SEORC Business of the Year

Adena Health Systems

Health care was once a chronic issue in the Jackson area, but the county has become one of the health care leaders in rural Ohio and one of the reasons is the addition of the new Adena Health Systems Clinic.

Although Adena established a clinical presence in Jackson in 1996, it took a giant leap forward with the construction of its new clinic that opened in November, 2003. Located in two buildings, Adena wanted to consolidate as well as increase its services due to patient demand. The 24,000-square-foot facility was built at a cost of over $6 million.

Among the services now offered at the new Adena clinic include family practice and pediatrics, a full range of rehab services, cardiovascular testing, occupational health services, imaging, mammography, ultrasound, nutrition and diabetic counseling, lab work and urgent care services available seven days a week.

The clinic also offers four full-time physicians and site coordinator Marsha Baisden says that at least ten different physicians are in the facility at one time or another during the week. Among those who are there weekly on a part-time basis are those dealing with cardiology, neurology, surgery, OB/GYN and orthopedics.

Community Pride Award

Alumni Stadium Committee

There are two monuments on a hill representing a proud community and a student body, tributes to success stories of the past and the hopes and dreams of the future. One is the new Jackson High School, while the other is the new Holzer Field at Alumni Stadium.

Jackson High School athletic director Jim Reynolds chaired the nine-member committee. In just a matter of months, the necessary funds were raised to construct the finest facility of its kind in all of southern Ohio.

An inspiration for the stadium can also be accredited to the hundreds of athletes who have made up the successful Jackson football program since 1990, and have accumulated an amazing 112-41 won-loss record from that time through October 1 of this year.

It is totally a first-class facility, and right now, about 350 students are using this field on a regular basis.

Reynolds led a committee that included JHS band director Dick Berry, Dan Morrow, Jim Humphreys, Alan Stockmeister, Rick McNelly, Marc Carman, Kevin Rice and Ernie Strawser.

This stadium was made possible from the biggest contributions to the smallest donations.

Meritorious Service Award

Ernie Strawser

For Ernie Strawser, the treasurer of the Jackson City School District for nearly 20 years, the joy and the rewards simply come from being a part of the team.

While many school district treasurers might bury themselves in their ledgers, never to be seen or heard, Strawser has taken a proactive approach in helping to make improvements within the Jackson district.

Strawser, who has been with the school district since 1986, deflects the credit for his success to the assistance offered by many others. Among his accomplishments, when the school district was making its transition in superintendents, the school board decided to place Strawser in charge of overseeing the district's nearly $60 million building program, a building program that has already created the new Jackson High School and two new elementary schools in addition to the new Alumni Stadium at the high school.

Strawser says he gets the most satisfaction out of seeing things get done, but also realizes still many challenges lie ahead. He feels the biggest differences between now and when he started have come from the impacts of the state government's testing program and accountability measures.

Entrepreneur of the Year

Honda Suzuki of Jackson

Wouldn't it be great to be young and ambitious and just go out and buy yourself a motorcycle shop?

Wouldn't it be great, then, to be as successful as Mark Simmons and Brook Phillips have been since buying that motorcycle shop 25 years ago, Honda Suzuki of Jackson?

It is a business that has gone from a location in an alley to a beautiful, spacious new location just off U.S. 35, and from sales of 31 motorcycles in their first year to more than 1,000 per year now.

Phillips and Simmons bought the business in April, 1979 and started in a building in an alley across from the post office. They were there for six months before moving to the old Bailey's Shoe Store on old U.S. 35. In 1986, they built a new building at that location, then moved to their present structure in April, 2003.

They needed the new facilities to have a bigger display area and an enlarged service department, plus this location helps them draw a larger regional market. Among the brands they sell are Honda, Suzuki, Polaris, Bombardier, Eton and KTM, and among the products are motorcycles, ATVs, scooters and trike conversion kits.

They call themselves the "Tri-State Power Sports Super Store," and their new location also has a more extensive selection of general merchandise and apparel. They also have strong Internet sales.

Beautification Award

Christ United Methodist Church

Every Sunday morning, faithful parishioners from all corners gather at the church of their choice for worship as it comes alive with activity and praise.

For one place of worship in Jackson, though, that activity now almost consumes seven days a week. Thousands of people have used the new Family Life Center at the Jackson Christ United Methodist Church since it opened last November.

Rev. Dale Lykins, who came to the Jackson church as its minister in 2001, says the reason for the construction of the facility was to be able to have the space necessary to accommodate new ministries.

They believed this would help them attract a more diverse congregation and be able to serve a greater number of people with a greater variety of activities. It has also aided them in expanding church services to serve the preferences of those who prefer either the contemporary or traditional services.

Rev. Lykins believes the facility has enabled the church to serve the community's needs seven days a week with a wonderful variety for the entire family. He noted it was in 1997 the church created a committee to look at goals for the future and determined they needed to reconfigure space.

Another key element to the building program was the installation of an elevator that allows for those with disabilities to easily access the church's sanctuary for church services.

Heroism Awards

Greg Farrar, Derek Rusk, Jamie Snyder

Life sometimes would be impossible without the heroic deeds and sacrifices of others. For two such deeds, we salute three very worthy honorees.

Jamie Snyder, 15 years old, and Derek Rusk, 14 years old, were fishing at Lake Jackson at 7:45 a.m. on August 3, when they heard the desperate shouts of a man who had fallen out of his boat into deep water. The boys ran an estimated 300-400 yards along the shore of the lake, swam to the victim and pulled him to shore.

In the early hours of July 21, Greg Farrar alerted residents at 64 Church Street to a structure fire at that location, informed authorities and used a hose to help put out the fire until help arrived.