State Route 7 reopens following landslide

CHESAPEAKE — An emergency rock stabilization in Lawrence County has been completed, and State Route 7 is now open to traffic.

Officials from the Ohio Department of Transportation have given the green light to reopen the route’s westbound lanes after contractors completed their efforts to remove additional boulders and rock that were deemed unstable following a landslide that occurred near the 1.0-mile marker.

S.R. 7 West was closed July 21 between its junction with U.S. 52 at the 17th Street/Nick Rahall Bridge and S.R. 527 at the Sixth Street/Robert C. Byrd Bridge after a massive boulder gave way from the hillside and fell onto the westbound lanes of S.R. 7 near County Road 124 (Tallow Ridge Road) at Chesapeake.

ODOT contracted with the Alan Stone Company and expedited the stabilization and bench clearing project following field reviews which determined that two substantial boulders and additional rock on the hillside and ledge along S.R. 7 were likely to fall.

Since completing the rock removal on July 31, the contractors have worked to clear the remaining debris from the highway.

On Monday crews from ODOT’s Lawrence County facility have repaired the pavement that was damaged after the initial fall and installed additional barrier wall along the route’s shoulder.

Past Academy participants invited to OUS event

IRONTON — In celebration of the 30th year anniversary of the Ohio University Southern Academy of Excellence, organizers welcome all past participants, teachers, and aides to a 30-year Academy Reunion Party on Friday from noon to 3 p.m. in the Shaffer Courtyard.

There will be activities on campus for children to enjoy as they wrap up of this year’s Academy of Excellence. The Army National Guard will provide inflatables and music, Briggs Library will be on campus for story time reading and various other exciting happenings.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact : Janet Wagner at (740) 533-4544 or by e-mail at wagnerj@ohio.edu or Linda Mann at 547-3788 or by e-mail at mannl@ohio.edu.

Free healthy heart screening Aug. 6

Ashland, Ky. – Just a few minutes now could head off disaster later. To make it easier, King’s Daughters Medical Center is offering a free healthy heart screening from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at Kentucky Farmers Bank, 6313 U.S. Route 60, Ashland.

Appointments are not needed.