David was an Air Force Vietnam War combat veteran who spent a lifetime living his faith not in words, but in devoted service to others. He was a man of remarkable and wide-ranging knowledge — equally comfortable guiding someone through the art of foraging wild edible plants, the careful rhythms of beekeeping, the mechanics of home and automotive repair, the disciplines of aviation and nautical skills, or the timeless wisdom of Scripture. He tended his garden with genuine passion and embraced the natural world as both sanctuary and teacher.
Beyond his many skills, David was, above all else, a man of extraordinary vitality and joy. An avid biker and runner, he tested his endurance in many triathlons, proving that the spirit does not age. His quick wit and natural humor always lit up the room, drawing smiles from everyone fortunate enough to share his company.
He was a devoted and deeply loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and his family was the greatest work of his life.
In his final years, David found a faithful companion in Nugget, a dog he adopted from the Brown County Animal Shelter, who became his constant sidekick. Nugget went with him everywhere and remained loyally at his side until the very end — a fitting testament to the kind of quiet, steadfast love that defined David’s character.
He is survived by his four children: Becky Niemeyer (Bill), David A. Dawson Jr. (Barbra), Lynda Quenneville (Terry), and Damon Dawson (Sara); his two sisters, Barbara Boley and Shirley Dawson; many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and extended family including Veronica Gonzales Ball (Bill) and Jerome Perkins (Darlene), along with a wide circle of cherished friends.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary Nell Dawson; his parents, Glenn and Viola Dawson; and his siblings Becky Jo Dawson, Karen Collins, Glenna Corsello, Charlene Thompkins, James Dawson, and Daniel Dawson.
Visitation will begin at noon on Saturday, February 28, 2026, followed by a Funeral Mass at 1 p.m. at St. Mary Queen of Heaven in Peebles, Ohio. Military honors will be conducted following Mass by the Highland County Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor David’s love for his faithful companion by making a charitable donation to the Brown County Humane Society. Donations may be made online at www.bchsohio.org by clicking the “Donate” link, or by mailing a check payable to: Brown County Humane Society, PO Box 228, Georgetown, OH 45121.
]]>Thomas Scott (Tom) Gustin, 81, passed from this life at 8:50 p.m. Thursday, February 19, 2026 at his residence following an extended illness.
He is survived by his devoted wife and life partner of 61 years and mother of his four children, W. Jean Gustin, son, Chris (Fe) Gustin of Daytona, Florida, son, Mike Gustin of Chillicothe, daughter, Kelley (John) Hoschar of Chillicothe; granddaughter Scotlyn Gustin of Logan, Ohio; grandsons Heath (Emily) Sigler, Ryan (Emma) Sigler both of Chillicothe and Koby Gustin of Daytona, Florida; also five great grandchildren, Peightyn, Mason, Kinsley, Creed, Sadie Jane, plus two on the way this summer; and sister and brother-in-law, Melanie and Ryan Gregg.
He was predeceased by his parents, E. Scott and D. Marie Gustin; infant daughter, Stephanie Jo Gustin; sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Howard Dillon; father and mother-in-law, Pat and Dorothy McCorkle.
Tom graduated from Chillicothe High School, class of 1963. After working at the Mead Carbonless and Technical Service for eight years, he started his own insurance and real estate investment agency till he was forced to retire after 30 plus years due to a rare type of Muscular Dystrophy.
Tom wishes to acknowledge his life long friends, Ed Rinehart and Tony Schumann who made his life fun and interesting and his two long term loyal employees, Joanne Mettler and Cathy Pepin.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 in the Ware Funeral Home with Pastor Phil Rutherford officiating. Burial will follow in Louisville Cemetery, 4522 Louisville Rd., Peebles, Ohio, Adams County. Friends may call at the Ware Funeral Home from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. prior to the funeral service on Wednesday.
You may sign his online register at warefh.com.
]]>SPORTS EDITOR’S NOTE: Each week, The People’s Defender will profile an Adams County senior student/athlete so our community and readers can get to know better these outstanding young people who participate both in athletics and academics in their high school.
NAME:
Billy Flaugher
SCHOOL:
West Union High School
PARENTS:
Billy Flaugher, AShley Hall
SPORTS PLAYED IN HIGH SCHOOL:
Basketball, Soccer
FAVORITE SPORT:
Basketball
FAVORITE THING ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS:
Friends
LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS:
Losing
MOST MEMORABLE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MOMENT:
Playing with my best friend
FAVORITE MUSICAL ARTIST OR GROUP:
Lil Baby
PLACE YOU’D LOVE TO TRAVEL TO:
The Bahamas
YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE:
“The Blind Side”
YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW:
Friends
FAVORITE SCHOOL SUBJECT:
Science
FAVORITE SPARE TIME ACTIVITY:
Playing basketball
YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT:
McDonald’s
WOULD LOVE TO TRADE PLACE FOR A DAY WITH:
Lebron James
FUTURE PLANS:
Work
]]>January 9-16, 2026
Michelle Platz, Robert Platz to Kaleb Platz, Mara Platz, Oliver Township, 2.501 ac
Michelle Platz, Robert Platz to Justin R. Platz, Oliver Township, 2.189 ac
Mary J. Thompson (DECD) to Carolyn Michelle Lechner, Bratton Township, 1.038 ac
Kathy C. Chriscoe, Roger C. Chriscoe to Chad D. Chriscoe, Kathy C. Chriscoe, Roger C. Chriscoe, Green Township, 136.205 ac, Green Township, 14.561 ac, Green Townsip, 1.207 ac
Kevin L. Cole (DECD), Kevin Lee Cole (DECD) to Ethan Cole, Oliver Township, 5.05 ac
Heather Geeslin to Gary Geeslin, Teresa Geeslin, Scott Township, 1.000 ac, Lot B
Brooklym McCarty, Ethan McCarty to Kimberly Adkins, Walter Adkins,, Jr., Tiffin Township, 0.487 ac, Lot #15
Cheyenne Nacole Martin, Cheyenne Nacole Schwallie, Landon Allen Schwallie to Amanda Bennington, Brush Creek Township, 0.930 ac, Brush Creek Township, 1.563 ac
Brandy L. Wuebold, Rick A. Wuebold to Brian Boyers, Jessica Boyers, Winchester Township, 111.252 ac, Winchester Township, 109.113 ac, Winchester Township, 76.453 ac
Heather Geeslin to Gary Geeslin, Theresa Geeslin, Scott Township, 1.000 ac, Lot B
Naomi A. Yutzy, Stefan A. Yutzy to Henry H. Miller, Viola E. Miller, Oliver Township, 16.1oo ac, Oliver Township, 17.430 ac
Patricia A. McCormick, Trustee, W. Chris McCormick, Trustee, W. Chris McCormick Trust to McCormick Family Revocable Trust, Patricia Ann McCormick, Trustee, William Chris McCormick, Trustee, Green Township, 1.000 ac
Brian Brown to Krista Brown, Sprigg Township, 1.84 ac, Sprigg Township, 1.64 ac, Sprigg Township, 1.2 ac, Sprigg Township, 0.484 ac
Larry Meeker to Jessica Carter, Liberty Township, 0.52 ac
January 16-23, 2026
Cheryl A. Little, Jason Lynn Little to Cheryl A. Little, Jason Lynn Little, Sprigg Township, 2.158 ac
Amber Davidson, Gage Teaney to Rylee Holcombe, Winchester Village, 0.218 ac
Mary Alice Kremin to Mary Alice Kremin, Trustee, Mary Alice Kremin Revocable Living Trust, Peebles Village, 0.202 ac
Amy G. May (DECD) to Cole A. May, Colin D. May, Brush Creek Township, 0.6088 ac
Angela L. Cruea to Robert Cantrell, Sr., Winchester Village, 1.639 ac
Crystal L. Platt, Robert Platt to Myra Kelly Mullins, Winchester Village, 0.226 ac, Lot #16
Perry Byers, Cynthia Dawn Scott, Kevin Scott, Bratton Township, 2.000 ac
David E. Bendr, Jr. to Bill Spoonhower, Connor M. Spoonhower, Landon J. Spoonhower, Green Township, 1.03 ac
Edward B. Cierley, Vicky Cierley to Edward B. Cierley, Trustee, Vicky Cierley, Trustee, Edward B. Cierley and Vicky Cierley Joint Declaration of Trust, Liberty Township, 2.000 ac, Liberty Township, 1.000 ac
Dean Widmann to Rodney Nelson Wellar, Sherrilynne Wellar, Franklin Township, 6.652 ac
Roy L. Taylor Trust, Janet Gorden Taylor, Trustee to Jayden Hesler, Wayne Township, 15.719 ac
Janet Gorden Taylor to Jayden Hesler, Wayne Township, 15.719 ac
Douglas R. Mack, Sharon J. Mack to Stacey R. Fryman, Trustee, Mack Family Preservation Trust, Douglas J. Mack, Trustee, Tiffin Township, 0.671 ac, Yiffin Township, 0.888 ac, Tiffin Township, 0.448 ac, Lot #37, Tiffin Township, 0.444 ac, Lot #38
Crosset Farm LLC to Crosset Farm LLC, Oliver Township, 6.372 ac
Purdin Enterprises LLC, Samuel Purdin Trustee, Sam & Denelle Purdin Family Trust to CC Acres LLC, Wayne Township, 0.243 ac
Lifen King to Robert F. Thatcher, Meigs Township, 48.000 ac
Charalena M. Bess, Charlie Bess, Richard P. Bess, Jr. to Bess Preservation Trust, Zachary T. Bess, Trustee, Tiffin Township, 5.219 ac
Cherry Fork Farm Supply to Hustin LLC, Wayne Township, 0.82 ac
Charalena M. Bess, Charlie Bess, Richard P. Bess, Jr. to Bess Preservation Trust, Zachary T. Bess, Trustee, Tiffin Township, 80.05 ac, Monroe Township, .23 ac
Cecilia A. Moore, Cecilia A. Richmond, Corey Robert Richmond to Karissa Kinnard, Travis A. Kinnard, Liberty Township, 10.000 ac
Xavier Fawley, Trustee, John Newman, Jr. Revocable Trust to Scott Howard, Peebles Village, 0.132 ac, Lot #’s 40, 41
Janet M. Richardson (DECD) to Christian Young, Elijah Young, Meigs Township, 2.48 ac
Ohio Council of Christian Union, West Stouts Run Christian Union Church Trustees to Donna L. Richter Trust, Paul K. Richter Trust, Paul Richter Revocable Trust, Donna L. Richter, Trustee, Paul K. Richter, Trustee, Green Township, 0.788 ac
Dustin Bradford, Teresa Bradford, Brett Heaterm Elizabeth Heater, Jeremy Heater, McKinley Heater, Teresa Heater, Karl Hill, Kelly Hill, Sarah Reed, Ashley Unger, Matthew Unger to Tristen Abbott, Tiffin Township, 5.002 ac, Tiffin Township, 2.000 ac
Crosset Farm LLC to Dennis Schlabach, Joann Schlabach, Oliver Township, 62.025 ac
Michele L. Dickman, Trustee, Siegrist Family Trust to Alan Ray Knox Revocable Trust, Molly R. Burrick, Trustee, Green Township, 5.50 ac, Green Township, 23.942 ac, Tiffin Township, 295.671 ac, Tiffin Township, 8.17 ac
A & D Hunt Properties LLC, Anthony Hunt, Deborah Hunt to Jerry Reed, Manchester Village, 0.032 ac, Lot #49
Debra L. Giles, Lee A. Giles to Debra L. Giles, Lee A. Giles. Franklin Township, 13.148 ac
GDM Holdings LLC, Gary D. McClellan to EA Asset Management LLC, West Union Village, 0.102 ac, Lot #70
Gary McClellan Revocable Living Trust, Gary D. McClellan, Trustee to EA Asset Management LLC, West Union Village, 0.136 ac, Lot #71, West Union Village, 0.114 ac, Lot #70
Melana Reid to Brandon Reid, Oliver Township, 12.333 ac
Bethany M. Pistole, David B. Pistole to Chad J. Armstrong, Craig W. Armstrong, Paula A. Armstrong, Tonia E. Armstrong, Scott Township, 26.499 ac
Cara Killgore to Andrew Killgore, Tiffin Township, 4.829 ac, Tiffin Township, 0.171 ac
Christian Reed, Christian Young, Elijah Young to Walker Blevins, Peebles Village, 0.145 ac, Lot #’s 31, 32
Charles D. Young Family Revocable Living Trust, Lindsey Richardson, Trustee to Chandler Rigdon, Manchester Village, 0.14 ac, Lot #465, Manchester Village, 0.14 ac, Lot #461
]]>SPORTS EDITOR’S NOTE: Each week, The People’s Defender will profile an Adams County senior student/athlete so our community and readers can get to know better these outstanding young people who participate both in athletics and academics in their high school.
NAME:
Elijah Crabtree
SCHOOL:
Manchester High School
PARENTS:
Allen and Shanna Crabtree
SPORTS PLAYED IN HIGH SCHOOL:
Basketball, Golf, Track, Cross-Country
FAVORITE SPORT:
Basketball
FAVORITE THING ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS:
Getting to know new people in the SHAC
LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS:
Conditioning
MOST MEMORABLE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MOMENT:
Winning the County Cup and winning a sectional championship
FAVORITE MUSICAL ARTIST OR GROUP:
Drake
PLACE YOU’D LOVE TO TRAVEL TO:
Colorado
YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE:
“Reel Steel”
YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW:
Stick
FAVORITE SCHOOL SUBJECT:
P.E.
FAVORITE SPARE TIME ACTIVITY:
Hanging out with friends
YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT:
Howard’s Pub
WOULD LOVE TO TRADE PLACE FOR A DAY WITH:
Michael Jordan
FUTURE PLANS:
Joining the Air Force
]]>By Ryan Applegate
People’s Defender
Night to Shine once again illuminated Adams County with an evening filled with celebration, compassion, and community unity as Church 180 in Seaman hosted the 2026 event on Friday, February 13. The prom style celebration is part of a worldwide effort created by the Tim Tebow Foundation to honor individuals with special needs who are fourteen and older. Each gathering includes a welcoming red carpet entrance with cheering crowds and paparazzi, hair and makeup stations, shoeshines, limousine rides, karaoke, gifts, a catered dinner, sensory and respite rooms, dancing, and a crowning ceremony recognizing every guest as a king or queen. [timtebowfo…dation.org]
In Adams County, Night to Shine has become a treasured tradition shaped by years of community involvement and heartfelt dedication. During the 2025 event, also hosted by Church 180, the county witnessed the spirit of unity that has come to define this celebration. Guests arrived on a vibrant red carpet where volunteers and Buddies cheered them on. North Adams FFA contributed by constructing and donating large stage letters that created a festive backdrop. Adams County Sheriff Kenny Dick and Sergeant Lisa Phillips assisted with serving drinks, and volunteers from throughout the county helped make the evening memorable. Guests enjoyed formal dinner service, dancing, photography, and the highly anticipated crowning ceremony which affirmed the dignity and worth of each honored guest. [peoplesdefender.com]
Early portions of the 2026 event featured the red carpet welcome for more than 120 honored guests and their companions, a message from Tim and Demi Tebow, Pastor Mike Parks’ presentation of the Gospel and leading of the sinner’s prayer, the crowning ceremony, and the beginning of dinner service. Reports from event staff and volunteers indicated that the evening continued in the same uplifting spirit through its conclusion.
Pastor Mike Parks of Church 180 expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity to host Night to Shine again. When asked how much of a blessing it is to host the event each year, Pastor Parks said, “Well, absolutely it is a blessing to host this event every year. It’s our honor to get to, uh, put on this event for those of us who, with special needs. And, uh, the, you know, we, Tim Tebow Foundation calls them the, the most, uh, blessed among us, and we totally agree with that. And we are, we just love being able to do this. We partner with several other churches, and, and local businesses, and different ones. And, and we’re thankful for our sponsors who make it happen, and, uh, just super thankful for everything that goes on.”
His commitment to sharing the Gospel remained a central part of the evening. Pastor Parks said, “Well, it’s always an honor to preach the Gospel, whether it’s to one or, or 1,000. But to this group, you know, Jesus said, you know, some people will look at this group and consider them the least of these. But Jesus said, ‘If you’ve done it unto the least of these, you’ve done it unto me.’ And so, you know, any group, doesn’t matter who it is, if we got the chance to preach the Gospel, we, we want to do that, and it’s our absolute honor to do so.”
The atmosphere of unity, care, and celebration was evident throughout the night. Volunteers from local churches, civic organizations, and community groups gave their time to ensure that every guest felt valued and supported. The smiles during the crowning ceremony, the enthusiasm on the dance floor, and the warmth shared among guests and volunteers highlighted the heart behind Night to Shine. [peoplesdefender.com]
This year’s celebration was made possible through an extraordinary outpouring of generosity from local sponsors. Support came from an impressive list of businesses, churches, families, farms, civic organizations, and individual donors, including:
1st Advantage Remodeling; 1st State Bank; Adams and Highland County Homecare; Adams County Community Foundation; Adams County Ohio Valley School District; Adams County Regional Medical Center; Allen Trucking; Amanda Fite, Wilson Realtors; American Legion Post 325 and VFW Post 8287 Manchester; American Legion Post 594 and Auxiliary Peebles; American Legion Post 633 Seaman; Amy Hoop Photography; Ball Farms Peebles; Barry’s Chevrolet; Beekay Sweets; Bess Farms; Bev Mathias; Black Trucking Winchester; Burns Excavating LLC; Cherish’D Tees; Custom Captures; Daniel’s HVAC LLC; DJ Bruce; DJ Investments LLC; DJs Tint Services; Elegant Excursions Party Bus and Limousine; Frisch’s Big Boy West Union; Garimark Foods Leah Link Foster; Gideon Videography; Heather Abbott and Shandra Irwin Huff Realty (The Huff Girls); Hilderbrand Electrical Services LLC; Hope in Christ Fellowship; Jerry and Stacey Camp; Judge Brett and Sherri Spencer; K and Ko. Salon; Kelly and Rhonda Jones; Kim’s Cakes; LifeFocus Insurance LLC; Manchester High School; Mandy Lynn Photography; McCann 1901 Farm and Bakery; North Adams FFA; Peebles Church of Christ and Christian Union; Peebles Flower Shop; Peebles Meals of Hope; Peebles Methodist Church; Plaid and Pearls Boutique and Hometown Tan and Tone; Preston’s Pumpkins and More; Reveal Comfort Co; Scott Cluxton; Seaman Fall Festival; Seaman Flower Shop; Sheriff Kenny Dick; Shupert Farms; Smile 3 2 1; Snappy Tomato Pizza Seaman; Sons of American Legion Post 594 Peebles; Sparks Farm; Star Greenhouse; State Farm Insurance; Tami Graham; Taste Traditions Walt Sample; The Farmers Wife and Garden Barn; The Twisted Sister; Tim Daulton Photography; TNT Celebration Rentals; Venture; Wesley Chapel; West Union Electric and Plumbing; Wilson Realtor; Winchester Carpet Outlet; Yoder Transport.
Event coordinator Talitha Parks expressed deep gratitude for the generosity that made the night possible. “Behind every smile, every crown, every limo ride… there were generous hearts who said ‘yes.’ We had so many amazing sponsors this year, and we are deeply grateful for every single gift. We want to recognize our Special Sponsors, those who gave two hundred dollars or more. Your generosity did not just fund an event, it meant so much more than you could possibly imagine.”
As the celebration drew to a close, gratitude filled the room for the sponsors, families, and volunteers who worked together to create an unforgettable evening. Pastor Parks ended his interview with simple appreciation, saying, “Thank you so much.” His words reflect the spirit that continues to guide Night to Shine in Adams County. It stands as a reminder of what is possible when a community comes together with a shared purpose and the desire to honor every individual.
]]>Sara Lou Teets, of West Union, Ohio, passed away to her eternal home on February 16, 2026 at the Adams County Regional Medical Center - Hospice Unit. She was born August 28, 1935, in Columbus, Ohio, at White Cross Hospital. At that time her family had recently moved to Mt. Sterling, Ohio, in Madison County. While living there her family enjoyed attending the Circleville Pumpkin Festival.
When Sara Lou was eight years old her family moved to Malvern, Ohio, of Carroll County near Canton, Ohio, for her father to become a school superintendent. She spent her next seven years of school in the Malvern School System. Her father became the Adams County School Superintendent in 1951, and Sara Lou finished her high school years at West Union High School where she graduated as salutatorian of her graduating class.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer Mercer and Letha Fern (Gossett) Teets, and by her sister, Anna Lee Teets, all of West Union. She had many friends and cousins from other states.
Sara Lou was a retired teacher from the Princeton City School District in Cincinnati where she taught third grade in Springdale and Sharonville touching the lives of many, many children. She had received her BS in Education from Wilmington College and later attended University Teachers College of Columbia University in New York City where she received her masters degree while being a part of several honorary societies.
While living in Cincinnati she was a member of the Cincinnati Business and Professional Woman’s Business Club. Sara Lou was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma for 50 years and the Green Key Society of Wilmington College. She was a lifetime member of OEA.
Sara Lou returned to West Union to help her sister care for their mother. Later she was a loyal caregiver to her sister, Anna Lee, throughout her extended illness. She so enjoyed living in her American Beauty Craftsman Bungalow style home for as long as her health allowed.
Memorial donations may be made to the West Union Methodist Church, P.O. Box 518 West Union, OH 45693, Women’s Society earmarked for missions, The international Gideon’s Society, or the Adams/ Brown County branch of the Salvation Army of Cincinnati.
The Visitation is 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Friday, February 20, 2026 at theLafferty Funeral Home in West Union.
The Funeral is at 1 p.m., Friday, February 20, 2026, also at the Lafferty Funeral Home in West Union with Pastor John Waugh officiating.
The burial will follow at the West Union Cemetery in West Union, Ohio.
Lafferty Funeral Home Incorporated serves the family.
Post condolences at www.LaffertyFuneralHome.com
]]>By Mark Carpenter
People’s Defender
It was an up and down last week for Coach Josh Arey and his Peebles Indians. After wins over Ross County Christian and West Union extended the Tribe’s winning streak to nine games, they had a chance to clinch a share of the small school title of the Southern Hills Athletic Conference if the streak went to 10 in a Saturday night trip to Fairfield for their final conference game of the regular season.
Coming off a 30-point victory at West Union on Friday night, the Indians were flying high as they traveled to the Lion’s Den with just two league losses on their ledger, the same number as Fayetteville, who had completed their conference schedule with an 11-2 mark. A win for Peebles would have meant a share of the small school crown as the two teams split their two regular season meetings.
On Friday night in West Union, the Indians led from wire-to-wire, taking an early 7-2 advantage after a three-pointer from sophomore guard Bo Johnson, who would go on to lead all scorers with 24 points. The lead stretched to 14-6 after another Johnson triple plus his steal and score, and the Tribe continued to build the advantage, going up 23-8 on a Connor Gross three-ball, followed by a putback score from Keegan Puckett and two Grady Knechtly free throws. The final bucket of the first quarter came from West Union’s Logan Caldwell but he and the Dragons were already staring at a 13-point deficit.
Caldwell opened the second stanza with a bucket on the Dragon’s first possession, only to see Peebles get four straight, one basket coming on a perfect lob in transition from Josh McClary to Paxton Ryan for an easy lay-in. Caldwell continued to be the only West Union offense, picking up an old fashioned three-point play at the 6:29 mark to make it 30-17.
Moments later, the home team showed some more spark with a 6-0 run, consecutive baskets from Brylee Mills, Billy Flaugher and Tegan Knox . The Indians answered with five straight that included another Johnson trey, but the Dragons responded with five of their own to end the first half, the final three coming on a Knox three-ball. When all that dust settled, Peebles took a 39-28 lead into the intermission.
Coach Arey was likely not too happy with his team’s second quarter performance and most certainly let his team hear that in the locker room and the message must have gotten through as the Indians opened the third quarter with a huge 14-1 run to put the game out of reach. Included in that run were a pair three-point baskets from McClary and scores on their first five possessions of the third period. That big run left the Peebles lead at 53-29, before West Union’s Caldwell converted another three-point play to slow down the visitors’ onslaught.
Nothing was going to slow down Peebles’ McClary, however, as he drilled two more three-pointers before the third quarter ended, the final one coming at the buzzer and increasing his team’s lead out to 61-36.
Again the sleeping Dragon woke up as the final period began, the home team starting on an 8-2 run, getting three-point goals from Tyren Pennington and Tegan Knox, only to see the Indians answer with a game-defining 13-0 run, holding West Union scoreless until inside of a minute left in the game. In that final Peebles burst, McClary was fouled on a three-point attempt and sank all three free tosses while Johnson added a basket “and one” as the Indians’ lead ballooned to 76-44. West Union’s Jake Thompson recorded the game’s final basket, accounting for the final 30-point difference.
“Winning on the road in the SHAC is always difficult and we know the West Union kids play extremely hard,” said Coach Arey in his postgame radio interview. “Our kids have had games this year played the same way as tonight and I felt like we got away from our game there in the second quarter and they made us play their game but we were able to come out in the third quarter and lock down defensively.”
“West Union plays hard and they have shooters and length inside and their record isn’t indicative of how they can be.”
The victorious Tribe was paced by a trio of players in double figures- Bo Johnson with 24, Josh McClary with 19 and Keegan Puckett with 10.Right on the verge of double figures was Connor Gross with 9. The sharpshooting Indians drilled nine three-point baskets in the victory and went 11 for 14 from the charity stripe.
“We’ve got guys who can put the ball in the hole and it’s a nice mix and hard to defend,” added Coach Arey. “They accept whatever their role is on that particular night and it’s a big time luxury for us.”
West Union (3-17) was led by 16 points from Logan Caldwell with Tegan Knox also hitting double figures with 10.
Box Score
Peebles
23 16 22 15 —76
West Union
10 18 8 10 —46
Peebles (76): Sims 2 0-0 4, Knechtly 2 4-6 8, Gross 4 0-0 9, Johnson 8 4-5 24, Ryan 1 0-0 2, McClary 6 3-3 19, Puckett 5 0-0 10, Team 29 11-14 76.
W. Union (46): Pennington 1 1-2 4, Thompson 1 0-0 2, Knox 5 0-0 12, Flaugher 2 0-0 4, Mills 4 0-0 8, Caldwell 7 2-4 16, Team 20 3-6 46.
Three-Point Goals:
Peebles (9)- Gross 1, Johnson 4, McClary 4
W. Union (3)- Knox 2, Pennington 1
Riding high after their ninth consecutive win, the Indians made the trek to Leesburg on Saturday night for a rescheduled makeup game with the Fairfield Lions, with a win securing the Tribe a share of the SHAC small school championship. Peebles and Fairfield met earlier in the season, with the Indians squeezing out an overtime win so there were high expectations for another thriller on Saturday night.
Unfortunately for the visiting Indians, and for whatever reason, they were just never able to find any rhythm or flow on Saturday night as the Lions controlled the action for the majority of the contest. Fairfield led 18-12 after the first quarter and then taking advantage of Peebles miscues, increased that margin to 34-21 by halftime.
After the break, the Indians sharpened their game a bit and began a comeback attempt. slicing the Fairfield lead down to 39-33 after a Johnson three-pointer and a bucket by Ryan but that momentum was short-lived as the Lions answered with a 9-0 run and by the end of the third quarter had increased their advantage to 49-36.
IN the early going of the fourth quarter, the Tribe had numerous opportunities to dig into the Fairfield lead, but could just never seen to cash them in and behind the hot shooting of Broday Smith, the Lions took a 20-point lead at 64-44 and though the Indians got within nine with1:10 left on three-pointers from McClary and Colyn Sims, the Lions were able to hang on down the stretch and hand the Indians the devastating loss by a final count of 71-60.
The loss left the Indians with a final conference record of 10-3, finishing one game behind Fayetteville (11-2). The Tribe stands with an overall record of 17-3 with one regular season game remaining, a February 21 makeup game at Racine Southern.
]]>Kay was born on October 1, 1937, in Peebles, Ohio, the daughter of the late George William and Ona (Freeze) Swayne. Kay operated the Old Wayside Inn, as well as the General Electric Motel, in addition to working as the Jail Matron. She attended the West Union Church of Christ in Christian Union.
Kay is survived by her sons, David (Lea) Fulton of Hillsboro and Rick (Judy) Fulton of West Union; and her daughter, Kathy (Bill) Knauff, also of West Union. She also leaves her special friend, Leonard Stapleto, of West Union. Kay will be missed by her 11 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and a great, great grandchild.
In addition to her parents, Kay was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Cofer, who died on April 23, 2012; and six brothers and four sisters.
Family and friends paid their respects during visitation on Thursday, February 19, 2026, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home in Peebles.
Funeral services were held immediately following the visitation on Thursday, February 19, 2026, beginning at 1 pm, also at the Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home, in Peebles. The burial followed in the Locust Grove Cemetery in Peebles. Marlyn “Popeye” Davis officiated the service.
Funeral arrangements were handled by the Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home.
Please visit www.wallacethompsonfuneralhomes.com to leave words of comfort for the family in the online guestbook.
]]>Peggy Louise (Miller) Baldwin, 82 years of age, of Seaman, Ohio, passed away on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Peggy was born on February 6, 1944, in West Union, Ohio, the daughter of the late Earl Paul and Audrey Florence (Pollard) Miller. Peggy worked as a senior nutrition specialist for the Seaman community. In her free time, Peggy volunteered for the Ladies Aide. She loved spending time in her flower garden, and watching and feeding the birds.
Peggy is survived by her loving son, Patrick and Penny Baldwin of West Union. She also leaves her cousin, Steven Malone of Lancaster, Ohio; her nephew, Rodney Hor, of Seaman; and her sister-in-law, Sue Hord of Seaman. She will be dearly missed by her step-grandson, Ryan and Rebecca Stevenson; as well as her best friend in the world, Dot Miller of West Union.
In addition to her parents Earl and Audrey, Peggy was preceded in death by her husband, William Richard Baldwin, whom she married on November 27, 1963, and who passed away on September 4, 2020.
Family and friends may pay their respects during visitation on Saturday, February 21, 2026, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., also at the Lewis-Sullivan Chapel of the Wallace-Thompson Funeral Homes in Seaman.
Funeral services will be held following the visitation on Saturday, February 21, 2026, beginning at 1 p.m., at the Lewis-Sullivan Chapel of the Wallace-Thompson Funeral Homes in Seaman. The burial will follow in the Tranquility Cemetery. Billy Newton will officiate the service.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Lewis-Sullivan Chapel of the Wallace-Thompson Funeral Homes.
Please visit www.wallacethompsonfuneralhomes.com to leave words of comfort for the family in the online guestbook.
]]>By Teresa Carr
Adams County Senior Council
From the National Council on Aging – Six Steps to Help Prevent Falls in Older Adults
Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall.
Many people think, “It won’t happen to me.” But the truth is that more than one in four older adults falls every year in the U.S.
Staying active as we get older helps us stay connected to our community. And one of the best ways we can stay healthy and connected as we age is to prevent falls. You have the power to reduce your risk.
Take control of your health: 6 steps to prevent a fall
1. Find a good balance and exercise program. Look to build balance, strength, and flexibility. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging for referrals. Find a program you like and take a friend.
2. Talk to your health car provider. Ask for an assessment of your risk of falling. Share your history of recent falls.
3. Regularly review your medications with your doctor or pharmacist. Make sure side effects aren’t increasing your risk of falling. Take medications only as prescribed.
4. Get your vision and hearing checked annually and update your eyeglasses. Your eyes and ears are key to keeping you on your feet.
5. Keep your home safe. Remove tripping hazards, increase lighting, make stairs safe, and install grab bars in key areas.
6. Talk to family members. Enlist their support in taking simple steps to stay safe. Falls are not just a senior’s issue.
To learn more, visit ncoa.org/FallsPrevention.
Talk to Your Family and Friends: Five Ways to Prevent Falls Together
Family and friends are some of your strongest allies in maintaining independence and avoiding falls.
Not sure how to start? These five tips can help.
Family and friends can play an important role in keeping you falls free. They support you for all events in your life and can also help you be independent and safe from falls.
1. Start off small. Have a one-on-one conversation with a trusted friend or family member about your concerns about falls. They might have ideas and solutions.
2. Ask for help and be specific. The more information you share, the more your family can help you. Ask them to help you find information that would be most helpful to you.
3. Involve the family. Share with your family any upcoming medical appointments, what medications you are taking, and any current problems or concerns you have. Remember to let them know if you have already fallen and what happened after you fell.
4. Keep talking. One conversation is often not enough. Keep revisiting the topic with your family and friends and let them know if your needs change or grow.
5. Be assertive! Be clear and confident as to what you need. Ask your family members to help you with actions you are taking to prevent falls, such as removing home hazards and making home modifications, like adding grab bars in the bathroom.
Just A Thought: “Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile.” ~Mark Twain
]]>By Ryan Applegate
People’s Defender
Officials from Adams County Children Services and the Adams County Prosecutor’s Office used the February 13 board meeting to give an extensive account of the events surrounding a youth who jumped from a second story window of the Wilson Children’s Home on January 31. The meeting included an hour‑long presentation detailing the timeline of the incident, multiple parallel investigations, the financial challenges facing the agency, the declining number of children in custody, and progress on a new residential facility that is expected to open later this year.
Investigator Chelsea Phelps of the prosecutor’s office delivered a detailed timeline beginning the night before the incident. She explained that on January 30 at 11:50 p.m. the Adams County Sheriff’s Office responded to the home for a report involving runaways. After deputies left, the major incident occurred shortly before 1 a.m. Phelps said, “At 12:56 a.m. is when the incident occurs. At 1:01 a.m., the juvenile walked up the stairs, you know, he asked for help. You can hear people yelling, asking, ‘Hey, what happened’ calling 911.” She said emergency medical services arrived at 1:11 a.m. followed by the return of a sheriff’s deputy at 1:14 a.m. The next morning Children Services Director Sonya Meyer contacted Assistant Prosecutor Ariana Bowles Norris, who immediately contacted Prosecutor Aaron Haslam and Phelps. Phelps described a morning of rapid coordination with law enforcement and said she requested and reviewed video footage of the incident that same day.
Board President Reverend Hannum Taylor said the boy is recovering physically. “He was discharged from the hospital. Remarkably he’s doing well. Very. He’s walking. It’s kind of really remarkable.” Taylor said he knew the youth personally and noted that the outcome could have been far worse.
Taylor also spoke about the limits of what the agency can do and addressed the subject of responsibility. He told those gathered, “Fix what we can fix. Protect those kids we can protect. But also hold accountable kids for their own choices.” Taylor said the building’s design and age create challenges. He noted that many improvements have been attempted over the years to keep windows secure, including blocking them with wood, but youths have found ways around those barriers. He said, “There’s only so much you can do physically to protect these kids. We have a building that’s 150 years old so they have to have window air conditioners in them because we don’t have air conditioning over here.”
Assistant Prosecutor Haslam said three investigations are active. He explained that Children Services is conducting an internal review, the state is performing its own investigation, and the West Union Police Department is investigating the matter for any potential criminal charges. Haslam explained, “The West Union Police Department is investigating the incident for any possible criminal charges that might come out.” Any charging decision will be made by a special prosecutor from outside the county. Haslam added, “It’ll go to a special prosecutor, which will probably be one of the other 87 counties in Ohio.”
Haslam also delivered a detailed explanation about why he directed Children Services leadership not to meet with Judge Brett Spencer after the judge requested an immediate meeting in the days following the incident. He said that Judge Spencer had asked that all prosecutors attend a meeting between 1:45 and 2 p.m. on Friday, February 6, and that if that was not possible the meeting could occur Monday through Thursday of the following week. Haslam told the board that both he and members of his staff were unavailable at the proposed time because of prescheduled work commitments. However, he emphasized that availability was not the primary concern. He said he specifically advised Children Services Director Meyer and the agency’s executive team not to discuss the facts of the incident with the judge in order to preserve judicial neutrality.
Haslam stated, “We did not want him to receive any information from this administrative team that would cause him to be either impartial or unfair in a hearing.” He added that sharing details about the case could create ex parte communication because Judge Spencer oversees the same children’s dependency and custody cases involving youths placed in the Wilson Children’s Home. Haslam continued, “We do not want to be a party to create any bias for him.” He also explained that because any administrative, criminal, or civil matters that arise from the investigations would ultimately come before the court, the prosecutor’s office could not risk providing the judge with factual details before the investigations conclude. He told the board that once investigations are complete, a meeting with the judge would occur only to communicate process and next steps rather than specific facts.
Staff members described several safety changes underway at the facility. Workers from a security company were installing window alarms during the meeting. Staff reported that additional lights would be added so that workers could see when an alarm was triggered, especially during times when children are playing music or moving throughout the building. One staff member said, “If you’re back in this area, you can’t hear the alarm.” Motion sensors may also be added.
The agency reported 133 children in custody for January 2026, a significant decrease from recent years. Haslam said that when he resumed juvenile prosecution duties in early 2023 the number was near 199. Taylor said the number once reached 210. Staff and prosecutors credited faster case movement and an increase in adoptions. Seventeen adoptions were completed in 2024 and eighteen in 2025. Staff also noted progress in reducing the number of children in congregate care settings both locally and out of county. Despite the progress, the 133 children remain far higher than nearby counties with larger populations. Meyer noted that Brown County had about 50 children in custody and Pike County had around 15.
Financial strain continues to affect nearly every part of the agency’s work. Staff reported January revenue of $600,520.46, expenses of $543,239.99, and an ending extended cash balance of $207,353.06. Commissioners had to advance funds early in the year so that employees and providers could be paid. Taylor said, “We operate on a shoestring budget to do Children Services and protect kids in our county.” Staff said roughly 80 percent of the agency’s budget goes to BoardCare. Taylor pointed to the monthly bills and said, “Six kids listed there are eating a big chunk of our monthly budget.”
The board discussed the upcoming levy that would supply funds strictly for childcare. The board voted in January to place the levy on the May ballot, but it was later discovered that two board members’ terms had expired on December 31. Prosecutor Haslam is reviewing whether the vote must be redone. Meyer said, “We were hoping we would get two chances. We may not be able to run our levy on the May ballot. We may just have to do it in November.” Several speakers stressed that failure of the levy would force deeper financial problems. One mentor of the youth involved in the incident told the board, “This is why the levy is so important. It is all for the kids.”
Construction continues on the new children’s residential facility behind the current building. Staff reported that wiring is underway and insulation and drywall will follow. The completion timeline remains May. Officials clarified that the building is being paid for entirely by grants and trust funds rather than levy dollars. A sign will be placed along the roadway to inform the public that the building was purchased with grant money.
Board President Taylor announced that the agency is seeking sponsors to furnish rooms in the new building. He said, “We need families or groups to sponsor rooms for furniture at the new building.” He added that sponsored rooms would display a plaque on the door recognizing the donor. Taylor said this approach would ensure proper furnishing of the new facility without withdrawing money from essential operating funds.
Throughout the meeting officials from Children Services, law enforcement, and the prosecutor’s office emphasized a shared commitment to transparency and child safety. Haslam said, “Our ultimate goal here is to protect those children.” Taylor closed discussion of the incident by saying, “Fix what we can fix. Protect those kids we can protect.”
]]>The NFL offseason has officially begun with big changes in the AFC North for every team except the Cincinnati Bengals. The Baltimore Ravens moved on from John Harbaugh – Steelers Head Coch Mike Tomlin resigned, and the Browns fired Kevin Stefanski. The division appears to be up for grabs in what should be make-or-break seasons for Duke Tobin and Zac Taylor.
Tobin and crew will select 10th in the 2026 NFL Draft. While not a bad place to be, a few meaningless wins prevented them from picking in front of the Chiefs in particular. In a draft class void of highly rated quarterback prospects, the aforementioned wins may cost them one of the three prospects I covet. The three-horse race consists of in order: 1. Caleb Downs- S, Ohio State – 2. Rueben Bain- Edge, Miami – 3. David Bailey- Edge Texas Tech.
My first mock draft:
Our next mock draft will occur post-combine. Before then, here are some prospects I like for the Bengals:
Until next time – listen to The Brotherhood of the Bengal Podcast on Apple, Amazon, IHeart, Spotify and the rest of your favorite podcast apps. The video version is available on YouTube.
]]>By Mark Carpenter
People’s Defender
An exciting and exhausting boys basketball season has reached its final week of action, which means just one thing. It’s time for the beginning of the postseason. With the release of the Southeast District Tournament brackets this past Sunday afternoon, the four boys squads in the county know where the trail to possible postseason success begins or ends.
On the Division V bracket, Coach Adam Barr and the West Union Dragons’ three-win season (3-17) put them in a district play-in game, The #17 seeded Dragons will be on the road on Friday, February 20, traveling to #16 seed Oak Hill High School to battle for a spot in a district quarterfinal game on February 24. Unfortunately, that quarterfinal match up would send the Dragons on the road again to face #1 seeded Chesapeake (16-1).
In Division VI, Coach Josh Arey and his 17-3 Peebles Indians earned the #1 seed and the only bye on the brackets. The Indians will open their postseason run on March 2 at 6:15 p.m. in the Waverly Downtown Gym in a district semifinal, facing the winner of the quarterfinal contest between #8 seeded Waterford (11-10) and #9 seeded Belpre (9-9). If the Tribe pulls off the win in the district semi, they will be making a return trip to the Ohio University Convo on March 8 at 2 p.m. to play for a district championship and a trip to the Sweet 16.
Also in Division VI are the defending district champions, Coach Austin McCormick and the 12-7 North Adams Green Devils. The #6 seed Devils will open in the district quarterfinals on February 27 on their home court, hosting #11 seeded Southeastern (7-13). A win there moves North Adams into the district semifinals on March 3 at 8 p.m. in the Waverly Downtown Gym, facing the winner of #3 seeded Portsmouth West (13-6) and #14 seeded Paint Valley (1-20). On the line in that March 3 match up will be another trip to the Convo for the Devils on March 8 at 4 p.m.
“We will be getting a familiar opponent in Southeastern Ross which comes with advantages and disadvantages,” said Coach McCormick. “If we are able to get past them, we will more than likely match up with Portsmouth West who has a great mix of size, athleticism and physicality. The top seven teams in our division are very quality teams so it should be very interesting to see how everything plays out. We’ll have to show up and play with great energy, effort and enthusiasm to give ourselves a shot.”
Finally in Division VII are Coach Austin Kingsolver and his 8-13 Manchester Greyhounds. The Greyhounds are the #7 seed on the Division VII bracket and will get a district quarterfinal on their home court on February 26, hosting #10 seeded Portsmouth Clay (7-12). If the Hounds survive that match up, they move on to the district semifinals on March 3 at Southeastern High School, facing off with the quarterfinal winner of #2 seeded South Webster (12-6) and #15 seeded New Boston (5-15). The Manchester squad will be looking to return to the Convo for a district championship game on March 8 at 8 p.m.
“We will play whoever is in front of us,” says Coach Kingsolver. “We don’t have an easy path to the district title but we will be preapred and ready to play.
All of the Southeast District boys tournament brackets can be found online at https://www.ohsaa.org/Southeast-Sports-Tournaments/Basketball-Boys.
]]>By Ryan Applegate
People’s Defender
(This article is the second installment in an ongoing series examining the potential development of a data center in Adams County. Over the coming weeks, The People’s Defender will publish additional in‑depth articles exploring the possible benefits, concerns, and long‑term implications raised by residents, county officials, and industry experts. Readers can expect detailed reporting in subsequent editions as more information becomes available and public discussions continue.)
Adams County residents are evaluating what a potential data center project would mean in practical terms for bills, jobs, water, roads, and the long term use of the former J.M. Stuart and Killen power plant properties, and the questions converge on details of these sites, on statewide utility policy, and on how large technology loads are being served across the region. County development officials have publicly acknowledged nondisclosure agreements and early due diligence with infrastructure agencies while emphasizing that no formal proposal has been presented for approval and that any project would go through a public process, a position reported in regional coverage that has tracked interest in the two riverfront sites.
The ownership of both properties shifted from prior utility operators to entities associated with Kingfisher Development and Commercial Liability Partners beginning in late 2019, and the sites have since proceeded under Ohio EPA Director’s Final Findings and Orders that require ongoing closure, monitoring, and remediation steps for industrial units and waste areas on the properties. Publicly accessible coal combustion residuals pages and historic federal assessments provide additional technical documentation of impoundments and groundwater monitoring for the Killen location, which has been the subject of routine dam inspections and CCR reports as part of site oversight.
According to Craig Robinson, a Blue Creek native and data center engineer with four decades of experience, the Stuart property encompasses more than a thousand acres with hundreds of acres now marketable, its main plant structures are down with ancillary buildings and materials handling assets remaining, and legacy ash management units require monitoring because portions of the waste systems predate today’s environmental standards, and he adds that historic groundwater sampling has detected constituents such as arsenic and selenium that drive continuing oversight by the site owner and regulators. Ohio EPA’s published orders and related enforcement materials confirm that the Stuart and Killen sites are operating under Director’s Final Findings and Orders that require closure planning, groundwater monitoring, and corrective actions for ash management units and associated facilities, and those records indicate responsibilities assigned to Kingfisher affiliated entities that assumed assets and liabilities after the 2019 transfer from the prior utility owners.
Robinson describes the former Stuart interconnection as a meaningful node on the regional grid, recalling that when the plant operated it strengthened voltage along the river corridor and connected directly into the high voltage system, and he cautions that any future data center would shift the site from generation to large load unless paired with on site supply. PJM, the independent transmission organization that coordinates electricity flows for Ohio and a dozen other jurisdictions, documents its role in planning and approving new interconnections at substations and switchyards, and a recent facilities study for a separate solar project at the Adams 138 kilovolt station shows how expansion breakers, metering, and protective relays are added when new capacity ties in, which illustrates the process any large project in the county would follow.
For household electric bills, the most immediate development is that Ohio regulators created a billing structure that is meant to prevent cost shifting of grid upgrades from very large new customers to everyone else, as the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved an AEP Ohio tariff in July 2025 that requires new data centers above a threshold to pay for at least 85 percent of subscribed capacity for up to 12 years with a defined ramp period and to post financial assurances and exit fees, while ordering an end to a moratorium on new service agreements once the tariff took effect. AEP’s public tariff page confirms the effective dates, the intake process, the 25 megawatt trigger, and the staged load ramp that sets minimum contracted capacity by year, and the page explains that study fees and technical questionnaires apply before a final plan of service proceeds through regional review.
A question that often arises is where the electricity would come from and whether power can keep up with growth, and here the broader context is that the International Energy Agency projects data center electricity demand will more than double worldwide by 2030 while also pointing to a diverse mix of resources and efficiency measures that policy makers and operators are using to serve the growth in advanced economies. Companies have also begun pairing major loads with dedicated clean, firm supply to reduce exposure to constrained interconnections and to meet corporate climate goals, exemplified by Microsoft’s twenty year agreement with Constellation to restart Three Mile Island Unit 1 as the Crane Clean Energy Center and match around the clock output within the PJM footprint, subject to regulatory approvals and licensing, which shows one way a large user can underwrite dependable megawatts that align with new data demand. Robinson’s perspective is that securing a long term, clearly identified power plan, whether through behind the meter generation, dedicated clean supply contracts, or utility upgrades timed to load arrival, is central to whether a project benefits rather than burdens the local grid.
Residents also ask what a project means for jobs and tax base, and national accounting by PwC for the Data Center Coalition reports large aggregate employment and GDP effects from data center construction and operations across the United States, while commercial real estate analysis by CBRE documents significant local tax receipts tied to personal property and equipment in leading markets and notes examples in states that include Ohio, Nebraska, and Virginia, which helps explain why communities with industrial land and substations are attracting interest. The World Economic Forum has described the AI and data center buildout as a visible contributor to business investment and GDP growth in the U.S., a macroeconomic backdrop that frames why both developers and regions are moving quickly, even as utilities and regulators update rules to align growth with infrastructure.
Water and wastewater are local concerns because many households rely on wells and because the Ohio River is a shared resource, and a balanced view begins with national context from the Environmental Law Institute’s 2026 fact sheet that quantifies direct and indirect water use at data centers and outlines mitigation options such as reclaimed water, siting in cooler climates, and technology that reduces potable withdrawals, while cautioning that evaporative systems can concentrate salts and raise treatment questions at discharge. A briefing used by state consumer advocates compiles corporate examples showing that operators have cut potable withdrawals through on site reuse and process changes at specific facilities, which illustrates that water outcomes depend on the chosen cooling technology and a site’s hydrology rather than a single industrywide number. In Adams County, residents have expressed that water is more than an engineering consideration, and Nikki Gerber of Monroe Township has said that water must be viewed as a resource belonging to future generations as much as the present one, adding that the community should fully understand any project’s demand, sourcing, and long term hydrological impact before taking a position.
Her remarks underscore a widely shared sentiment that decisions about groundwater and river use should proceed from complete information and transparent discussion rather than assumptions or haste. Robinson’s assessment aligns with this emphasis on clarity, as he notes that any proposal should specify source water, peak and average demand, wastewater composition and discharge method, and long term protection measures for aquifers and the river so that residents and officials can evaluate the project on its actual footprint rather than generalized concerns.
Air quality and noise questions often relate to backup power, and peer reviewed and university led research in Northern Virginia documents the growth of diesel generator fleets associated with data center clusters and their contribution to local emissions during testing and outage conditions, findings that have spurred policy debate and interest in cleaner contingency solutions. Industry deployments show that battery energy storage can, in some cases, displace or sharply reduce diesel run time, as demonstrated by a Microsoft data center in Sweden where a multi megawatt battery system was installed as extended ride through and grid service capacity, and equipment providers have published technical guidance explaining how multi hour batteries can support reliability while lowering local emissions under routine conditions, although long duration grid events still require careful design. Robinson’s perspective is that technology choices for backup should be evaluated in the same way as water and power plans, with site specific engineering, permitting, and neighborhood conditions made public before commitments are made.
Traffic, land use, and neighborhood effects will hinge on a site plan, and county leadership has publicly argued that the former plant sites are isolated relative to subdivisions and were historically built for heavy industrial activity, which they contend could reduce land use conflicts compared with proposals on farmland or near new housing, while residents have asked that transparency and public input be guaranteed before any decision. Public documents show that the properties remain subject to environmental orders and CCR program reporting, and residents can review Ohio EPA’s eDocuments to follow schedules for pond closures, groundwater monitoring reports, and related compliance for both sites. Robinson’s neutral view is that any redevelopment should proceed only in step with environmental obligations already in place, with independent verification that legacy units are being closed and monitored according to schedule.
The near term effect for households is the presence of a state approved billing framework designed to keep the cost of serving very large new loads from being shifted to other customers, the knowledge that any interconnection would be studied and published through the PJM process, and the assurance from county leaders that no final decision exists today and that a public process would precede approvals. The potential long term effect, if a proposal proceeds, would be measured in construction employment and supplier activity, a smaller number of steady operational roles, equipment based tax receipts, and infrastructure upgrades that would be negotiated and scheduled alongside stated water, wastewater, and backup power plans, and those outcomes will depend on the scale and phasing a developer proposes and on the conditions the county requires.
]]>By Mark Carpenter
People’s Defender
After suffering a tough loss to Eastern Brown that cost them a share of the big school title in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference, the North Adams Lady Devils rebounded in a big way, finishing their regular season with a four-win week, downing Fleming County, Hillsboro, Lucasville Valley and Greenfield McClain, all non-conference games. The four-game sweep left the North Adams girls with a final season record of 17-5 as they head into postseason action.
The match up at Fleming County on February 7 turned into a good ol’ Kentucky shootout, the two sides combining for 145 points. Freshman point guard Tenzlee Burns continued her torrid scoring pace, tallying 30 points and grabbing a team-high 7 rebounds, while running mate Emma Pistole scored 23. Sophomore Jacee Davis had one of her better games of the year,also hitting double figures with 12 as North Adams prevailed by the final score of 78-67.
Four nights later, the Lady Devils were on the road again, this time on the Ohio side, traveling to Highland County to face the Hillsboro Lady Indians. North Adams led at every quarter stop- 16-13, 30-22, 47-34 and finally 63-47. Th win at Hillsboro was a career night for Emma Pistole who went 14 for 17 from the field on her way to a season-high 33 points. Burns added 15 points and her stat line also included 6 rebounds and 8 assists,
A quick turnaround saw the Lady Devils back on their home court on February 12, hosting Lucasville. This one was never close as the home team raced to a 25-11 halftime lead and coasted home with a 56-21 victory. Again, it was the dynamic duo of Burns and Pistole, combining for 39 of the team’s 51 points, 24 for Burns and 15 for Pistole. Freshman Sophia Barlow chipped in 7 points and swiped the boards for 11 rebounds. In the win, North Adams was 12 for 14 from the free throw line.
Finally, on Valentine’s Day, the Lady Devils concluded regular season play with a trip to Greenfield McLain and made it four for the week with a 47-4o triumph. North Adams trailed 25-22 at halftime but rebounded in the second half to outscore McLain 25-15. Emma Pistole led the way with 22 points with sister Ava adding and Burns tossing in 7.
The Lady Devils now head into district tournament play where they are the #6 seed in Division V and will play host to Nelsonville-York on Wednesday, February 18 at 7 p.m. in a quarterfinal match up.
]]>By Mark Carpenter
People’s Defender
Going into the 2025-26 season, Peebles Lady Indians’ head coach Sidney Pell knew what she was facing- a young team with just two seniors that was probably going to deal many times with teams with more experience and a varsity learning curve that may have meant some losses this season, but also means some valuable experience for all of the girls who will be coming back next year.
As this regular season wound down, the Lady Indians suffered a 50-34 loss at Paint Valley on February 11 and then boarded the bus gain the next night for their final Southern Hills Athletic Conference game, a trip to Fairfield to face the Lady Lions. Peebles put seven different girls in the scoring column, but had a tough shooting night, hitting just 29% from the field,. 0 for 8 from three-point land, and dropping a tough decision to the Lady Lions by a final score of 44-37.
In last week’s contest, Fairfield grabbed the early advantage behind the three-point shooting of senior Rilee Quickle, who knocked down a pair from beyond the arc. A basket by Amryn Carroll and another at the buzzer from Katie Myers put the Lady Indians up two, 10-8 after one.
The second quarter was tight all the way with three ties and five lead changes. The Lady Indians’ leading scorer, sophomore Kendall Myers, scored five in the quarter while Fairfield’s Quickle nailed two more threes and at the halftime break the home team had taken back the lead at 22-19.
The third quarter was an offensive slowdown, the two teams combining for just 15 points, nine of them for the home team who began the second half with a 7-0 run , fueled by a Brya Fauber three-pointer, to take the biggest lead of the game by either side at 29-19. The Lady Indians bounced back to finish the period with a 6-2 run, the final two buckets coming from Rayna Beckham and Paysen Shiveley and after three, the Fairfield lead was sliced down to 31-25.
The scoring pace picked up over the game’s final eight minutes as the Lady Indians played catch up but were never quite able to make it all the way back. a steal and score from Kendall Myers brought Peebles within 35-31 but Fairfield quickly answered and extended the lead back to eight. With just 35 seconds left on the clock, Shiveley got a steal and turned it into an old-fashioned “and one” to make it 41-36 but time ran out on the visitors. A free throw from Kendall Myers closed out the game’s scorebook with the Lady Lions holding on for the 44-37 triumph.
Fairfield was led in scoring by Rilee Quickle’s 17 points, with Vivian Henninger and Isabelle Hale adding 6 each.
Peebles was paced by 10 points from Kendall Myers with Paysen Shiveley chipping in 7 and Rayna Beckham 6.
Coach Pell and her squad complete the regular season with a record of 6-14, five of those wins coming against conference opponents (5-8). The #10 seeded Lady Indians were in Division VI district tournament quarterfinal action on Monday, February 16, traveling to Belpre. Results of that contest were not yet available at press time.
Box Score
Peebles
10 9 6 12 —37
Fairfield
8 14 9 13 —44
Peebles (37): Carroll 2, Katie Myers 4, Smalley 4, Richards 4, Shiveley 7, Beckham 6, Kendall Myers 10
Fairfield (44): Hale 6, Drury 2. Hodson 2, Fauber 5, Henninger 6, Cannon 2, Jackson 4, Quickle 17
]]>Mark Carpenter
People’s Defender
Coaches of any sport tale about their teams peaking at the right time and the perfect example right here in the county is Coach Jacob Stout and his West Union Lady Dragons. Sitting with a record of 6-10 after a loss to Lynchburg on February 2, the Lady Dragons have gone on a tear, racking up five wins in a 10-day span to move their season record up over the .500 mark.
The winning streak began on February 5 in a conference home game with Peebles in which the Lady Dragons came out on top 48-42, led by 16 points from junior guard Annabelle McIntosh and 14 rebounds from junior Jocelyn Hall.
On Saturday, February 7, the Lady Dragons played host to the East Clinton Lady Astros in non-conference action and had no trouble disposing of their visitors by a final count of 61-29. Again, it was McIntosh leading the way with 18 points with Violet Randolph and Maddie Stout each hauling in 7 rebounds.
The long trek to Fairfield High school came two nights later and again the West Union girls were in control of this conference outing from the get-go, leading at every break- 15-8, 26-14, 38-19, and then the final score of 51-33. A balanced scoring attack for the winners was led by McIntosh and Randolph with 11 points each, with sophomore Kaydence Cook adding 10 and Jocelyn Hall 8. The Lady Dragons fired in nine three-pointers in the big road win, three from McIntosh, with two each from Randolph and Cook.
The fourth win int he streak came in a non-conference trip to Eastern Pike where the Lady Dragons pulled off yet another double digit win, topping the Lady Eagles by a 59-44 score and then a February 13 conference win over Whiteoak stretched the winning streak to five. At Whiteoak, it was another double digit for the red-hot lady Dragons, 57-43. Three girls in double figures led the way- McIntosh with 17, Hall with 13 and Randolph with 12. It was a double-double effort from Hall as she also pulled down 11 rebounds. Again, the West Union offense produced nine three-pointers, four of those coming from Randolph and three from McIntosh.
Now standing at 11-10, the Lady Dragons closed out their regular season on Monday night with a home non-conference game with New Richmond before jumping into district tournament play on Wednesday with a trip to Minford for a district quarterfinal match up.
]]>On Tuesday, February 24, there will be a Food for All Mobile Pantry at the Adams County Fairgrounds, located at 836 Boyd Avenue in West Union.
TEFAP eligibility income requirements of 200% at or above the federal poverty line apply.
Food will be distributed from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Please bring a photo ID and a recent piece of mail with your current address.
If there are any questions please contact April Hoak, Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio’s Food for All Coordinator at (513) 672-3720.
This event is sponsored by Catholic Charities of Southwestern Ohio, many local churches, the Free Store Foodbank and community volunteers. Volunteers are needed to help distribute the pantry items. If schools are closed to due the weather there will be no food distribution.
]]>By Mark Carpenter
People’s Defender
Any time that you go into a game against Coach Rob Beucler and his Eastern Warriors, there is one thing you can be sure of. Scoring the basketball will not be an easy task. The Eastern defense is a consistent from year to year and the North Adams Green Devils got a first hand look at that in a Valentine’s evening rescheduled game.
Playing on the Warriors’ home court, scoring was a struggle for the Devils from start to finish and the numbers show that. North Adams shot just 23% from the field (9-39), with 25 of those shot attempts coming from beyond the three-point arc, where they hit just five of those, adding up to more three-point goals in the game than two-pointers. And al of that added up to just 24 points for the entire night as Eastern held serve on their home floor and handed the Green Devils a convincing 46-24 defeat.
From the start, it was evident a low-scoring affir was in the cards for the capacity crowd at Kiser Court, though the game stayed close for the fisrt two quarters. In the opening frame, North Adams got a pair oif three-pointers from Thaddeus Moore and a two-pointer from Moore put North Adams up 10-8 after one.
A theme of the night began to become apparent in the second preiod as Eastern big man, 6’5” junior Matthew Dick began to control the paint, converting three offensive rebounds into scores. Those baskets were part of a 9-0 Eastern run that gave the home team a six-point lead with 3:29 left in thef irst half. In that span, the Devils got anothr bucket from Moore and trailed the Warriors at the half 20-15.
The third quarter would spell doom for the Devils as they could only muster six points while the Warriors’ Dick continued to control the insideand an 8-0 run put Eastern in front 36-20. A three-ball at the buzzer by Jaidon Florence gave the home side a commanding 41-21 advantage after three periods.
If the third quarter was an offenisve disaster for the Devils, the fourth was even worse as they only managed three points over the eight minute span, a Colin Tolle three-point bucket with 5:25 to play. On the bright side, the Warriosr only scored five but that was because the Eastern offense milked the clock with every possession. A three-ball from Eastern senior Sam Kirk closed out the scoring as the big school champions of the SHAC claimed the 22-point win.
The Warriors (17-3, 11-1) were led by Matthew Dick’s double-double effort of 17 points and 13 rebounds, with Jaidon Florence adding 11 points. North Adams was led in socring by 10 points from Thaddeus Moore and 8 from Colin Tolle.
The Green Devils (12-7, 7-5) were back in action on Monday night with a non-conference trip to Unioto and concluded regular season and conference play on Tuesday night with a trip to Fairfield.
BOX SCORE
North Adams
10 5 6 3 —24
Eastern Brown
8 12 21 5 —46
N. Adams (24): Kennedy 1 0-0 2, Moore 4 0-0 10, Davis 0 1-2 1, Call 1 0-0 3, Tolle 3 0-0 8, Team 9 1-2 24.
E. Brown (46): Kirk 1 0-0 3, Dotson 2 1-2 5, Pinkerton 1 0-0 2, Dick 7 3-3 17, Vance 2 0-0 4, Florence 3 2-2 11, Ramer 1 2-2 4, Team 17 8-9 46.
Three-Point Goals:
North Adams (5)- Moore 2, Call 1, Tolle 2
E. Brown (3)- Kirk 1, Florence 2
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