News Briefs
State Senator John Eklund, R-Munson Township, has been tapped by Senate President Keith Faber, R-Celina, to serve as chairman of…
Eklund to Chair Senate Committee
State Senator John Eklund, R-Munson Township, has been tapped by Senate President Keith Faber, R-Celina, to serve as chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee for the 130th General Assembly.
Eklund also will serve as vice chairman of the Commerce & Labor Committee.
Both committees were established as separate panels as part of the Senate Committee restructuring that Faber announced earlier this month.
“I am honored to have been selected to head this important committee,” Eklund said. “While we have taken steps in recent years to reform our criminal justice system, keeping our families and communities safe remains a top priority for my colleagues and I in the Senate.
“In my role as chairman, I hope to work collaboratively with the law enforcement and legal community on policies that will protect Ohioans while giving those who have served their time a path back to the workforce and society.”
In addition, Eklund was appointed to the Energy & Natural Resources Committee, the Public Utilities Committee, the Civil Justice Committee, the Ways & Means Committee, and the Finance Subcommittee on General Government.
Eklund was appointed to the Ohio Senate in 2011 and was sworn in last week for his first full term in the Senate.
Opiate Addiction DVDs Offered
A DVD of a panel discussion addressing rising opiate addiction rates in Geauga County is available for loan in all Geauga County Public Library locations.
Newbury Schools Auditorium hosted the Dec. 3 event that included civic leaders, educators, law enforcement officials, physicians, a recovering addict and a parent.
Monica Robins of WKYC Channel 3 moderated the Leadership Geauga sponsored discussion.
Geauga TV will be airing the discussion and is providing the DVDs to all Geauga County Public Library system locations for free.
Opiate addiction in Geauga County has reached alarming levels, according to members of the panel.
In the past 26 months, 50 deaths in the county have been attributed to overdoses of heroin or opiates. Heroin has escalated in popularity among middle- and high-school students because of its low price and wide availability.
“This is a serious issue,” said Deborah O’Connor, director of Geauga County Public Library. “We encourage everyone to inform themselves of the risks and consequences of drug use. These DVDs share this information and may be convenient for people who live outside of G-TV’s viewing area. We would like to thank G-TV for recording the discussion and providing the DVDs.”
Farmers’ Market Meeting Scheduled
The Geauga Fresh Farmers’ Market will hold its 2013 organizational meeting Feb. 9 at the OSU Extension office in the Patterson Center on the Geauga County Fairgrounds.
The meeting will start at 9 a.m. and refreshments will be served.
Those interested in participating in the market this year are invited to attend. There will be a presentation by the board, information on marketing and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and applications for 2013 will be available.
The Geauga Fresh Farmers’ Market is a producer-only market — a market that allows farmers and other producers to sell directly to the customers to help support a farm economy in Geauga County.
The market is looking for producers and farmers of produce, meats and fruits, wholesale or retail, artisanal breads, crackers, and prepared foods for its 2013 season.
The Geauga Fresh Farmers’ Market will start its 12th season in South Russell Village at the corner of Route 306 and Bell Street.
The market will be open from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, rain or shine, from early May until mid-October.
For more information, call Market Manager Cheryl Hammon at 440-474-9885.
Joyce To Co-Chair Nursing Caucus
Rep. David P. Joyce (OH-14) announced Tuesday he will serve as co-chair to the House Nursing Caucus for the 113th Con-gress.
His wife, Kelly, has been an RN at University Hospi-tals Geauga Medical Center for 22 years.
“I’m thrilled to announce that I will co-chair the bipartisan House Nursing Caucus along with Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA). Our district has several world-class health care and research facilities including Summa, The University of Akron polymer program, Cleveland Clinic, Case and University Hospitals and it’s crucial that these institutions have a voice in Washington,” Joyce said.
The congressman added, “The nursing profession is especially dear to my family, as my wife Kelly has been an RN at UH Geauga for the last 22 years and we’ve seen firsthand the critical role nurses play in the lives of their patients and patients’ families. I look forward to co-chairing this important caucus and working with my colleagues to address the needs of the nursing community.”
The House Nursing Caucus will meet on a regular basis to discuss issues related to the nursing profession and help develop ideas and solutions to any challenges facing nursing professionals.
Chardon Committee Volunteers Needed
The City of Chardon has openings on its Charter Review Committee.
To be eligible to serve, an individual must be a registered voter and a resident of the City of Chardon.
Anyone interested in serving on the committee should submit a letter of interest to: Clerk of Council, Amy Day, 111 Water St., Chardon, OH 44024.
Tax Bills Mailed
More than 30,000 tax bills hit the mail last Friday and should be delivered throughout the county no later than Jan. 18, according to the Geauga County Treasurer’s Office.
“Though our goal is always to have the bills arrive the day after Christmas, having so many joint tax districts with Lake and Cuyahoga counties make that goal nearly impossible,” Treasurer Chris Hitchcock said.
Taxpayers who have not received their tax bills by Jan. 18 are asked to contact the county treasury at 440-279-2000.
Due to an outside vendor programming error, the tax bills were mailed containing an error in the percentage of distributions, Hitchcock said.
“My expectation is to be nothing less than 100 percent accurate and the auditor’s office has assured me they will correct the error so that it will not happen again,” he added. “As the amount due is correct, replacement bills will not be sent.”
Those wishing to review their correct tax distribution information in detail should visit the county website at www.co.geauga.oh.us to use Access Geauga.
The Treasurer’s Office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
It will also be open Saturday, Feb. 9 from 9 a.m. to noon and Tuesday, Feb. 12 until 6 p.m.
Tax bills are due Wednesday, Feb. 13. A secure lock box is also available outside the treasury on Chardon Square 24 hours a day.
