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photo by Jessica St. James
Katrina Keith, left, benefit specialist for the City of Ironton, and First Lady Frances Strickland visit the Ro-Na building during a visit to Ironton Thursday afternoon.
Frances Strickland visits Ironton, Ro-Na Theatre
Published Friday, March 5, 2010
IRONTON — Ohio First Lady Frances Strickland made a visit to Ironton Thursday afternoon. Strickland met with local officials to discuss the restoration of the Ro-Na Theatre.
Katrina Keith, benefit specialist for the city of Ironton, started the discussion of the project. She began by apologizing that Mayor Rich Blankenship could not be at the event.
Blankenship was out of town visiting his sick father.
“Our main agenda right now is to talk about something that is passionate to me,” Keith said. “I love that building.”
Keith added that though she never saw the theater while it was in operation, it is still very important to her.
“This project is in my heart, this project is in my spirit,” Keith said. “ I need you to buy into this community. I need you to pour into this project.”
The now dilapidated structure was once a thriving theater before it was closed in the 1970s. The City of Ironton owns the building and is raising money through donations to fund the project.
Keith told those gathered that it is more than just restoration and bringing jobs to the city, the Ro-Na project is about empowering people.
“We need a place where these people can go and be inspired,” Keith said, adding that right now the Ironton Artists Association have to meet in churches and other civic groups could use a place to meet.
Local businesswoman Yvonne DeKay represents one of the community groups that hopes to use the Ro-Na eventually.
DeKay, who has owned a dance studio in the city for 45 years, would love to one day be able to use the theater for not only performances but as a community and arts center.
“One thing I’m looking forward to is having adult entertainment that’s clean and fun,” she said after a tour of the theatre. “I can’t wait to have the first New Year’s Eve party here.”
The project is an effort to bring more people downtown, Ralph Kline, assistant executive director of the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action, told the assembly.
“The mission is to get people to the downtown,” Kline said. Ironton, like most small cities, went through a period of economic decline in the 1980s, he said.
“We have to do something, because it’s not a wave of a magic wand. It’s a comprehensive plan,” he said. “They have to want to be here.”
The First Lady’s visit coincides with a trip she was taking to explore the possibility of starting a statewide tour to promote business. The project is in the preliminary stages.
Strickland, who toured the facility following the meeting, said the effort to restore the theater is commendable.
“It shows pride in place,” Strickland said. “A hometown love as I said.”
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Comments
Posted by firechief (anonymous) on March 5, 2010 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is it just me or could it be election coming up? Bypass is also in the news
Posted by Country (anonymous) on March 5, 2010 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sure looks great on the inside.
Posted by buildinghope (anonymous) on March 5, 2010 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to commend our city's effort for trying to get the funding to complete the Ro-Na restoration. It sure looks better than it did two years ago and there is a long way yet to go. Yes, there is an election coming, but at least Governor and First Lady Strickland knows and comes to visit us often. I can't recall when any of our our former Governors or First Ladies came and actually spent time in Ironton. Therefore, one would be a fool to live in Lawrence county and vote for anyone other than Ted Strickland.
Posted by Country (anonymous) on March 5, 2010 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What has Strickland done for the county? I would not say he and his wife have visited often. Spending time and actually doing something more than just a photo shoot and trying to get votes is what is needed.
Posted by OzzyGrymes (anonymous) on March 5, 2010 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I will second that Country, What has Strickland done for Lawrence County????
Where is our bridge?
What about the Bi-pass?
Hospital?
Etc...
Etc...
Etc...
Stricland has forgotten where he came from. Someone once ask him about the bridge and his comment was "I did not promise you anything!" Well when it falls and many die maybe we will see him caring for Lawrence County.
Posted by hearsay (anonymous) on March 5, 2010 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't tell by the picture if the murals are destroyed or just covered up. Does anyone know? I loved going to the Ro-Na and looking at them when I was a teenagers. If they are destroyed, I would hate to think about how much it would cost to restore them. I don't think it would be worth the money considering the state of the building. P. S. I was happy when Strickland was elected. I thought someone would finally remember Lawrence County and it would be him. Well, I thought wrong. He's forgotten Lawrence County just like all the politicians before him.
Posted by charlie (anonymous) on March 5, 2010 at 10:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Election-Election- Election- !!!! don't be duped by the sudden interest in our county. Ask the Briggs Library employees what Mr Strickland wants to do to our libraries....close them!
Posted by buildinghope (anonymous) on March 6, 2010 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The murals are toast. The roof leaked so bad the entire support deck had to be replaced. I really do not beleive Ted Strickland has forgotten our area at all. He has worked very hard to make the Haverhill Steel Mill come to be. Look at the new schools in Ironton and lets face it, it is our luck, when we finally get lucky enough to get one of our own in office, he walks in and the state is broke, no money for squat! It won't last forever. Go ahead and support someone who is not even a native of Ohio if you like, but we will be sorry then!
Posted by Country (anonymous) on March 6, 2010 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Strickland had nothing to do with the new schools in Ironton. If you want to give him credit for that what is he doing for Green Schools?
Posted by michaelOH (anonymous) on March 6, 2010 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, I guess my dream of the Ro-Na restoration could come true while I am still alive to go there.
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