REEDSVILLE — A number of young Meigs County men and women employed through the Recovery Conservation Corps were honored recently with a luncheon at Hocking Hills Dining Lodge in Logan.

The group is a part of a work program sponsored by the five county Area 14 Workforce Investment Act Board, and County Job and Family Services Agencies who joined in a statewide initiative to get people back to work through conservation and construction jobs at state parks. The program is funded through federal stimulus money and put a total of 80 young people, between the ages of 18 and 24 from Meigs, Vinton, and Hocking Counties to work beginning early this summer and continuing through the end of March.

The Meigs County group, who named themselves “The Brush Hogs” is working at Forked Run State Park in Reedsville under the guidance of Sojourners of Vinton County and park staff. They have completed a variety of projects including clearing brush from trails and spillways, cutting trees, mowing, painting and revamping buildings and campground facilities and numerous other projects.

Speaking for the Meigs group, corps member Brandon Batey said growing up he enjoyed time at Forked Run and he was proud to be a part of making improvements to the park that will be their for his children to enjoy. He thanked the sponsors for giving him that opportunity.

Meigs, Vinton and Hocking Counties contracted administration of the program to Sojourners of Vinton County. Athens and Perry Counties operated their program through Hocking College. The Meigs County One Stop, located at the Meigs County Department of Job and Family Services accepted applications and screened applicants for the program.

Speaking to the group of youth, who were dressed in their green program identifying shirts was Ohio Department of Natural Resources Deputy Director Tony Celebrezze. He commended the RCC group for the many improvements made at the various area park systems. Celebrezze spoke of the state budget reductions which resulted in cuts to maintenance and construction projects in parks throughout the state. He said many projects that had been on hold have now been completed thanks to the work done by the Recovery Conservation Corps. In addition to helping the environment, he told the group, they have made friends and learned skills that they will carry with them throughout their life. He said he hopes funding for the program will be available again next year.

Meigs County Job and Family Services Director Chris Shank said the program has been good all the way around, providing employment for local residents, putting payroll dollars into the local economy, as well as, making numerous upgrades at Forked Run State Park for everyone to enjoy.