.”

“We will set up classes for any topic kids are interested in,” Severt said. “We are also looking for volunteers to teach classes to kids, so here is your opportunity to get involved. We also need ideas for things for our teens to do.”

“Everyone who works at the S.A.L.T. Factory is a volunteer. We have no paid employees. We are a not for profit organization relying on grants, donations and occasional fund raisers. We are in the process of filing for 501(c)3 status so donations can be tax deductible.”

“Other organizations can also use the S.A.L.T. Factory facility. They can use it free of charge. You can also use it for birthday parties,” Severt said.

Severt spoke about the boxing lessons offered at the S.A.L.T. Factory. “Kids come and go in the program. It’s not just about fighting. We also teach kids how to avoid a fight. We teach them to respect others. We teach them to take responsibility for their own behavior, how to take care of the equipment, and how to treat others the way they want to be treated.”

“We cooperate with a program in Zanesville so that our kids will have more kids to compete with. We have had girls take boxing lessons too, but we don’t have any this year.”

Trevor Mourer participates in the boxing program. Mourer participated in the Silver Gloves tournament in Cincinnati. He also placed fifth in the Jr. Olympic Nationals in Marquette, Michigan.

“I got the chance to see how others have prepared and what they do in the ring,” Mourer said. “When I first started going to tournaments I could see how much I needed to learn. Some of the kids have been boxing since they were five years old. I got a late start, but I have worked hard to get to this level.”

“I do a lot of conditioning. I sprint from corner to corner of the ring for two minutes then walk around for a minute. Then I repeat that over and over. This is the same amount of time as a round of a boxing match.”

“When I went to Marquette I was in the 176 pound weight class. When I go to the tournaments this fall, I will be in the 165 pound weight class.”
“To pay for the costs of our kids going to a tournament we rely on donations and sponsors,” said Severt. It’s interesting to see how well disciplined our kids are when they go to these events. Our coach insists on it.”

Cambridge Lions Inducts New Member Bryce Simmons

Cambridge Lions Club is proud to welcome our newest member, Bryce Simmons. Bryce was sponsered by his son, Lion Troy Simmons. Bryce was inducted July 14th by Lions 13G Deputy District Governer Tom Cahoon.

Judge Nicholson discusses new municiple court building

Citing the long-standing need to upgrade the Cambridge Municipal Court facilities, Judge John Mark Nicholson spoke to the Cambridge Lions Club about the status of the efforts to build a new facility. “We hope that we can advertise for bids this fall.”

“We don’t want to burden the city’s taxpayers,” Nicholson said. “The Ohio Revised Code provides that municipal courts can acquire additional facilities through a fee to fund operations.” The ORC provides that additional fees may be added to the fines and court costs assessed to violators of traffic laws and other misdemeanors.

“The additional fees are deposited with the city treasurer into a ‘special projects fund’ and can only be spent for that project,” Nicholson said. “It’s the same idea as a family setting aside money for a new home so that they don’t have to finance as much.”

“We have already paid cash for the former Park School site and for the architects’ plans developed by Davis Architectural Group,” Nicholson said. “We have nearly a third of the funds set aside for the actual building.”

The plans call for a one-floor building that will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They include a provision for future expansion of the building. “It was difficult to find a site within the city limits that was big enough for the building and for adequate parking spaces,” Nicholson said.

The municipal court project was put on hold in 2004 because of a marked decrease in fees collected by the court. “We have analyzed the revenues and projected future collections and we think we are ready to proceed with the project,” said Nicholson. “Mayor Tom Orr, City Services Director Bob Ley, and City Engineer Paul Sherry are all in agreement that we are about ready to get started with the building process.”

“We’ve known since the seventies that we need to have a better facility for the court,” Nicholson said. “I could hold court in a tent if I needed to. We have been able to avoid being sued for non-compliance with the ADA because we have a plan in place to build the new court building.”

People who need to be present at the municipal court who have concerns about accessibility can contact the court with forty eight hours notice and other arrangements will be made to accommodate their needs.

“We think it is time to build the new municipal court building,” Nicholson said. “It’s one thing to do something like this when it’s your own money, but it’s scary when it’s public money. We have tried to be conservative with our planning so that we don’t have to burden the tax payers.”

“The municipal court has jurisdiction throughout Guernsey County. I-70 and I-77 have a tremendous amount of traffic. Fees from traffic offenses are helping to pay for the new court building.”