MARTINS FERRY — Every week Paul Herring drives around and puts up fresh posters on utility poles to let people know that his brother, Joey Herring, still is missing.

On the evening of Jan. 9, Joey Herring was pouring pop into cups during a birthday party for his son at his Broadway Street home in Martins Ferry, according to family members. He set down a 2-liter bottle and walked out the door. He never came back.

“I don’t know if he was getting air. A long time ago he was mixed up with the wrong people. His wife was sick. She just passed away recently,” Paul Herring said. “I don’t think it had to do with drugs or anything. I don’t know what happened. I wish I did.”

Paul Herring, a Tiltonsville resident, said he learned of his brother’s vanishing the next morning when he arrived at Joey’s home to pick him up for work at about 8 a.m. Paul Herring said he recently started a new business and his brother was excited about having a new job.

Herring noted that although his brother previously had drug problems, during the past couple years he had been getting his life back on track. He loved spending time with his children, his brother said. Waiting for him to come back home are three younger children and a step-child who is a teenager, as well as two other teens from another past relationship.

“He was a family person and he loved being around his kids. He loved being outdoors and fishing,” Paul Herring said. “During the last few years I got away from the family — they had a lot of troubles. Recently I started talking with them again. Paul was with his kids always. … I just want him to come home. I don’t care if he needs help — we can help. His kids need him.”

Paul Herring said his mother has temporary custody of Joey Herring’s children until he is found.

Paul Herring noted he and his brother grew up mostly in Martins Ferry. Joey Herring spent his last two years of high school at Buckeye Local, where he graduated in 1999.

The Martins Ferry Police Department is investigating the case and can be reached at 740-633-2121. Joey Herring has dark hair, a mustache and a goatee. He is 5 feet 8 inches tall with a thin build and no distinguishing marks on his body.

Paul Herring said as far as he knows, there has only been one call related to someone possibly spotting Joey Herring. A man called the Herrings’ mother last month and claimed he had seen Joey Herring in Bellaire the Sunday of his wife’s funeral. The man noted at that time that he did not realize who Herring was. Paul Herring said he doesn’t know if the man’s story was true, and that the man had said he would contact the Bellaire police about seeing the missing man.