Sunday High Water Shots

Here's a couple of pictures we got this afternoon while out checking on just how high the water has gotten. The second is the flood gage on the side of the Wells Avenue bridge. Around 4 o'clock this afternoon the water level was 5.5 feet. The first picture is the train trestle over Yellow Creek. The elevation down there must be a little lower down there than in town. It looks like the water is close to covering the road surface. It's supposed to peak sometime tomorrow.

ole nib

The Ville From On High

Here's a couple of views of the Wellsville, Ohio, you don't see every day unless you're one of the fortunate residents that live in that neighborhood. Prominent in the lower picture is Wellsville High School. Can you pick out your house, or neighborhood, or old neighborhood if you're one of the ones that have moved away?

This view was so exciting for us to see we can't wait for a bright sunny afternoon to return. Imagine how beautiful the ville looks from that vantage point when the leaves are in full fall foliage?

Special thanks to a very generous lady that put up with us trampling all over her back yard. You can left click on either photo to enlarge or right click to save or print a copy if you wish.

ole nib

Wellsville's American Legion Post 70 Selects Two For Buckeye Boys State

Saturday - March 13: Two Wellsville High School Juniors were selected Saturday to represent American Legion Post 70 at the annual Buckeye Boys State. Attending this years event will be Mark Barton and Bobby Sullivan. Both men are "A" Honor Roll students this year. Barton is the son of Dan & Lisa Barton. Sullivan is the son of Todd & Giovanna Sullivan. Dane Dysert is Chairman of Post 70's Boy's State Committee.

Buckeye Boys State is an annual event held in the summer months that is sponsored by the American Legion. As stated in their brochure it "is a 8-day hands on experience in the operation of the Democratic form of government, the organization of political parties, and the relationship of one to the other in shaping Ohio Governments." They form two political parties, nominate candidates, hold an election, and set up various systems of government. That includes a governor, other state level officers and a Boys State General Assembly. They do the same with county, city and school board members. They even have a State Patrol guided by officers & troopers of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Many of the other staff members are former Boy Staters from all walks of life.

Started in 1936 Ohio has the largest Boys State program in the nation with over 1,200 young men attending. Ohio was the first state in the nation to have a Boy's State. All these young men are in the summer between their junior & senior year, have to be recommended by their high school principal and pass a qualifying exam to be considered. They come from all four corners of the state. All expenses are paid by the American Legion. Astronaut Neil Armstrong and Pro-Golfer Jack Nicholson are just two of the better known people that attended this event.

Buckeye Boys State will be held on the campus of Bowling Green State University from June 12 - 20. All young men attending Boys State will be eligible to be one of two candidates selected to attend the American Legion Boys Nation being held this year in July in Washington, D.C. They also have a chance to be nominated to participate in the U.S. Senate Youth Program. Each year the American Legion Buckeye Boys State Foundation awards six attendees a $1,000 Savings Bond. All in all it's a rewarding educational experience. It's "a week to shape a lifetime".

Pictured above, from the left, is Wellsville's Post 70 Boys State Committee Chairman Dane Dysert, Bobby Sullivan and Mark Barton. More information on the American Legion Buckeye Boys State program can be found at www.ohiobuckeyeboysstate.com.

Since its founding Wellsville's American Legion Post 70 always has kept our area youth in their hearts sponsoring many programs for their benefit. In addition to sponsoring representatives to both Boys & Girls State, they annually award $1,000 scholarships to two WHS graduating seniors every year. Any student is eligible to apply. Applications for the scholarships are available in the High School Guidance Councilor's office.

Congratulations to both Mark and Bobby.

ole nib

Wellsville's VFW Post 5647 Gets Scouts A Step Closer To Go Camping

Saturday - March !3: Yesterday morning members of the Tommay Mackall VFW Post got Wellsville's Boy Scout Troop 29 a step closer to enjoy this year's camping season. With smiles all around the Veterans presented Troop 29 with six three-man tents they purchased with funds from their Charity Account. The six tents cost a little over $1,000.

The Covenant Presbyterian Church sponsored Boy Scout Troop 29 was formed a little over a year ago. They are members of the Sandy Beaver Scout District. Members of the Covenant Church have been very active & generous over the years in sponsoring projects for Wellsville area youth. In addition to the Scouts they took it upon themselves to maintain & make the 18th St. Playground a fun place for youngsters. Members of the VFW are equally generous providing activities and donating to area youth. In addition to those attending the tent presentation yesterday we saw other members of the Post collecting donations for the VFW's annual Easter Egg Hunt out in the rain. Being wet & cold didn't faze them. It's for the children. You have to admire both organizations for their dedicated efforts providing for our youth.

Pictured above sitting,from the left, are Troop 29 members John Buckle, John Bell, Justise Cehrs, Alik Bradford, Dalton Ramsey & Max Littleton. Standing on the left is Scout Master Tom Eberhart, Eagle Scout Candidate Brian Bell, Scout Master Dan Kirkbride & VFW Jr. Vice Commander Don Brown. On the right, front to back, is Scout Master Howard Bosworth, VFW Commander Bill Wolfe & Covenant Presbyterian Representative Greg Stanley.

As Clark Race use to say on KDKA Radio years ago, "it's nice to know so many nice people". Enjoy the camping guys.

ole nib

Wellsville VFW Post 5647 Donates To WPD

Saturday - March 13: Wellsville's VFW Post yesterday gave the Ville's Police Department a donation from their Charity Fund to purchase an AR-15 rifle. According to VFW Trustee Mike Ferry the AR-15 is the civilian equivalent to the military M16 weapon. Ferry said it is a very accurate weapon, saying he can hit within two inches of the bulls eye at 100' when he is target shooting. WPD Patrolman Dan Householder was on hand yesterday to accept the generous donation from the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Pictured above, from the left, is Don Brown, Jr. Vice-Commander, Don Clutter, Sr. Vice-Commander, Ron Wright, Quarter Master, Householder, and Mike Ferry, Trustee.

The members of Wellsville's Tommy Mackall VFW Post have long been a great neighbors in the Village. If they can, they don't hesitate to contribute to a good cause when they see a need.

ole nib

Daylight Savings Time Starts Tonight

Don't forget to set your clocks ahead before calling it a night. It's time to spring forward. Daylight Savings Time kicks in at 2 A.M. You won't want to be an hour late for anything tomorrow.

Thank goodness. Now the clock in our truck will be showing the correct time!

Thanks Google for the picture.

ole nib

WFMJ Comes Calling - Flood Watch Cancelled

Saturday - March 13: As of 11:21 this morning the National Weather Service (NWS)has cancelled the Flood Watch for Wellsville and several other areas up and down the Ohio River. A Flood Warning was issued for this area this past Thursday mainly for creeks & streams due to the snow melt. That quickly turned into a Watch with the unseasonable warm temperatures Wednesday, Thursday & Friday. A week ago you didn't have to leave your front porch to see piles of snow. By this morning you have to search for one.

We started taking pictures of Wellsville's flood gage on the side of the Wells Avenue bridge this past Wednesday. See the right column in the collage above. The top one is Wednesday, the middle Thursday and the bottom one around noon today.

Friday, Village Street workers dug out the holding plates for the flood gate frame and the rumors started flying. Chief Bill Smith and members of the Wellsville Fire Depts. were all over it. Around 5:30 P.M. Friday afternoon we were told early Sunday morning was decision time. The NWS was forecasting water levels would hit flooding for the Village late Sunday night into the wee hours of Monday morning with the amount of rain predicted. The Fire Dept. wanted to put the flood gate up in daylight if it looked like it was going to be needed.

Fortunately the heavy rains were being pushed off to the northwest by a low pressure center sitting over the state of Indiana. The heavy stuff got pushed away from our area. The NWS alert says the river levels will remain high on through next week but it doesn't appear it will be high enough to force flooding at as many points as earlier expected. It doesn't look like the flood gate will be needed this time. They didn't even need the pumps. According to the WFVD spokesman Barry Podwell the highest the water level reached toward flooding was 4.4 feet. The pumps are turned on when it hits 10 feet. The water over the Wells Ave. bridge starts nearing the street level at 16 feet.

Getting pictures a little earlier today we came upon Mayor Joe Surace and Chief Smith being interviewed by Youngstown's Channel 21 Healthy Living Reporter Susan Campbell. The Camera man is Mike Candiotti. Ms. Campbell said it might be on the 6 o'clock news this evening.

Now that the Flood Watch has been down graded we wonder if they will still use it? We'll have to wait & see.

Keep dry...

ole nib