This is the final part of a six-part series looking back at some of the key stories in the pages of the Record-Herald throughout 2023.

November

Police investigate fatal shooting

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE (Nov. 1) — Police are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred Wednesday night during a reported break-in attempt at a home in the 1000 block of East Paint Street.

At around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, a caller to 911 told dispatch that he had shot a male subject who was attempting to break into his house, according to police.

When officers arrived, they located a man — later identified as 30-year-old Corey Keeton — laying on the front porch of the home near the front door.

Police said the man was unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the upper left side of his chest.

Officers began life-saving measures until Fayette County EMS arrived, according to reports. Keeton was unable to be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The name of the person who allegedly shot Keeton is being withheld “due to his status as a victim in the attempted burglary,” police said. According to police, there were also four children inside the house at the time of the incident.

According to police, the resident did not know the alleged offender in this matter. No charges have been made in this case as the investigation continues.

Dogs deemed ‘vicious animals’ following complaints

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE (Nov. 1) — The owner of two pit bulls was in Washington Municipal Court Wednesday on two charges of “Dog at Large” citations issued by the Fayette County Dog Warden.

At the arraignment, Brandy L. Cobb pleaded not guilty to having two pit bulls running loose in the city, and not being contained properly on her residential property at 129 E. Paint St. The citations were issued by Dog Warden Nelson Prater on Oct. 26. Similar citations were issued by the dog warden for both dogs on Oct. 2 for the same offense.

Cobb was in court on Oct. 11 for the Oct. 2 offense and was given a $250 fine and court costs on each count — $175 of each fine was suspended upon no similar offenses within two years. According to Acting Judge David Kiger, the dogs have now been deemed vicious animals by the dog warden due to the many cats that have been killed while the dogs roamed the streets.

As a condition of Cobb’s $250 bond on each of the two charges Wednesday, the judge ordered the dogs removed from her residence by the dog warden for public safety, to be housed at the dog shelter pending the outcome of a trial. The judge stated that the dogs will be in a safe, clean environment and not forfeited or euthanized pending the outcome of the final hearing.

Local man wins big on Wheel of Fortune

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE (Oct. 30) — Many folks dream of the opportunity to be on a game show and to have the chance to win money and prizes. For Fayette County resident Jerome Mack, that dream became a reality this fall as he was selected to be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune.

“I’m still soaking it all in,” said Mack. “We shot the episode in August, so it’s been a relief to finally be able to let it all out and share that experience with everybody. It’s still a surreal feeling.”

According to Mack, game shows have been a part of his life for as long as he can remember.

“I believe I was five-years-old when I started watching Wheel of Fortune with my mother. That was her show and Jeopardy was my father’s show. Wheel of Fortune would come on first, so I would be solving puzzles with my mother in the first half-hour and trying to figure out Jeopardy answers with my father in the second half-hour.”

Jerome’s episode aired on Monday, Oct. 30 on CBS and he didn’t just compete on the show, he was the winner. His total winnings for the show totaled nearly $60,000 and included a trip to Switzerland that Mack plans to enjoy with his wife in the summer of 2024.

Mack hinted at what some of his winnings may be used for.

“I know they talked about my chicken wings on the show. I think Washington Court House and Fayette County is in definite need of some really good chicken wings and soul food. I’m looking to fulfill a personal dream of mine. I love cooking and watching people enjoy food. I would love to share my abilities with the rest of the community and with the grace of God, move forward in that path and hopefully make it a reality.”

Sisters read 1,000 books before kindergarten

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE (Nov. 4) — Carnegie Public Library is very proud to announce the newest members of the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Club: Emery and Meredith Amore.

Emery, a preschooler, and Meredith, not yet in preschool, have each read 1,000 books in their young lives and are very well prepared to begin kindergarten once that day arrives. To celebrate the milestone, Carnegie Public Library invited the Amore family for a small reception and Emery and Meredith were each awarded a trophy and a certificate.

It’s important to note that neither of these girls can read in the traditional sense yet. However, they have been read too, they have flipped pages while telling the story, and they have even memorized their favorite books. All these tasks require early literacy skills, including how to hold a book, how to recognize that letters make sounds and words have meanings, and the idea that reading is fun. They will soon be mature enough to learn to read and they will be fully prepared.

In the Amore family, much of the reading was completed by the mother, Marcie, although the father, Anthony, and the grandparents also read to the children.

‘Proud Panthers’ celebrated

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE (Nov. 13) — Miami Trace staff gathered at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting to celebrate the contributions of outgoing board members, Charlie Andrews and Bruce Kirkpatrick, and welcome two incoming school board members, Lindsey Worley and Bryan McCoy.

Prior to the board meeting, a special reception on campus was open to the community to congratulate Andrews and Kirkpatrick, who both described themselves as proud, lifelong Panthers.

Both men graduated from the Miami Trace High School Class of 1966.

At the meeting, they were awarded with a medal of appreciation for their service and many years of dedication to Miami Trace Local Schools. Superintendent Kim Pittser shook both their hands in front of the board meeting attendees, before speaking on the administration’s behalf about the impact both Andrews and Kirkpatrick had on the board and the entire district during their time as members.

“We just cannot thank either of you enough for your service to this district, Mr. Kirkpatrick and Mr. Andrews,” said Pittser. “We’ve been through a lot over the years and the administration just really appreciates all of the guidance, input, love and support from you both.”

Following Pittser’s heartfelt comments, Andrews and Kirkpatrick were asked to give words of wisdom.

“I just want to thank everyone,” said Andrews, who also taught for many years at Miami Trace “I was telling Bryan (McCoy) how we have been so blessed with good people at Miami Trace.”

Andrews continued, “Of course, I’ve been a Panther for a long time with 31 years in the system. Bruce (Kirkpatrick) and I graduated together in 1966, but I still will be driving through the campus when it’s peaceful and quiet, just appreciating these beautiful facilities that our community has allowed us to have. I’m just so grateful to have been a part of such a good group of people who make life here so interesting. I’m always going to be a Panther, but I’m excited to see what these new young members can do for the board.”

Kirkpatrick explained that he and Andrews had not planned to leave the school board the same year, but with all of their years combined, they both felt it was time. He also commented on the pride he felt to have been a part of the district.

“There’s an overall good feeling about the whole campus,” explained Kirkpatrick. “The academic effort from the students is tremendous. There are just really good kids here.”

Wollscheid wins race by 90 votes

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE (Nov. 7) — Once all of the ballots were counted and the Nov. 7 general election totals were certified Tuesday, Susan Wollscheid emerged as the winner of the race for Washington Court House Municipal Court Judge by a mere 90 votes over Melissa Upthegrove.

As previously reported by the Record-Herald, Wollscheid had an unofficial lead of just over 100 votes on Election Night, however, there were still 45 absentee ballots and 138 provisional ballots to be counted. The Fayette County Board of Elections officially certified the results on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the official totals, Wollscheid received 3,859 votes and Upthegrove received 3,769.

Wollscheid will take the office in January as long-time Washington C.H. Municipal Court Judge Victor Pontious’s final term expires at the end of this year.

Wollscheid took time Tuesday to thank the voters for their support.

“I am truly blessed by all the support I have received from our community and would like to thank you all,” she said. “I will strive to improve our Municipal Court and always be fair and impartial. I hope to make you all proud to call me your Municipal Court Judge.”

WCH man seriously injured in crash

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE (Nov. 22) — A Washington C.H. man is being treated at Ohio Health Grant Medical Center in Columbus for serious injuries he reportedly suffered during a two-vehicle collision Wednesday night.

According to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, a 2019 GMC Yukon — driven by Julie A. Madalinski, of Bainbridge — was heading eastbound on Bloomingburg- New Holland Road toward State Route 41 North.

Authorities said Madalinski failed to properly stop at the posted stop sign a the intersection of Bloomingburg-New Holland and State Route 41.

The GMC Yukon reportedly entered the intersection and failed to yield to a northbound 2012 Chevrolet Malibu — driven by Devin A. Smith — which resulted in a collision at the intersection.

Smith was extricated from his vehicle by the Washington C.H. Fire Department and was flown by Med-flight to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center due to serious injuries sustained from the crash, according to authorities.

Madalinski was treated at the scene by Fayette County EMS for possible minor injuries.

Both vehicles suffered disabling damage and had to be towed from the scene. Authorities said Madalinski was cited for a stop sign violation.

County mourns devastating losses

STAUNTON (Nov. 25) — As Fayette County mourns the loss of two longtime community firefighters, more details have been released concerning the tragic accident that caused their deaths on Saturday.

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office 9-1-1 Center received a call on Saturday just after 11 a.m. of an overturned mechanical lift with injuries. First responders arriving on scene identified the victims in the overturned lift as Concord-Green Fire Chief Ralph Stegbauer and Fire Captain Jeffery Skaggs. Both sustained fatal injuries in the accident and were pronounced dead at the scene by Fayette County Coroner Dr. Lenora Fitton.

Initial investigation revealed that Stegbauer and Skaggs were utilizing the lift to make repairs to the radio tower outside the Concord-Green firehouse when the lift tipped over, ejecting both of them from the tower basket from many feet in the air.

On Monday, Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth provided more details to the Record-Herald about the incident.

“We know that the lift was actually sitting on a trailer. We know they went all the way up to the top of the radio tower and removed an old antennae from the very top of the tower,” said Stanforth. “They were going to go back up and install a wind

sock that would be used as a visual from the air for helicopters if they ever had to use the parking lot as a landing zone for medical purposes.”

A windsock can be used as a basic indicator of wind speed and direction and are commonly used at airports to show the direction and strength of the wind to pilots.

“So, we believe they were coming down with the old antennae and the plan was to retrieve the windsock and go back up to the top of the tower to install it,” said Stanforth. “We believe when they were on the way down, the arm of the bucket, the lift, was in a descending phase when it lost its balance and stability and toppled off the trailer.”

Stanforth said investigators believe that if the lift had been on the ground instead of the trailer, it would not have overturned.

December

Fallen firefighters receive last call

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE (Dec. 2) — The community gathered this weekend to honor the lives of two longtime Fayette County firefighters who died in a tragic accident on Nov. 25.

The main streets of Washington Court House were closed around 1 p.m. Saturday for a brief time. The procession of vehicles was about three miles long following the funeral of Concord-Green Fire Captain Jeffrey Skaggs. People lined Columbus Avenue to view the fire trucks leading the mourners to Dayton Avenue to Palmer Road en-route to the Milledgeville-Plymouth Cemetery ceremony.

Captain Skaggs received the military 21-gun salute, the Drum Core and Bagpipe escort at the cemetery, and full firefighter honors with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office Last-Call and ringing of the last bell.

For Concord-Green Fire Chief Ralph Stegbauer, a memorial service honoring his life was held Saturday at Crossroads Christian Church in Washington Court House with Pastor Adam Lynch officiating with a focus on Ralph’s spiritual life and recognition of his firefighting career.

FCSO: Rest easy, ‘Dexi’

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE (Dec. 9) — The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office announced this week the passing of retired FCSO K-9 officer, “Dexi,” who was previously partnered with Deputy Jason Havens.

According to the sheriff’s office, Dexi, who passed at the age of 14 due to natural causes, served with Havens until her retirement in August of 2018. Dexi was originally purchased by Havens, which according to the deputy, doesn’t usually happen. However, he explained that his purchase was “well worth it.”

“That dog had a one-in-a-million nose on her,” he said, “and everyone I came across told me she was the best ‘dope dog’ they had ever seen.”

Dexi began working with Havens in 2011, back when he was still working in Greenfield. He explained that when he left Greenfield and decided to come to Fayette County, Dexi, of course, came with him.

“She was amazing,” said Havens, reminiscing about his former co-pilot. “I don’t even have the words to describe her.”

After eight years of service, Deputy Havens made the tough decision to retire Dexi, because according to Havens, he wanted her to “be able to enjoy just being a dog.”

Two injured in school bus accident

FAYETTE COUNTY (Dec. 11) — A woman and a 4-year-old child were injured Monday afternoon when their vehicle crashed into the back of a Miami Trace Local School District bus as it was stopped on US Route 62 North to discharge a student.

The driver and the 4-year-old were flown by medical helicopter to an area hospital for treatment. The students and the driver on the school bus were not injured, according to Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth.

The accident occurred right around 3 p.m. Monday in front of 6855 US Route 62 North about a quarter-mile from Bloomingburg-New Holland Road.

“Based on what we know, the bus was at a full stop with lights flashing,” Stanforth said. “The car came up behind it, apparently didn’t see the bus stopped, and applied the brakes but couldn’t get stopped in time.”

The bus, which was transporting 16 students from grades 6-12 at the time, has been separated from the vehicle that crashed into it, and another bus has arrived on scene to take the students home.

E. Court St. business catches fire

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE (Dec. 2) — The structure that houses KK’s Grubb Hubb and LevelUp Arcade at the corner of Court and Fayette streets suffered significant fire damage Friday morning.

At around 3:30 a.m., there was report of a possible structure fire at 202 E. Court St. with smoke coming from the building. According to reports, firefighters from the Washington Fire Department forced entry through both Fayette Street main doors and encountered extreme heat and dense black smoke down to the floor with little visible fire.

Firefighters initiated an interior fire attack and set up positive pressure ventilation at the front entrance of the business. They removed the glass transom and found heavy fire above the kitchen ceiling and below the original ceiling of the building. They extinguished all visible fire and began salvage and overhaul operations to expose any additional hidden fires. Firefighters were on the scene at 202 E. Court St. for approximately seven hours. No injuries were reported.