Arabia – Plans are moving forward on opening a gun range in this Aid Township community.

Tuesday, January 29, 2002

Arabia – Plans are moving forward on opening a gun range in this Aid Township community.

Chesapeake attorney Richard Meyers said local gun enthusiasts met a C&C grocery in Arabia last Saturday to discuss plans on opening a gun range, tentatively located in the Coffee & Tea area of Wayne National Forest.

The group has held a few organizational meetings at the grocery store, Meyers said, and have met with federal and state officials on the feasibility of opening the gun range.

The group held its first meeting on Feb. 10, 2001, with more than 50 people in attendance.

Those interested in the site have established a steering committee, which Meyers heads, to look at some issues that need to be addressed before a formal proposal is drafted.

Meyers said the group is now working as a subcommittee of the Lawrence County Park and Recreation Board. He said the group is looking for grants to help subsidize the costs. Meyers said the group is also looking for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency since the area is flood-prone.

A design team also has started working on a layout for the gun range and will meet later this week to sketch out a rough design on how the gun range will look.

When completed, Meyers said, the gun range will accommodate target practice for shotguns, rifles and handguns. A skeet range is also being planned. Meyers said the group is looking into the feasibility of opening a high-powered rifle range that will allow shooters a 200- to 300-yard lane to target shoot.

Meyers said the group will soon meet with the U.S. Forest Service and ODNR Division of Wildlife to draft a memorandum of understanding.