Page 2 - Dresden Buzz 03-07-25

PAGE 2 | LOCAL NEWS MARCH 7 - 20, 2025
COVER STORY
Ribbon Cutting ceremony held during the

unveiling of the J.W. & M.H. Straker Charitable

Foundation Nursing Wing at OUZ by Lynette Dotson

NEXT DEADLINE tion, and we are so thankful for that.”
March 17 at 5PM “When our foundation makes a large
grant, and this was a very large grant,
I like to think about what my parents
NEXT ISSUE would have thought,” said Susan Hold-
March 21 ren. “This grant was so big that our
board also had to weigh in, so they came
PICKUP LOCATIONS last spring and toured the site, and then
DRESDEN: Bonnie Longaberger Senior Center, they agreed that this was a project
Scotties Den, Dari Twist, Circle K, Thirsty Dawg, worth funding. Of course, we all use
The Warehouse Restaurant, Dresden Branch healthcare. I personally use healthcare
Library, Creno’s Pizza, Beauty By Design, Dresden on a regular basis, and the nurses are
Buzz, Main Street Pizzeria, The Mill, Agin the people that I interact with the most.
Hardware, Certified, Subway, Shrivers Pharmacy, And when they come at you with that IV,
Humble Heart, Smore Baskets Susan Holdren cut the ribbon during the ceremony which unveiled the new J.W. & M.H. Straker Chari- it’s always good to know that they have
table Foundation Nursing Wing at Ohio University Zanesville. Matthew Dotson
FRAZEYSBURG: New Beginnings Drive Thru, had some training. -- It is very impor-
Dairy Queen, Frazeysburg Village Office, A new state-of-the-art nursing wing at Administration’s Rural Health Informa- tant that we have the continuity of care
Subway, Duchess Gas Station, Fallsburg Pizza in Zanesville, I think. -- As we all know,
Ohio University Zanesville (OUZ) was re- tion Hub. nurses are the frontline people and that
NASHPORT: Crenos Pizza cently unveiled during a ribbon cutting During the ceremony, guests were in- is who we see when we need healthcare
ceremony held on Tuesday, February 25, vited to tour the new facilities following so it is very important. -- Another thing
ZANESVILLE: Kroger, The Muskingum County 2025. The new addition, named the J.W. the ribbon cutting and a few words from
YMCA, John McIntire Library, Muskingum County and M.H. Straker Charitable Foundation OUZ leadership and Susan Holdren, that we always think about when we
Center for Seniors, Mass Media Comics, Nursing Wing, was made possible by a President and Executive Director of the are making a large grant is that one of
Denny’s Classic Diner, Fieldhouse Family Sports $1.5 million donation from the Straker J.W. & M.H. Straker Charitable Founda- our tenants is brick and mortar, so this
and Wellness Center, Donald’s Donuts, is a brick and mortar project, and that
The Zanesville-Muskingum County Conference Foundation. tion. is something that my father definitely
& Welcome Center, The Elk’s Eye Art Market, The renovation to the nursing wing at “We have had nursing programs on believed in, which is kind of unusual
Walgreens (Military Rd.), The Carr Center, the university was of monumental im- this campus since 1970,” said OUZ
Sunrise Bowling Center, Colony Square Mall portance. Advanced practice labs, cut- Dean Hannah Nissen. “We have always for a family foundation but he was very
ting-edge simulation spaces, and areas been dedicated to our nursing programs adamant that he wanted to improve
SOUTH ZANESVILLE: South Branch Library, dedicated to faculty research and stu- and to assuring that we are able to pro- the infrastructure of our county so that
Darrell’s Donuts, Central Pike Coffee Co. was another aspect that we think about.
dent collaboration have all been imple- vide the best prepared nursing profes- And then the third is education, I am an
AVONDALE: Tina’s Diner mented in the new wing, which has been sionals that we can to this area, and that educator. I had a thirty-year educational
expanded to nearly 11,000 square feet. is what this is largely about. It’s about
WEST PIKE: Litten Home Hardware, The improvements were necessary due making sure that we have the equip- career, and so education is high on my
West Side Market to the need for highly skilled nurses in ment and the spaces that will support list. So this ticks all of those boxes, and
the region. The area has been undergo- today’s nursing professional needs, and we’re just so happy that we could help to
NEW CONCORD: Scott’s Diner, Wally’s Pizza, make it happen.”
New Concord Branch Library, Creno’s Pizza, ing a healthcare shortage, as designat- we have been able to do all this due to
Orme Hardware ed by the Health Research and Services a sizeable gift from the Straker Founda-
DUNCAN FALLS: Duncan Falls/Philo Branch
Library CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
4-H week celebrated in Muskingum County
ROSEVILLE: Roseville Branch Library
Enrollment open through April 1

Members of Junior Fair Board accept a $1500 check from Farm Credit for winning third place in the East Central Ohio Region Stock the Trailer.
10,300 Pounds of food collected during the 2024 Muskingum County Fair were donated to Christ’s Table. submitted
from taking care of a project. So I think 4-H. “My parents were in 4-H, my grand- of the states and really just got to make
it’s those skills that we see develop in parents were in 4-H, and also my great some nice friends.”
our young people that we see them car- grandparents were also in 4-H, it was re- “You join 4-H through a club. We have
ry into adulthood that make them suc- ally just what my family did, and I love it! close to 50 clubs in Muskingum Coun-
cessful people. -- The fair is the best part of it. It’s the ty, and they are spread out all over the
“I am a product of the 4-H program ac- way you end 4-H, and Fair Week is the county, stated McConnell. “Lately, I’ve
tually here in Muskingum County,” Mc- best week of the whole year.” been telling people, ‘you probably have
Connell explained. “I’m a Tri-Valley High “[My favorite part] is all the opportuni- a club meeting within 10 minutes of
School graduate. Because of the experi- ties that I get through 4-H, all the camps your house.’. There are two things peo-
ence that I had as a 4-H-er, those rela- that I get to apply for and go to, along ple can do. One is to ask around, ask
tionships that I built, those skills that I with making new friends at Fair and 4-H your friends. We have more than 1300
learned, that’s why I do the job that I do, Camp,” said Braylie Burkey, a student at youth that are involved, 250 adult volun-
to watch these young people learn.” Tri-Valley and 11-year member of 4-H. teers. Get connected with a club through
4-H Ambassadors Weck, Burkey, and “My favorite 4-H memories have prob- people that you know. The second thing
Bradley agree that they would like to ably been going to the national events is they can contact the office.”
continue to be involved with 4-H into like Citizen Washington Focus and Na- Contact the OSU extension office at
adulthood. 4-H has been a very impor- tional 4-H Congress,” said Tri-Valley se- 740-454-0144. You can also visit them
tant part of many of their lives, includ- nior Hayden Weck. “I got to meet so online at u.osu.edu/muskingumcoun-
ing the life of John Glenn and Mid-East many new people from all across the ty4h. The deadline for enrollment is
Career Center student Koby Bradley, world actually. I met some people in April 1.
whose family has also been involved in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and of course all
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