WILLOW WOOD — Members of the Symmes Valley High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes will go Christmas caroling in Proctorville on Saturday night.

In addition to the caroling the group will accept any nonperishable food item and donate it to the Ironton City Welfare Mission. Justin Berry, director of the SVHS FCA, says the goal of the night is to spread Christmas cheer.

“We are doing this to spread good cheer and spend time together in fellowship,” Berry said.

The idea to incorporate the food drive came to Berry when he thought of how hard the holidays can be for some people. He says he credits his students for taking his idea and getting behind it in full support.

“The kids here at Symmes Valley are great,” Berry said. “I decided this time of the year was the perfect time to do something like the food drive for the community, and the kids jumped on board right away.”

The SVHS FCA will begin caroling at approximately 6:30 p.m. and will sing until roughly 8 p.m. Berry says to leave your porch light on if you want to be caroled to, or if you want to donate food.

“We just ask those that want to participate to leave their lights on,” Berry said. “If you want to donate food but don’t want us singing to you, then leave your light on with the food on the doorstep with a note.”

 

By Justin Prince

 

ODOT crews prep for winter weather

As today’s winter storm continues its track through southern Ohio, routes in the northern and western parts of ODOT District 9 are snow-covered and slick.

Crews from the maintenance facilities in Adams, Brown, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross and Scioto counties were dispatched early this morning to begin patrols and start treating roads as soon as the storm moved into the area.

With steady snow showers in Highland and Ross counties since early morning, routes remain snow covered.

However, the storm has been slow to move into the district’s southern and eastern counties, so pavement in Adams, Brown, Scioto, Jackson and Lawrence counties will vary from wet and slick to partly or lightly snow covered.

Crews will work throughout the day to plow, treat and patrol roadways, but as always, motorists are reminded to exercise additional caution when traveling during inclement weather.

In addition to reducing speed and allowing more travel time, drivers need to pay heed to other motorists and give emergency and highway crews room to work.