Council Split on Pit Stop as Feud Flares
HOBART, OHIO – The Village of Hobart Council convened an emergency session Thursday evening at Hobart High School to address the sudden closure of the Route 3 Pit Stop, a gas station and convenience store long considered an essential stop for locals and travelers alike.
The meeting, held in the Hobart High School gymnasium, drew a crowd of residents who packed the bleachers to watch the debate unfold.
Inspector’s Report Paints Dire Picture
An inspector’s report cited numerous compliance issues, including faulty shelving, collapsed refrigeration units, non-compliant signage, and significant water, mold, and fire damage. The most striking revelation was the discovery of 1,432 pounds of contraband fireworks, stacked in the Pit Stop’s storage room and covered with tarps labeled “Out of Order.”
Councilman Harold Gunn (North Fork) called the Pit Stop “a munitions depot, not a convenience store.” His colleague Jeremy Puck (Canal) countered with, “You can’t tell me you’ve never bought a sparkler at the Pit Stop, Harold,” drawing laughter from the gallery before Chair Martha Elkins called for order.
Shoemaker’s Outburst, Whispered Aside
At-Large Councilman Eugene “Gene” Shoemaker delivered one of the evening’s more dramatic moments. “Let the record reflect that this Council knowingly allowed an illegal fireworks dealer to operate under our very noses. What message does that send to our children?” he declared.
The session was paused briefly when Village Communications Secretary Josh King approached the dais and whispered something privately to Shoemaker, reportedly about his upcoming tax obligations. Shoemaker quickly withdrew his comment, requesting it be “set aside for reflection,” before voting later in favor of financial assistance.
Divided Council, Unclear Future
When the question turned to whether the Village should provide financial support for reopening, Council split sharply.
- Opposed: Gunn.
- In Favor: Puck, Cavanaugh (Heights), Sloan (Riverfront), Harker (Gallia), Shoemaker.
- Abstained: Chair Elkins, stating “the Chair shall remain neutral at this time.”
Draft terms included repayment over 24 months and a lien against the property if unpaid.
Residents Speak Out
Several residents voiced support, citing the Pit Stop as a source for groceries, gas, and community life. One man warned against “turning taxpayers into a private bank,” earning scattered applause. A Hobart High student asked whether the confiscated fireworks could be donated to the Homecoming bonfire, prompting Elkins to rule the comment out of order.
Next Steps
A motion to table the final decision until the next session passed narrowly, though the Clerk’s tally was unclear. The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 18, either at Village Hall or again at Hobart High depending on crowd size.
The Pit Stop must bring the property into compliance by Oct. 24, 2025 or remain closed.
As the bleachers emptied, one resident summed up the general mood: “It’s Hobart. Even the gas station has politics.”
A feud flares? C’mon, man. The Pit Stop has been selling all kinds of illegal stuff since at least the 80s. Crankle. Look it up. Read where it came from. Fireworks? Sheesh. Why don’t you check Dale Sr’s passport stamps, buddy. En Tepito nadie pregunta.
Dale, half the people in Hobart can barely find Cincinnati on a map, let alone Tepito. Stop confusing people.
i don’t speak spanish but i’m certain the Lord does, may He keep us all safe — blessings, Birdie
Tepito? I don’t care where it is, buddy, if it’s got potholes like Symmes St, I feel sorry for them too.
For accuracy’s sake, Tepito is a neighborhood, not a city. And “nadie pregunta” translates literally to “nobody asks.” Don’t spread bad Spanish and bad information, Rusty.
Dental tourism in Mexico is a growing trend. Not saying that’s what this is, but if anyone needs an affordable local option, Kline Dental can help. And we are Hobart’s only 24-hour dentist.
Dont bring that tepito mess around the high school, kids got enough to deal with without whatever your’e hinting at
My cousin was in Mexico city last year and said she saw a Hobart bumper sticker on a taxi, you think that’s a coincidence????
I think if they can pay 5000 for a gazebo to be painted that no one uses, I think they can throw some money at our only and best gas station. its basically part of the village anyway.
Rusty, you don’t know what you’re talking about. The Pit Stop has saved me more times than I can count. If Dale Sr. was in Tepito, maybe he was getting better prices than you do at Kroger.
shut UP rusty, you think you’re the FBI. you couldn’t spell Passport without help.
Brother Rusty, your words are heavy with accusation. The Bible tells us “Judge not lest ye be judged.” If a man goes to Mexico City, perhaps it was for tacos.
Rusty ain’t wrong, but he ain’t right either. Let’s just say i seen a crate come off the back of a truck back in ’02 that didn’t have a bar code. You don’t forget that sound.
For the record, it’s not technically a “split council.” A split requires equal opposition. This was more of a staggered dissent. Words matter, guys.
Don’t act surprised Linda Jo voted for it. She’s been running around with half the Utilities Board, and every other man she has eyes for since 09. That Pit Stop money ain’t going to snacks, honey.
Look, all I’m saying is that we saw the Press guy whisper to Shoemaker before the vote. Then suddenly he’s in favor of “assistance”? Wake up, Hobart. That’s not democracy, that’s choreography.
Financial assistance?? From MY taxes?? Shoemaker still owes half the county, and now he gets to throw MY money at raccoon chow. Great. This town really has gone to hell in a hand basket. As if it hasn’t always been heading there. Perpetually. Never ending. Can we just have elections already? And WHO the F is this Press Communications guy and he’s been hanging around, especially since Chiggins hoofed it to Columbus. I see his car (with WEST VIRGINIA PLATES BY THE WAY) outside of Village Hall CONSTANTLY. And the Pit Stop. COINCIDENCE?? I think NOT.
These trailer trash trollops get to paint Hobart with their gas fumes, make the place look like TRASH (and not to mention that really gross pizza next door, geez, I hear they have Possums) and now I get the pleasure to pay for it?
Maybe it’s time that I move to Leadville. They seem to have more sense there. Sure, they have clock issues, but we lost our clocks year ago and no one here seems to know what time it is anyway.
You guys really always find a way to F this place up. You really do. And I’m disappointed. In all of you.
You are a freak, you know that Marvin? You really got issues. Maybe go pay a visit to Linda Jo?
I mean it does say CALL FOR A GOOD TIME scrawled all over Hobart High’s bathroom walls. I can’t imagine it’s hard to find her number.
Marvin, we’ve had this discussion before, but I guess we’re going to take it there, aren’t we? The possum thing was HANDLED. By WHO? None other than Dale himself, bucko. If you would stop putting your trash out THREE DAYS EARLY, we probably wouldn’t have such a wildlife problem in those woods. I lock my dumpster. Why don’t you do your part?
Also your wife is a sweetie and you don’t deserve her.
Pit stop never carded me once. That’s why it RULES. Cry harder Skip.
Not sure WHY Harker voted in favor, but I smell a Velma-hate train coming. Velma could propose free oxygen and Dee would find a problem with it. This is definitely…odd.
WHERES THE MAYOR HUH?
Can we talk about how the high school principal is voting on money for the Pit stop while half the classrooms don’t even have working projectors?
Because she’s a hussy. And should really be on a list.Just ask her ex husband why he packed himself off to Cincinnati.
Y’all complain but where do YOU get your gas at 3AM? Thought so. Keep your mouth shut unless you want to drive to Leadville.
News flash DINA, the Pit stop isn’t even OPEN at 3am. It might be because you were boinking Dale. That may have something to do with it. Honey, I think you got your business hours mixed up.
Anyone else remember 1994 when the Pit Stop roof caved in and they still stayed open? That’s called dedication. Linda Jo knows it, the council knows it, and deep down you know it too.
Also, all this talk about corruption….where was this energy when the council voted to buy new office chairs?? At least the Pit Stop gives us something back.
Everyone’s crying about “tax dollars” but half y’all haven’t paid property tax since the 90s. Shoemaker included. Y’all are insane.
I SAID IN 1987 THEY WOULD RUIN THIS TOWN AND NOW LOOK, SAME CROOKS, DIFFERENT CHAIRS
My great uncle signed the first Pit Stop permit in 63, you can’t undo history with one council vote.
If the Pit Stop finally goes down, I’ll open Smoot’s QuickMart in the old VFW hall. No health inspections guaranteed.
The old VFW hall barely has a roof, Leon, how do you think you’re gonna pull that off? And you can barely keep the hot dog stand open.
I had my first kiss behind the Pit Stop, no one is gonna take that away from me. If you’re reading this Kyle, call meee
Council can’t vote on this without a 13th quorum. Look it up. It’s in the CCC.
The Civil Control Code says nothing about a 13th quorum, Pete. Geez.
Some of yall forgot what happened the last time…
the Pit stop used to make the best chili dog….miss that smell, miss alot of things…miss my brother….he had a camaro
Didnt Velma already sell the Pit Stop to Kentucky back in 04? Y’all got short memories.
Benny, once again, no one knows what you’re talking about.
The Hobart Herald recognizes that the Pit Stop is a hot-button issue for many residents. We value robust debate, but ask that commenters refrain from:
– Accusing council members of international crimes without documentation.
– Shouting “WHERE’S THE MAYOR?” more than once per thread.
– Offering dental services in unrelated discussions.
The Herald reserves the right to remove comments that cross the line into slander or excessive ALL CAPS. Thank you for keeping our paper a space for meaningful community dialogue.
Guys, I have the perfect solution. Why don’t we just all buy the Pit Stop? Wouldn’t that be great? It would be like a community thing, we could all keep it stocked and we would all get free gas! Wouldn’t that be awesome! What do you say?
You’re literally insane James but I like the idea. Not sure Dale would go for it though. And Charlotte would have something to say about it since she basically half owns the place.
I don’t half own the Pit Stop! Geez! You people make anything up. And PLEASE, you don’t know me well enough to call me by name, so I’d watch it, Lorraine.