Will Benny the Bass predict early spring? Winterfest this weekend

Buckeye Lake Region Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the 10th annual Winterfest on Saturday. There will be fun for everyone. The Benny the Bass festivities begin at 6:30 a.m. at the North Shore Park in Buckeye Lake. There will be a pre-dawn fireworks display over the Lake. KOOL 101.7 will present a live remote broadcast with music and prizes from 6 to 7:30 a.m. There will be festivities around the Buckeye Lake region all day including art shows, food and drink specials, bonfires and more.

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The annual Polar Plunge will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday, at The Buckeye Lake Winery, 13750 Rosewood Road at Fairfield Beach.

Winter Road safety

The Walnut Township Trustees and Road workers are asking for motorists’ cooperation during these days of snowy, icy roads. Several times in these past few days, motorists have crowded the trucks plowing and salting roads in the townships. This is not only dangerous for the motorists, but very dangerous for the drivers who are trying to clear the roads for the safety of all. The trustees and road workers ask that all motorists please allow plenty of time to get to their destinations, give the trucks room to do their jobs, and please stop at the stop signs. Please don’t crowd the plow by trying to pass on roads that are already narrow without the additional blowing and drifting snow.

Lions Club

The Millersport Lions Sweet Corn Festival was well represented at the Ohio Festival and Events Association annual meeting. Millersport Lions Shawn and Tonya Carter were recognized by the OFEA President for their service to the organization over the past two years. Shawn was also re-elected to the OFEA Board of Directors for a second term.The Millersport Lions showed their appreciation for the work of the area first responders by providing free coffee for the members of the Walnut Township Fire Department and the Millersport Police Department at Millersport Coffee.

Board of Education

The Walnut Township Local School District Board of Education met in regular session following the reorganizational meeting Jan. 8 in the Laker Learning Center of Millersport High School. The board members were recognized with certificates as January is Board Recognition Month.

Elementary Principal Kim Mathews reported on behavior incentives, testing dates and grade cards to be sent home Jan. 17. High School Principal Mike Collins reported on assessments, discipline data and rewards, facility updates and student success skills. District Superintendent Kim Radulovich reported on focus of District Level Teams, the upcoming HVAC bid opening, All-County Band performance, and Junior High Career Connections.

A resolution to Proceed with Election on the Question of the Renewal of an Emergency Tax Levy was approved.

A resolution was approved requiring the Board of Education to pay a stipend to teachers who complete the Department of Education and Workforce’s professional development course in the science of reading and evidence-based strategies for effective literacy instruction.The board entered into executive session to consider the complaints against a public employee or official, and to prepare for negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment.

No action was taken following executive session and the meeting was adjourned.

Walnut Township Trustees

The Walnut Township Trustees Jan. 15 in the township office for their reorganizational meeting. Trustee Bill Yates was elected Chairman for 2025. Trustee Terry Horn was elected Vice Chairman. Meeting dates were set for the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the township office. Meeting dates will be advertised in the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette for 2025 as well as the township website and Facebook. Resolutions were passed for special meeting Procedures and Procedures for calling in employees for overtime for emergency situations.

Robert Slater was chosen to continue as Regional Planning Commission representative.

Trustee Terry Horn will serve as representative to Block Grant Board, FEMA program, and Issue II Funding. The Records Commission will consist of Fairfield County Auditor, Fiscal Office Amspaugh, Administrator Oliver, and Trustee Yates. No records will be destroyed from 2024 without the approval of the Records Commission. Trustee Leith will serve as Representative for the County Health Board for 2025. Township Administrator Oliver will serve as Website Administrator with ITS as the Website Consultant as well as overseeing information systems

. Trustee Yates will serve as EMS Billing Authorized Official and Primary Contact for Change Health Care. Trustee Leith will serve on the Walnut Township Safety Advisory Committee. Mike Berry was re-appointed as Walnut Township Zoning Inspector/Administrator. Patty McLaughlin was appointed Zoning and BZA Board secretary. Township Property Inspector Kelly Smith was re-appointed. Trustee Leith will serve as the Firefighter Dependency Fund Representative.

If additional road workers or office help is needed they will be hired at $15 per hour. Zoning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Regional Planning Commission Representative will be reimbursed $60 per meeting.All employees’ timecards require at least one trustee's signature and overtime requires at least two trustees’ signatures.The IRS rate of $.70 per mile for travel expenses outside the township was approved and to pay for conferences, parking, taxi expense and other expenses for training school.