PRESS
The Brown County Press Sunday, June 28, 2015 • Volume 42 No. 47 Serving Brown County, Ohio since 1973
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www.browncountypress.com bcpress@frontier.com Phone (937) 444-3441 Fax (937) 444-2652
CMYK
CMYK
THE BROWN COUNTY
Community involvement needed in drug war BY Martha B. Jacob The Brown County Press Since its beginning in February this year, the Brown County Drug and Major Crime Task Force has continued to look for ways to keep the community informed on some of the things they can do as individuals to help in the fight against drugs. On Monday, June 22, members of the task force Officer Mike Dearing of the Mt. Orab Police Department and Mt. Orab Police Captain and commander of the task force, Josh Black, scheduled a special meeting at the New Harmony Lodge #435 in Mt. Orab. Approximately 30 people attended the meeting which began with an introduction of K-9 Officer Dearing who gave a demonstration with his dog Monthy. Officer Dearing had
placed a small bag of marijuana somewhere in the room where the meeting was held and allowed Monthy to do what he does best...sniff out the drugs. And that he did, in just a couple minutes. According to Dearing, Monthy is responsible for more than 400 drug busts since he joined the department in April of last year. Black stated that the Mt. Orab Police Department was able to purchase the K9 Unit through generous donations made by concerned citizens and businessess. Black presented a powerpoint on heroin and how devastating it’s impact has been in Brown County. “Most of the heroin found in our area comes from South America and Columbia,” Black said. “I believe the heroin problem escalated in our county after they shut down all those pill
mills in the Portsmouth area a few years ago. So when addicts could no longer buy these pills legally, they would usually steal them or find other illegal ways to get them.” Officer Black described in great detail the effects of using heroin and just how dangerous the drug is. He said that with the first time user of the drug there is about a 90% chance that they will try it again. Second time users are usually hooked on the drug. “We are seeing drug overdoses almost every day now,” Black said. “Just to give you some perspective, since the end of January, when the task force originated, we’ve indicted approximately 75 to 78 individuals on felony drug charges. “With that we’re probably looking at 150 to 160 different indictments this year.” Black said members of the Brown County Task Force work all over the county and sometimes with
other counties. “Everyone knows someone who has been directly or indirectly directed by the drug scene in this county,” Officer Black said. When asked how the average citizen could help in this fight against drugs, Black said, “People need to be keenly aware of their surroundings. If you see a house where people come and go all hours of the day or night, and only stay four or five minutes, then it’s highly likely that the occupants of that home are selling drugs.” Black continued, “People need to get involved with this problem and know what to look for when you suspect drug use. With this task force anyone, anywhere, anytime can call our number and remain anonymous.” “At the end of the day, “Officer Black said, “I want people to be aware and to know what’s going on around them. Sadly the person you suspect of doing drugs could be a friend, a
Martha B. Jacob/ THE BROWN COUNTY PRESS
Mt. Orab K-9 Officer Mike Dearing shows off his talented dog, Monthy during an informative meeting held in Mt. Orab. Dearing is one of the five members of the Brown County Drug Task Force.
neighbor, even your own child. It would be very difficult to report your own child. But in the end you could be saving that person’s life.”
He continued, “We may not be able to, (with one person’s phone call), close a case, but with every phone CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
Relay for Life raises over $9K for cancer research BY Martha B. Jacob The Brown County Press
Provided/THE BROWN COUNTY PRESS
These future John Deere drivers took vehicles for a test drive during the event.
Cahall Bros. holds ‘Day of Play’ BY Martha B. Jacob The Brown County Press Over 400 people from Brown County attended a ‘Day of Play’ sponsored by Cahall Bros., Inc. in Georgetown on June 20. And what a day it turned out to be. The predicted rain stopped fairly early in the
day, so the kids got to take part in all the activities. This year marked the third year for the event which seems to grower bigger every year. It is coordinated by Cahall representatives Amanda Layman and Beth Loudon. Dan Hodges, marketing director for Cahall’s said that
Provided/THE BROWN COUNTY PRESS
Emergency vehicles were on hand for all the children to inspect, ask questions about and enjoy.
the early rain didn’t bother the participants in the least. “What a fun day it turned out to be,” Hodges said. “There was something for every age kid, and it was all free. “Everyone especially enjoyed seeing the vehicles from the Georgetown Fire Department and the sherriff office.” The Brown County Sheriff’s Office also set up a special area at the event where parents could have their children fingerprinted and ask questions about other safety measures they could take to protect their children. Members of the Georgetown FFA and the Eastern School FFA were on hand CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
US 68 crash claims life CMYK
Press release The Brown County Press The Georgetown Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is currently investigat-
ing a two-vehicle fatal traffic crash. The crash occurred on June 19, 2015, at approximately 6:57 A.M. on US 68 at SR 125, Pleasant Town-
Index Classifieds....18, 19 Death Notices.......6 Legals ...........16, 17 Opinion .................4 Sports ............11-12 219 South High St. Mt. Orab, OH 45154 TYLER FAUL
ship, Brown County, Ohio. A 1997 Ford Taurus, operated by Travis E. Faul, age 18, of Winchester, Ohio was traveling northbound on US 68. A 2005 Chevrolet Colorado, operated by Brian Yoder, age 20, of Georgetown, Ohio was traveling southbound on US 68. The Ford Taurus turned left onto SR 125 and was struck by the Chevrolet Colorado. Travis Faul was flown to University Hospital Medical Center by Air Care for non-life threatening injuries. A rear seat passenger CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
The 2015 Brown County Relay for Life has come and gone, but donations can still be made to the American Cancer Society sponsored event up until August 30 this year. The Relay for Life raised over $9,300 so far this year, with the goal of $11,000 by the end of August. This years Relay for Life was held on Saturday, June 20, at the Georgetown High School gymnasium. It turned out to be a great place for the event with all the rain forecasted. “The event started at 11 a.m. and ended at 11 p.m.,” said Evonne Daugherty, one of the organizers of the event. “We were so happy to have Representative Doug Green open the day with some kind words about how important the fight against cancer really is. He thanked everyone for attending and welcomed them all He also sang God Bless America and offered a prayer.” Guest speaker at the event was Rick Sears who spoke about Hope Lodge which houses people free, who are receiving cancer treatments and have to stay
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Martha B. Jacob/THE BROWN COUNTY PRESS
Shown are just a few of the cancer survivors who attended the Relay for Life held in Georgetown on June 20.
near their hospital. A special flag ceremony was given by members of the VFW 9772 and the First Baptist Church of Seaman brought members of it’s Deaf Choir who signed a song for the crowd of nearly 70 people. “The first lap of the day was made by some of the cancer survivors who attended the relay,” Daugherty said. “It was an emotional yet exhilarating thing to watch as they walked solemnly around the gymnasium. Everyone there knew the challenges they had faced in their battle with the disease.” There was also a Caregiver’s Lap which was just as inspirational as the first lap by survivors. The survivors were served a dinner in their
honor and gifts were presented to each of them Tables were set up throughout the halls of the school and food and raffles were available at each of the tables. “There were all kinds of festivities all through the day and night,” Daugherty added. “There were all kinds of games taking place at any given time. “This relay represents the people from Brown County in their effort to raise money which goes towards finding a cure for cancer.” Daugherty said prayers were also given throughout the event for everyone in attendance and Kenny Sizemore gave a very emotional testimony about his journey with cancer, His wife Peggy
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Donated paintings brighten up county’s Chamber walls BY Leon Kratz Press Contributor Hardly anything positive can be said for the closing of Southwest Regional Medical Center, which left thousands of residents without access to long-term care and hundreds of medical professionals out of work when it shut its doors last September. Yet a silver lining still exists, and it adorns the hallways of the Brown County Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Krishna Surapaneni’s generous donation of 34 framed pieces of art, which previously livened up the walls of the hospital, were hung Wednesday, June 10 at the Chamber office in Georgetown. They vary from historical photographs of Brown County throughout the 19th and 20th cen-
turies, to landscape paintings of beautiful footbridges. Most of the collection includes enlarged prints of original photographs dating as far back as the 1800s, which were most likely taken by citizens and amateur photographers, and then catalogued in the Brown County Historical Society. “Sometime in the ‘60s or ‘70s, the Woman’s Auxiliary gave new life to these photographs and enlarged them on prints,” said Ned Lodwick, president of the Brown County Historical Society. “Soon after the Historical Society began, people started hanging pictures on the walls, and many of these were sent in and enlarged… Then they were placed in the hospital.”
Several works of art by James “Skip” Werline joined them in the 1990s, and there they stayed until last spring, when they were taken down as the hospital started liquidating its assets to cover unpaid bills. It was during this troubling ordeal that Mr. Lodwick had a pleasant surprise. “I got a call that Dr. Surapaneni wanted to offer the photographs to the historical society.” The only problem was, there was not much he could with them. “We didn’t have any wall space to show them,” Lodwick said. “We loaded them into my suburban and stored them stacked against a wall.” But one day soon after, Lodwick was struck by an CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
CMYK
BC Drug and Major Crime Task Force holds special meeting