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Inside the raging turf war between Ohio golf course and local history society over sacred Native American land: ‘It’s like putting a country club on the Acropolis’

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Inside the raging turf war between Ohio golf course and local history society over sacred Native American land: ‘It’s like putting a country club on the Acropolis’


An Ohio history society is locked in a legal battle with a country golf club over prehistoric Native American earth mounds culturally ‘equivalent to Stonehenge’. 

Ohio History Connection (OHC) wants to re-open the UNESCO World Heritage Octagon Earthworks to the public, but the site is leased to Moundbuilders Country Club who have run a golf course on the prehistoric mounds for 114 years. 

The two groups cannot agree on a fair price to end the lease as the club says ‘the OHC either does not have or does not want to spend enough money to allow the club to move to another location’, leading to a lengthy ongoing court battle. 

The 50-acre group of sacred mounds were built between 1 and 400AD as ‘part cathedral, part cemetery and part astronomical observatory’ and have ‘historical and archeological significance equivalent to Machu Picchu.’

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John Low, a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians told DailyMail.com: ‘It would be like having a mini golf course inside Stonehenge, it just doesn’t work.’ 

But the beloved community club told DailyMail.com that they have provided ‘care and protection’ for the mounds and without sufficient payment they will be forced to close. 

The 50-acre group of complex mounds were built between 1 and 400AD as ‘part cathedral, part cemetery and part astronomical observatory’

Ohio History Connection (OHC) wants to re-open the prehistoric Octagon Earthworks to the public, but the site is leased to Moundbuilders Country Club who have a golf course on the prehistoric mounds

Ohio History Connection (OHC) wants to re-open the prehistoric Octagon Earthworks to the public, but the site is leased to Moundbuilders Country Club who have a golf course on the prehistoric mounds

The club – which serves as a social hub for the community – constructed a golf course around the mounds in the early 1900s, drawing in thousands of visitors over the decades to play the unusual holes. 

Golfers are fond of the monuments, nicknaming the largest ‘Big Chief’. 

A 1930 article in Golf Illustrated said: ‘The ancient Moundbuilders unwittingly left behind the setting for as strange and sporty a golf course as ever felt the blow of a niblick.’ 

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But Native American representatives have long been vocal in their disapproval of the club, comparing it to putting a ‘country club on the Acropolis’. 

The mounds were painstakingly built with rudimentary tools approximately 2,000 years ago, to mark and measure the passage of the sun and the moon. 

Low said: ‘To people of Ohio River Valley and Great Lakes region who are most connected as descendants to the builders, it’s a place of pride that deserves protection.

‘It’s a place of UNESCO World Heritage inscription we want to share with the world. We can’t celebrate it with a golf course on top of it.’

The OHC told DailyMail.com that by ending the lease and resuming control of the site they want to ‘operate, protect, maintain, restore and share access to this Indigenous wonder.’

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Currently they say they only have full access to the mounds four or five days a year. 

The club - which serves as a social hub for the community - constructed a golf course around the mounds in the early 1900s

The club – which serves as a social hub for the community – constructed a golf course around the mounds in the early 1900s

President of the club's board of trustees, David Kratoville told DailyMail.com that they don't want to leave the site

President of the club’s board of trustees, David Kratoville told DailyMail.com that they don’t want to leave the site

The club - where membership starts around $1,000 a year - has a Williamsburg-looking brick clubhouse, a swimming pool and an 18-hole course

The club – where membership starts around $1,000 a year – has a Williamsburg-looking brick clubhouse, a swimming pool and an 18-hole course

In a 2022 legal document, the OHC claimed ‘the country club had increasingly denied access to the public over the last 15 to 20 years, either directly or indirectly by rendering access impossible through inconveniently timed maintenance activities.’

But the club denies this and says they have maintained and protected the mounds for 114 years, and say if they are forced off the land without suitable compensation they will be forced to shut down. 

President of the club’s board of trustees David Kratoville told DailyMail.com that they don’t want to leave the site but they ‘would look to do so upon receiving a payment that would allow it to recreate its business on another site.’

The club – where membership starts around $1,000 a year – has a Williamsburg-looking brick clubhouse, a swimming pool and an 18-hole course.

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The club is ‘woven into the local economy’, Kratoville said, and shutting down ‘would be felt in a variety of employment, social, economic, and community ways.’

He said: ‘The club is home for some local high school golf teams. The summer swim club is open to non-member kids of all ages. 

‘It is the only family social club within about 20 miles.’ 

John Low, a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians told DailyMail.com: 'It would be like having a mini golf course inside Stonehenge, it just doesn't work.'

John Low, a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians told DailyMail.com: ‘It would be like having a mini golf course inside Stonehenge, it just doesn’t work.’

The ongoing court battle and upcoming jury trial will determine the value of the lease

The ongoing court battle and upcoming jury trial will determine the value of the lease

Five years ago, Moundbuilders asked for $12 million for the facility saying it would take that to pay off its debt and create another golf country club of the same value.

But after an independent appraisal at the time, the OHC offered $800,000. 

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Now the ongoing court battle and upcoming jury trial will determine the value of the lease and the size of the payment to the club. 

The OHC says they are committed to enabling ‘full public access to the Octagon Earthworks while ensuring the country club receives fair market value for the lease’. 

But Kratoville told Daily Mail.com: ‘There is no exact (single) dollar amount required as Moundbuilders doesn’t know where it will move to if it moves. 

‘Each potential new location site has different cost elements that need to be considered. It’s not a one size fits all situation.’

He added: ‘The amount paid will determine whether Moundbuilders can relocate or whether it ceases to exist after 114 years as a community institution.’ 

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Ohio

How to register to vote in Ohio ahead of Election Day 2024

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How to register to vote in Ohio ahead of Election Day 2024


With the first presidential debate already in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward: Election Day is just over four months away.

Don’t panic. There’s still plenty of time to register to vote; the deadline to register for the Nov. 5 general election is Oct. 7.

More: ‘Trump certainly gave us something to vote against,’ disappointed Dem says after debate

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Need to brush up on how to get your name on the voter rolls? Here’s what you need to know:

How to register to vote in Ohio

Ohio residents over the age of 18 can register to vote online, by mail or in person.

Online registration is available on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website. You’ll need an Ohio driver’s license or state ID, a valid Ohio address and the last four digits of your Social Security number to register online.

To register by mail, potential voters can fill out a voter registration form and mail it to a county board of election or the secretary of state’s office. You only need a valid Ohio ID or the last four digits of your Social Security number to register this way, along with a valid address.

The requirements for in-person registration are the same as mail registration. To register in person, Ohio residents can visit any of these locations to fill out a form, according to the Ohio Secretary of State:

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  • The Secretary of State’s office
  • Any of the 88 county boards of elections
  • The office of the registrar or any deputy registrar of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
  • Public libraries
  • Public high schools or vocational schools
  • County treasurers’ offices
  • Offices of designated agencies, including:
    • The Department of Job and Family Services
    • The Department of Health (including the Women, Infants and Children [WIC] program)
    • The Department of Mental Health
    • The Department of Developmental Disabilities
    • Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
    • The office of any state-assisted college or university responsible for providing assistance to students with disabilities

More: Local Republicans laugh at President Biden during debate with Donald Trump

Keep in mind that you have to live in Ohio for at least 30 days before the election to be eligible to vote, so if you’re planning on moving to the Buckeye state in October or November, you’ll be out of luck.

NHart@dispatch.com

@NathanRHart



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2024 Ohio Fairs Hall of Fame inductees announced – Farm and Dairy

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2024 Ohio Fairs Hall of Fame inductees announced – Farm and Dairy


Bev Fisher has built her career in a variety of roles for the Canfield Fair and its Board of Directors. She was inducted into the 2024 Ohio Fairs Hall of Fame. (Submitted photo)

STOW, Ohio — The Ohio Fair Managers Association inducted Bev Fisher, CFE, Mahoning County Fair; Candace Tripp, Marion County Fair; Cindy Woodman, Lake County Fair; Robert Buxton, Coshocton County Fair, and Dan Kimmett, Allen County Fair, into the Ohio Fairs Hall of Fame Class of 2024 on Jan. 7 in Columbus during the 99th annual Ohio Fairs Convention and Marketplace Tradeshow.

Bev Fisher CFE, Mahoning County Fair

Bev Fisher began her career at the Canfield Fair in 1991 as a secretary and became the fair manager four years later. She built her career in a variety of roles for the Canfield Fair and its Board of Directors. Fisher obtained her CFE designation from the International Association of Fairs & Expositions in 2008. She has attended the Ohio Fair Managers Convention for over 25 years, the IAFE convention for 20 years and IAFE zone meetings for 10 years. She has been a presenter for OFMA and IAFE many times and served for 16 years as a director at large on the OFMA Board. Fisher also managed and grew the Ohio Fairs’ Queen Program for 13 years. She served as chair of guest relations for 13 years; served on the audit, budget and legislative committee, and was vice chair of the program committee.

She worked to overhaul the program from the annual convention in 2014 and served on the Ohio Department of Agriculture fiscal report committee, working with the auditor of state to streamline the annual reporting document. She was also instrumental in the 2018 revision of the law and rules that govern Ohio Fairs in the Red Book. Fisher served on the political action committee for the OFMA and traveled to the statehouse to testify on Ohio fairs legislation many times.

She has been a great asset to many fairs that have called upon her knowledge and is truly a blessing to this state association. Fisher and husband Randy, whom she married in 1987, enjoy working on their family farm together.

Candace Tripp, Marion County Fair

Candace “Candy” Sawyer Tripp has served as secretary/manager and treasurer of the Marion County Fair for over 30 years. (Submitted photo)

Candace “Candy” Sawyer Tripp, whose career at the Marion County Fairgrounds reaches back to 1990, has become a pillar of knowledge, serving as secretary/manager and treasurer for over 30 years. She has been married for 16 years and resides in Punta Gorda, Florida, with husband Dan and pup Cooper. She has three daughters and five grandchildren, all of whom have worked with her in the office at one time or another. Tripp has worked diligently on bringing a diverse crowd to Marion over the years, expanding off-season events from just four in 1990 to a combined total of 45 weeks of off-season events and fundraisers.

She was awarded the Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s 2017 Tourism Ambassador Award. She was also an officer on the Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, a member/treasurer and on the financial committee of Epworth United Methodist Church and a charter member of the Marion County Special Wish Foundation from 1983 to 1995. She attended 28 OFMA conventions and presented at a few round table discussions at the IAFE Convention.

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In 2000, Tripp helped the Marion County Agricultural Society pass a .3-million-dollar levy for capital improvements to the Coliseum and grounds, and she has helped organize and promote grants for restroom renovations, new sheep pens and electrical upgrades with grant funds over $300,000. Tripp retired in 2017 but returned in 2022 after her replacement left, again, proving her dedication to the Marion County Fairgrounds.

Cindy Woodman, Lake County Fair

Cindy Woodman has provided outstanding service to the Lake County Fair for over 29 years. (Submitted photo)

Cindy Woodman has provided outstanding service to the Lake County Fair for over 29 years. Since the time of her election as a director in 1994, she has been an innovator on the Lake County Fair Board and her hard work, out-of-the-box thinking and countless contributions have helped the fair keep going and growing. Woodman had a very active 4-H career as a youth and was heavily involved in saddle horse. Following that, she raised daughters Stephanie and Samantha while successfully operating her concession business, The Pony Express, and serving the Lake County Fair.

She served as fair board vice president for six years and as concession manager for the past 20 years. She has actively participated on the audit, concessions, finance, fine arts, gates, historical, horse, marketing and rent committees over the years. Woodman is a broad thinker and visionary whose creativity has led to the addition of popular exhibits. Through her hard work, management and guidance as rent committee chair, non-fair rentals have grown, and she was also an integral part of changes in the concession and ticket areas which have led to continual growth of fair-time revenues. While serving as saddle horse chair, she brought in such popular events as cutting and roping which included a celebrity class of local public and elected officials, a huge and highly competitive open show and a locally designed and operated Wonderful World of Horses event which educated the public on different breeds of horses and their characteristics. Woodman was also instrumental in bringing a nondenominational Sunday church service to the show ring.

Woodman is a regular participant in the OFMA District Nine Round Tables, OFMA Spring Meetings, OFMA Convention and IAFE Zone Meetings and is an active member of the Greater Ohio Showmen’s Association. She has participated in OFMA conventions for more than 25 years. A past recipient of ODA’s Outstanding Fair Supporter award, she was also recognized by GOSA as Concession Manager of the Year and is a member of the Lake County Fair Hall of Fame.

Robert Buxton, Coshocton County Fair

Robert “Bob” Buxton has served for 45-years as a Director of the Coshocton County Fair. (Submitted photo)

Robert “Bob” Buxton served for 45 years as a director of the Coshocton County Fair, during which time he has seen and been involved in all aspects of the fair. He has served on all the committees and has been in every seat as a director and officer. From the Art Hall to the livestock displays, Buxton has been involved in raising funds for all departments of the fair, including paving, roofs, grandstand rehabilitation, animal pens, building additions and anything that has to do with improving the fair experience. He travels to other fairs around the state and across the country to bring back ideas to improve the fairs in Ohio and is the first one to show up for workdays and to help recruit and train new directors.

As a district director, Buxton served with honor and represented District 8 to the best of his ability. Buxton is a past president (2016-2017) of the OFMA and still helps anyone or any fair. His selfless service to the fair industry is unmatched. He was married for 37 years to his late wife Beverly Buxton and has two children, Emily and Jesse, and five grandchildren, Nathan, Julia, Beverly, Eliza and Jay. He enjoys spending time with his fiancé Christina Slaughter.

Dan Kimmett, Allen County Fair

Dan Kimmett has been an asset and has been instrumental in the growth of the Allen County Fair. (Submitted photo)

Dan Kimmett has been instrumental to the growth of the Allen County Fair, serving as board vice president for eight years and president for 13 years and being the catalyst in acquiring land from Walmart to increase the acreage of the fairgrounds property. He has served on every committee that was established and has shown a deep commitment to educating youth. His footprint on the state level includes being a director of OFMA since 2004, director of the year in 2006 and president from 2012-2013.

Outside of the fairgrounds, Kimmett has left his mark on the community and was recently honored as an inductee to the Delphos St. Johns Hall of Fame. He has been married to his wife Cindy for 41 years and has two sons, Erik and Nathan, and two grandchildren. Kimmett was key to introducing the National Trappers, Motorcycle Races and 4-Wheel Jamboree as staple events year-round. He also left his mark by starting the super stakesraces, the Dunlap-Renner Memorial and Doc-Steiner Classic. The Allen County Fair considers Kimmett the backbone to many of the fair’s successes over the years.

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Man killed while kayaking on the Ohio River

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Man killed while kayaking on the Ohio River


MASON COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – West Virginia DNR is reporting that a man was killed while kayaking on the Ohio River Thursday evening.

WVDNR says around 5:30 in the Hartford area a man was struck and killed by another vessel.

Information on who the man is or any details surrounding the incident have not been released, but WVDNR says more details will be released in the coming days.

Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest information.

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