Pedestrian dies after struck by truck Saturday

FRANKLIN FURNACE — An Ironton man was killed as he walked along Haverhill Ohio Furnace Road in the early morning hours Saturday.

Robert L. Hurst, 47, was walking northbound on the east edge of the roadway when he was struck by a 2005 Dodge truck driven by Johnathan A. Brammer, 30, of Ironton, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The truck traveled left of center, hitting Hurst.

“Both the victim and vehicle then came to rest off the east edge of the roadway,” according to a patrol release.

Hurst was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash is under investigation and will be reviewed by the Scioto County Prosecutor’s office. The accident happened at 3:25 a.m.

Celebrate fall with a real hoedown

ASHLAND, Ky. —Wrangle up your little cowboys and cowgirls and bring them to the Library for a hootin’ and hollerin’ good time.

Boyd County Public Library is having a hoedown on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 2 p.m. Children ages 4 to 12 are invited to hear campfire stories, play cactus ring toss, learn to square dance and take home a bag full of goodies. Don’t forget to wear boots and hats.

For more information regarding this event, contact Misti Tidman at (606) 329-0518, ext. 1310, or mtidman@thebookplace.org.

The Main Branch is located at 1740 Central Ave. For more information on this or other library programs and services, visit the online branch at www.thebookplace.org.

Hospice offers grief counseling

ASHLAND, Ky. — The Community Hospice Bereavement Department will offer several community-based grief counseling sessions beginning in September and October. All Community Hospice grief support groups are open to the public, not just those who have been served by hospice. Anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one is encouraged to attend.

The sessions are as follows:

Embracing Our Grief

Mondays, October 4 to November 8 – 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Hospice Care Center, 2330 Pollard Road, Ashland;

Monthly Support Group

Second Tuesday of each month, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Community Hospice Care Center, 2330 Pollard Road, Ashland;

Parents who have Lost Children

Bi-Monthly on the first and third Tuesdays of each month

Tuesdays, September 21, October 5, October 19 – 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Community Hospice Care Center, 2330 Pollard Road, Ashland;

Group topics vary from week to week, but generally offer participants the opportunity to talk about their loss, understand the grieving process and the cycles of grief, spend time with others who have experienced similar situations, and receive guidance in handling other personal matters.

SSU offers two classes for child care providers

PORTSMOUTH — Two courses for child care providers will be held at Shawnee State University, one on “Child Abuse Recognition” and one on “Communicable Disease Recognition.”

The “Child Abuse Recognition” course is from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24 in Massie Hall, Room 208.

Another course, “Communicable Disease Recognition,” is from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8 in the Advanced Technology Center, Room 132.

The course has been approved by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and meets the criteria for the required six-hour course for child care providers.

For more information or to register, contact SSU University Outreach at (740) 351-3274, toll-free (866) 672-8778, Ext. 3274, or e-mail dschwamberge@shawnee.edu.

Sunburst Pageant and Baby Contest at Town Center

ASHLAND, Ky. — The Ashland Town Center will host a Miss Sunburst model search and baby contest on Saturday.

The pageant will take place between Body Central and Samuels Jewelers. Winners will go to the state finals in May to represent their county. Entries are now being accepted. Everyone will receive a trophy.

The baby pageant is for girls and boys. The baby pageant will begin at 11 a.m. The age groups are as follows: Baby – under one year, Tiny – 1 year and Little – 2 and 3 years. A King and Queen will be chosen in each age group. They will receive a crown, trophy and banner. The runners-up in each age group will receive a trophy.

The model search is for girls, ages 4 – 27 years old. The model search will begin at noon. The age groups are as follows: 4-6, 7-10, 11-13, 14-27 and 18-27. A winner in each age group will receive a crown, trophy and a banner.

Entry forms for the pageant are available at the Ashland Town Center Guest Services or available online at www.pageantinfo.com.

Workshop to offer small business help

WINCHESTER — Do you have questions about opportunities for small business in government contracting?

The Southern Ohio Procurement Outreach Center presents 2010 PTAC Fair.

Meet one-on-one with a small business counselor to get answers to those questions and discuss various aspects of the government contracting process.

This event is open to current SOPOC clients as well as all small businesses considering federal, state, and local government contracting.

Hands-on discussion and training in areas like:

• What registrations do you need
• How to complete Central Contractor Registration (CCR)
• Where to look for solicitations and subcontracting opportunities
• How to submit bids

The session will be Sept. 29 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Enterprise Center, 2035 Tri-County Road in Winchester.

Just drop in or register, by calling the Southern Ohio Procurement Outreach Center: 740-377-4550 or go to their http://sopoc.ecenterdirect.com

Evans honored as ‘Watchdog of the Treasury’

Columbus — State Representative Clyde Evans (R-Rio Grande) was pleased to accept the “Watchdog of the Treasury” award from the United Conservatives of Ohio today. The award is presented to public officials who demonstrate a commitment to limited government, lower taxes, regulatory relief, and individual liberty.

“I am honored that the United Conservatives of Ohio has presented me with this prestigious award,” Evans said. “I look forward to continuing my work to ensure state government is efficient and responsible in its use of the taxpayers’ hard earned dollars.”

The United Conservatives of Ohio support responsible spending of the taxpayers’ dollars, the elimination of government waste, and free-market economics.

Avatar introduces prez at Shawnee State University

PORTSMOUTH  — When it comes to innovation, Shawnee State University’s President Rita Rice Morris demonstrated how it could be applied to a tradition like a State of the University Address when “Avatar Rita” provided the introduction to her presentation to the SSU campus on Wednesday.

“One of the highlights of our progress this year was the dedication of our Motion Capture studio,” Morris said. “I can think of no better way to begin a reflection upon what Shawnee State is doing well than to demonstrate one of the greatest additions to our academic programs.”

Demographic changes, programmatic changes, indicators of excellence, ongoing efforts and tasks and challenges ahead were the focus of her address.

A record nearly 4,600 students are enrolled at Shawnee State and this is in excess of the target of 4,430 students that was set two years ago under the USO Strategic Plan and represents a 24 percent increase since that time.

Nearly 1,000 students live on campus in university housing and that represents an 83 percent growth in residential students in five years.

The student population is more diverse over the past few years also with a mix of regional, statewide, national, international, undergraduate, graduate, adult, post-secondary, residential, on-line and commuter students.

Faculty numbers have also grown with 18 faculty positions filled in the past year, more than any other year in recent history.

“We have initiated efforts to develop a research component into the university with an emphasis on developing faculty research interests and capacity,” Morris said. “Under the leadership of Dr. Jeff Bauer, a key component of these initial efforts is a Center of Excellence focusing on applied research and regional innovation.”

SSU has added new academic programs, the Master of Education and Master of Occupational Therapy as well as additional bachelor’s programs that are doing well. More attention is begin focused on life-long learning by making courses more accessible to adult students by developing more distance learning classes.

New degree proposals are in the works for a Bachelor of Individualized Studies, Bachelor of Philosophy and Religion, Bachelor of Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Laboratories also have been added to support instruction.

Another addition to the SSU campus is the new soccer field and athletics has moved into the Mid-South Conference that will provide opportunities to compete with rivals that are closer to SSU in proximity.

Last year, the Clark Memorial Library staff received recognition, as well as Veteran’s Affairs, Communications and Admissions. The Athletics Department was honored with four AMC Coaches of the Year, an induction to the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Columbus State Community College Sports and Fitness Hall of Fame.

“We are focusing on quality,” Morris said. “To help us continually improve the things we do – and ways in which we do them – we have placed a focus on quality at SSU that grows out of our participation in the Academic Quality Improvement Program from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools as our method of accreditation.”

A link to Morris’ speech, including the “Avatar Rita” introduction, is available on the university’s Web site at http://president.shawnee.edu.