Marietta

VIDEO: Last Wall Standing Comes Down

A demolition crew was brought in to knock down several of the walls that still stood after the Front Street Fire this morning that claimed three businesses.  While full coverage of the demolition will come later, here is vide of the last wall standing coming down with the help of a wrecking ball.

PHOTOS: Front Street Fire Aftermath

Writing on the Mall traveled down to Front and Butler to survey the damage.  The photos that follow are what we encountered.

Marietta Wine Cellar, Front Street Deli destroyed in Fire

According to the Marietta Times, a small fire grew large enough to take out three local businesses.

The Marietta Wine Cellar, Front Street Deli, and Riverside Artists Gallery are all being called a “total loss” by Mayor Michael Mullen.

One firefighter was said to be taken to the hospital.  The Marietta Fire Department received assistance from Belpre and other local volunteer fire departments in the area.

I’ll try to stop down there later today to get some photos of the scene.  According to the story, there is only one wall left.

For more information, check out the whole story at The Marietta Times.

WotM Weather Center: River Gauge, Marietta Floods, and You

This post is an educational tool for those unfamiliar with the flood plain of Marietta, OH.  Currently, there is a FLOOD WATCH for the Marietta area, with projections of river levels reaching Action Stage by the 16th.  Watch Writing on the Mall for projection updates as they are posted by the National Weather Service.

So you may be wondering what River Gauge is.  It’s the measurement taken at select sites up and down rivers across the country to help better map river levels.  There are two gauge sites near Marietta: one at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers on the Harmar side of the Muskingum, and one at the Willow Island Lock just upriver.

These gauge readings can tell us how close we are to flood stage at certain points.  At Marietta, as you can see on the image above, we start getting worried around the 33 foot mark, which is labeled an Action Stage.  Between 33 and 35 feet, the river threatens to overflow at its lowest points.  Action Stage also serves as a way to alert the community that the floodwaters could raise at any point.

Floodwaters between 35 and 38 feet are considered Flood Stage at Marietta.  Flooding first hits Don Drumm Stadium, as it is one of the lowest areas in town.  It takes 37 feet to affect Fourth Street housing.

Moderate Stage is when flood waters are between 38 and 40 feet.  At this stage, most of the West Virginia area along the river is flooded.  Flooding could affect the Hermann Bowl and areas along the creek.

When you get above 40 feet, you enter the Major Flood Stage, which is where seven of the ten largest floods in Marietta history have peaked.  At 40 feet, a majority of Marietta is flooded, along with Harmar and low-lying areas of Williamstown.  The largest flood in Marietta history topped out at over 58 feet.  You can still see markers on first street to commemorate the largest floods, with more recent markers showing where the 2004 flood was.  The September 2004 flood was nearly 45 feet, while the January 2005 flood was around 44 feet.

Marietta Gourmet Coffee Shop “Stoked” to Serve More College Students

A day doesn’t go by without a desire to fulfill thirst. More often than not, students crave particular beverages at the most random times, and sometimes there is a mind battle regarding what the mouth is truly mad after.

There are occasional limitations in variety and availability if the observation remains within immediate reach. However, there is a positive alternative to cure even the driest palate.  Stoked Coffee, located on 302 Pike St. in Marietta, has been serving up delicious drinks, ranging from the obvious to chai tea, real fruit smoothies, milkshakes referred to as a crème, Italian sodas, sweetened and unsweetened teas, and hot chocolate, as well as bagels, cookies, and scones, since November of 2007.

Read more…

Looking Back: 2004 and 2005 Floods Changed College Preparedness

It was Friday Sept. 17, 2004. Remnants of Hurricane Ivan had just come through dropping almost five inches of rain over the Mid-Ohio Valley during the day. The Ohio River and its tributaries were already swollen due to three and a half inches of rain from the week before, when remnants of Hurricane Frances came through.

Early that Friday morning the National Weather Service in Charleston predicted that the Ohio River at Marietta would crest just above flood stage. Then later that afternoon, the National Weather Service called off the flood warning and said that the Ohio River at Marietta would crest more than a foot below flood stage.

Read more…

UPDATE: Robison Agrees to Plea Deal, Will Be Sentenced in March

According to an article posted today by the Marietta Times, former MC student Tom Robison has agreed to a plea deal.

Robison still faces up to 10 years in prison for the stabbing, but had a third degree felony charge for tampering with evidence removed.

According to court testimony, Robison felt the man he stabbed had money, and followed him from The Locker Room bar.

Robison has been in jail since the stabbing occurred.  He is in jail withough bond, waiting for his hearing on March 15th.

For more on the court hearing today, check out the Marietta Times article.

Student Speak Out is Tomorrow Night

Just a reminder that the Student Speak Out is tomorrow night at 7 PM in the McDonough Auditorium.  If you have a concern, most of the college’s administrators will be there to try to help fix your problem, or at least hear your complaint.  There are more than 80 people that say they’re coming, according to their Facebook group.

If you have a problem that needs addressed but can’t be there, just comment on this post, our Facebook, or our Twitter, and we will ask it for you.

Poor Economy Claims Another Victim: Bar-B-Cutie

Sadly, another local restaurant will close after this week.

The Bar-B-Cutie on Pike St., which replaced an empty RAX, will close on November 7th.  The notification went out via Twitter, and linked to this page.

Bar-B-Cutie was a great place to get some good food.  Their prices were alright and the people were friendly.  They will be missed.

UPDATE: Robison Waives Hearing, Awaits Grand Jury Indictment

MC Student Thomas Robison waived his right to a hearing yesterday according to the Marietta Times, which means his case can now be presented to a Grand Jury.  The Grand Jury can add more charges to the indictment if they deem it necessary, which means an additional charge of felonious assault could added.  Felonious assault can add up to eight years to his list of charges, which include up to ten years for robbery and 33 days for probation violation.

Reportedly, the man he allegedly stabbed is out of the hospital.  There is no date set yet for the Grand Jury Indictment.

Keep an eye out for next week’s Marcolian, which I am being told features interviews of Robison, his lawyer, the man he allegedly stabbed, and other students.  Hard hitting journalism from the Marcolian?  You heard it here first.