$1.25
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2019
harrisonnewsherald.com
Child placement costs for 2018 reach $800,000 By JD LONG
...Workers are doing better work with families and we are trying to work with families instead of removing children.
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
CADIZ – The Child Welfare annual report for 2018 under Harrison County Department of Jobs & Family Services (HCDJ&FS) produced some stunning results as it was revealed by Assistant Director for HCDJ&FS, Deb Knight, that the cost for child placement reached a figure of just over $882,000, which comes to a little more than $35,000 a child. The exact figure sited was $882,256 of which 43 percent are “federal reimbursements. The other 57 percent were of “local dollars.” Knight said that three of the 25 children were shared costs with an agreement between HCDJ&FS, the Mental Health and Recovery Board and the Harrison
Deb Knight, Assistant Director HCDJ&FS County Juvenile Court. She said 22 children were reunified with seven granted custody to a relative, four were adopted and another four are waiting to be adopted. “We are doing a better job of reunifying children quicker,” she said. “We’re just doing a better job of it. Workers are doing better work with families and we are trying to work with families instead of removing children.” Other information Knight offered
were 422 reports of child abuse or neglect, which is the exact number of pinwheels placed on the courthouse steps last week in honor of it being Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month. Screened out reports totaled 119 with screened in reports coming to 134. Knight explained the two as what are actual cases of neglect and/or abuse versus a case that has not been substantiated. She said those cases are still placed in the system in case more
reports from the same source happen to surface. “Well, they are put into the system and they are used as history,” Knight explained further, “so if we would get subsequent reports that are similar to the screened out reports we can maybe gather information and screen in future reports.” Knight said of the 119 reports 22 percent were for sexual abuse, another 25 percent for physical abuse, 38 percent consisted of neglect, 6 percent were emotional maltreatment and an additional 9 percent for medical neglect. “So, we have a wide variety but the main issues that we get reports about are sexual abuse, physical abuse and neglect,” Knight told the board. More statistics provided revealed that
Better Than New
among drug abuse, 20 percent led the way for THC (marijuana), 18 percent opiate, alcohol and methamphetamine both totaled 14 percent and another 8 percent for cocaine. Knight added that in her comparison to 2017 opiates were actually much higher at 29 percent compared to 2018s 18 percent. For methamphetamines, the comparison was the opposite as there were 3 percent of cases in 2017 but rose to 14 last year. “We thought we were seeing an increase in meth reports and the statistics show that it is true,” Knight said. She also called the 8 percent figure for cocaine, “quite a bit of cocaine.” Knight also provided various reasons for children being removed from their
See COSTS PG. 2
Hopedale readies for summer, touts local business By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
HOPEDALE – Wednesday evening the Hopedale village council met and discussed several topics that will be taking center stage this summer. Some of the projects taking place are hydrant flushing, which is set for sometime in May. Also, crack sealing is scheduled for the second week of July. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is set for some preliminary work from July 8 through10 regarding the Ohio 151 project. The village also agreed to order 100 tons of salt for next winter. They felt it was better to be safe than short themselves in case they’re in need. Council member Ron Hawkins said he was told Scio used up 100 tons of salt this past winter but they use no grits for mixing in. Council member Willie Luther said out of the 75 tons they had they still have over 30 tons left in the bin. Hawkins suggested they could cut back if they wanted but without naming a figure, said there was grits leftover as well. It was understood that if they order a certain amount they are committed to taking all of it. Council member Don Jochims told council they need to get their salt out of the city garage where it is eating away at things. Other locations were discussed without any action taken. Council also passed two motions, one to bid out for cost on the new water storage tank and the other for pumps (three). Mayor Mike Pelegreen said the tank would be 220,000 gallons. Also, cleanup day for Hopedale was announced as May 11, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Baseball is thriving in Hopedale, according to Jochims who said there were 108 kids going out for the sport this year. Pelegreen said they have nine baseball teams now with three playing softball. In regards to local business in Hopedale, Hawkins wanted it known that council appreciates what Lou’s Famous Fish has done with the building they’re in. “And it looks very nice and we certainly appreciate that,” Hawkins stated. The new business on 418 Mill Street has been open for nearly two months now and is owned and operated by Tessa and Jonathan Stewart. Tessa said the sign for the front is being stored and will be up shortly as they are still renovating. She said they are due to close for a week fairly soon for kitchen work but said the closing date is not yet known, but it could be soon. Anyone interested in ordering can call: 740-937-2316.
Lady Justice is prepared to be hoisted up once more after year of missing in action. Nick Stepanovich works with his son Travis are in final preparations for the massive lift of the 400 pound lady, albeit well built and in shape again.
Lady Justice back in her rightful place By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
CADIZ – Absent since around this time last year, Lady Justice was finally put back in her rightful place. And even though the show went on without her inside the massive stone courthouse in Cadiz, she had every intention of coming back with a shiny new copper coat standing high and mighty above all of Cadiz. Coon Restoration and Nimen Sheetmetal’s (of Canton) Nick Stepanovich stepped in to defend her honor, which included the refurbishing, polishing and patching back together, including all those bullet holes. Yes, there really were bullet holes in Lady Justice as Stepanovich confirmed. His company did the patching and connecting all the parts whereas Coon Restoration did the polishing and refurbishing of the statue. Nick and his son Travis did the work and were on site Tuesday morning placing her back on top. The work actually took around four hours or more as it took eight bolts to fasten her base to the top of the dome with two workers hoisted up inside the base itself. Once that was finished the statue was then raised
HARRISON
NEWS-HERALD
up by a massive crane, which didn’t take long to set her in place. Nick Stepanovich said the base absorbed about four sheets of new metal at 3x10 feet. The statue itself weighed about 400 pounds and stands 7 ½ feet tall. Nick said they were finally given the statue to work on around February of this year. President of the Harrison County Genealogical Society, Sue Adams, provided a little background and dug up an interesting story on the first work performed on the statue. It was set in place back in 1895 and not until 1948 was it worked on. “Miss Justice,” as she was called actually lost her scales thirty years prior to the wind that caused her to sway on a March day in 1948. The swaying of the statue was noticeable enough that two men, who happened to “specialize in high altitude work” were passing by and noticed people staring up at the “gal” and offered their help for a fee not to exceed $485. What had happened was that pigeons had become a problem and people would shoot at them and unfortunately Lady Justice took enough abuse creating holes in her where water drained down and rusted parts of the base, causing her to list. So there she stands now in full compliment of her faculties, polished and shiny with scales and all.
Index Area: . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg. 2 Sports: . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 6 Classified . . . . . . . . . .Pg. 8 Crossword . . . . . . . . .Pg. 10 Events . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg. 10
harrisonnewsherald.com
OBITUARIES Gary R. Caldwell Bowerston, Ohio James Krupinski Steubenville, Ohio Lisa A. House Reynolds Cadiz, Ohio
Lou’s Famous Fish along Mill Street in Hopedale may be lacking in a few amenities but kitchen work and a brand new sign are on the way. Village council commended the new business at Wednesday’s council meeting.
Question of the week
Last week’s question
Next week’s question
Where do you see Harrison County’s economy in the next 5 years?
Do you exercise regularly?
GROWING 56% (10 VOTES) DECLINING 33% (6 VOTES) THE SAME 11% (2 VOTES)
Burton Martin Harrisville, Ohio
facebook.com/harrisonnewsherald
YES • NO
Vote@HarrisonNewsHerald.com newsroom@harrisonnewsherald.com