A beer garden will again be an attraction at the Highland County Fair this year.
The Highland County Board of Commissioners voted on two permits for the beer garden during a Wednesday meeting, approving one covering Sept. 2-5 and another for Sept. 6-9 at the Highland County Fairgrounds.
Commissioner Jeff Duncan said last year’s fair was the first time a beer garden was featured, and said he heard of no problems associated with it, adding that in general it seemed to be well-received.
The beer will be sold and consumed in a roped-off area near the tractor pull arena, according to board president Shane Wilkin.
Wilkin directed the commissioners’ congratulations to Harry Shoop, who received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Word War II Victory Medal and Combat Infantry Medal during a Monday ceremony.
As reported by The Times-Gazette, Shoop was denied the Purple Heart in 1951 and 2010 due partly to missing paperwork, then again in 2013.
“It was really good to see, and I think he was thrilled,” Wilkin said.
Duncan said he heard from a few people who expressed concern about handicap accessibility at the Highland County Administration Building, mainly regarding the lack of door openers at the main entrance.
Duncan said a “local officeholder” ordered door openers, and they will be installed as soon as they arrive.
Wilkin said he and Highland County Visitors Bureau Director Destiny Bryson attended a recent Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned cookoff recently in preparation for the upcoming Smokin’ in the Hills competition set for September at Rocky Fork Lake.
Wilkin said he visited with several Ohio barbecue teams that will attend Smokin’ in the Hills, and lamented the quality of a brisket he smoked recently compared to the handiwork of some of the teams at the competition.
Britton said the County Commissioners Association of Ohio announced the state senate will meet Aug. 23 to address overriding Governor John Kasich’s veto of an amendment recouping projected losses of revenue from managed care organization sales taxes.
In other business, the commissioners offered happy birthday wishes to Wilkin, who celebrated his birthday this week, tabled discussion on the county’s special assessments pending further review, and passed routine financial resolutions.
The regularly scheduled commissioners meeting set for Aug. 30 will instead be held Aug. 31 at 1 p.m.
Reach David Wright at 937-402-2570, or on Twitter @DavidWrighter.
