Airport officials held a ribbon-cutting Thursday, July 16, 2026. Construction began in fall 2024, and the completed building is intended to improve the airport’s reception for visitors and private-business aircraft.

Terminal replaces 1960s-era facility

The new terminal replaces a building that had served the airport since the 1960s. The project adds a pilot shower and a new rotating beacon, providing an additional facility amenity for pilots and an updated visibility aid at the airport.

Airport manager Kaleb Arms said private businesses use the airport and described the new terminal as a way to improve their arrival experience. The approved report identifies private-business and general aviation use; it does not describe the building as a commercial passenger terminal.

That distinction matters for residents and local businesses evaluating what has changed. The project is a completed investment in a city-based regional aviation facility used by visitors, pilots and private-business aircraft. The source material does not provide a forecast for increased flights, visitors, passenger traffic or business activity.

Project was largely grant-funded

The project cost just under $3.5 million. Most of the funding came through grants, while local matching funds covered the remaining portion.

The available report does not identify the grant programs, the amounts supplied by each grant or the size of the local match. It also does not provide the terminal’s square footage or a specific economic-impact estimate.

Hoon Inc., a contractor based in Gallia County, built the terminal. The project’s construction timeline runs from its start in fall 2024 to the July 16 ribbon-cutting.

Fly-in and car show planned for Aug. 22

The airport’s next scheduled public milestone is a fly-in and car show on Aug. 22, 2026. Organizers plan to offer helicopter rides and plane rides, along with a free pancake breakfast.

The event is scheduled to follow the terminal’s ribbon-cutting and will provide a public opportunity to visit the airport and see the completed facility. No additional construction deadline or projected increase in airport activity was included in the approved report.

For Gallipolis, the ribbon-cutting marks the completion of a grant-supported capital project that updates an airport terminal dating to the 1960s. The new building adds a pilot shower and rotating beacon while supporting the airport’s stated role in receiving visitors and private-business aircraft.

The identification was confirmed July 17 by the Gallia County coroner, according to WSAZ reporting. Gallia County Sheriff Matt Champlin said the investigation remains active.

What authorities have confirmed

Cline was reported missing on June 17. The Ohio Attorney General’s missing-person record lists his age, his Gallipolis connection and his last-known location.

The remains were found July 13 during a search in a wooded area along Raccoon Road in Gallia County, near Cline’s last known location. The discovery and search details were reported by WOUB Public Media and WCHS/WCHV.

Regional reports said Gallia County deputies and the coroner were involved in the search and examination process. Those reports also referenced the Montgomery County Coroner’s involvement.

What remains unknown

Authorities have not publicly released a cause or manner of death. They also have not detailed the circumstances surrounding Cline’s disappearance or provided additional investigative findings.

The sheriff’s statement that the investigation remains active means the identification has not ended the authorities’ work. The confirmed facts at this stage are who was identified and where the remains were found—not how Cline died or whether a particular explanation has been established.

Public reports have not established foul play, an accident, suicide or any other cause. The missing-person record and recovery location do not, by themselves, provide a basis for drawing those conclusions.

What to watch next

Additional information will depend on future statements from the Gallia County Sheriff’s Office, the county coroner or other investigators. A follow-up report from CBS Pittsburgh likewise noted that authorities had not released the circumstances of the disappearance or further investigative details.

For Gallipolis-area residents, the case has moved from an active missing-person search to a confirmed identification, while the investigative questions surrounding Cline’s disappearance remain unresolved.

Sources

• WSAZ: Human remains identified as missing Gallia County man
• WOUB Public Media: Remains found during search in Gallia County
• Ohio Attorney General: Zachary Cline missing-person record
• WCHS/WCHV: Human remains found during Gallia County search