Page 3: Community

New report shows life-saving benefits of COVID-19 vaccines

COLUMBUS—The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a report showing that COVID-19 vaccinations in Ohio may have helped prevent roughly 13,000 new COVID-19 infections, 5,300 hospitalizations, and 1,800 deaths among seniors in Ohio during the first five months of 2021. The study, conducted by researchers with HHS’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, reviewed associations between Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries and the proportion of the fully vaccinated population at the county level between January and May 2021. The study also found that nationally, vaccinations were linked to a reduction of approximately 265,000 COVID-19 infections, 107,000 hospitalizations, and 39,000 deaths among Medicare beneficiaries between January and May 2021.

“This report further puts numbers to something I have long said: ‘Vaccines save lives,’” explained Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA. “COVID-19 has taken the lives of more than 22,000 Ohioans, has hospitalized more than 74,000, and has caused more than 1.4 million infections. The remarkable COVID-19 vaccines can help prevent severe illness and death from COVID-19 and will prevent dangerous variants from taking hold.”

Ohio data shows that of those hospitalized with COVID-19 since January 2021, more than 96% were not reported to be fully vaccinated.

“Our vaccination goals have remained consistent: save lives and slow the spread by protecting Ohio’s most vulnerable individuals,” said Ursel J. McElroy, director of the Ohio Department of Aging. “Understanding there would be potential barriers to getting vaccinated, we worked with partners to remove those barriers, inform people about the vaccine, and make the vaccine accessible.”

Governor DeWine prioritized vaccination of vulnerable Ohioans: those in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, state psychiatric hospitals, veterans homes, and congregate care settings for people with developmental disabilities. Ohio also moved quickly and was one of the first states in the country to put in place a vaccine maintenance program for long-term care settings to ensure every staff member and resident has a continuous opportunity to get vaccinated.

While today’s report shows the clear benefit of COVID-19 vaccines for older Ohioans, it remains critically important for those of all eligible ages to choose to be vaccinated. Ohio recently launched Ohio Vax-2-School, incentivizing Ohioans aged 12- 25 who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 to enter to win one of 150, $10,000 scholarships, or one of five, $100,000 grand prize scholarships.

The scholarships can be used at an Ohio college, university, technical/trade school, or career program of the winner’s choice. Pending the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s granting of an emergency use authorization (for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5- to 11-year olds, the program will expand to allow parents and guardians to enter on behalf of children as young as 5. Eligible Ohioans can enter online now at www.ohiovax2school.com or by phone at 1-833-427-5634.

“If you haven’t yet been vaccinated, talk to your doctor to get the facts. COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and are available at no cost. Choosing to be vaccinated could keep you out of the hospital and save your life,” Dr. Vanderhoff said. The HHS report is available at https://aspe.hhs.gov/reports/covid- 19-vaccination-rates-outcomes.

Board of Elections passes emergency resolutions after ballot documentation snafu

BY JD LONG (jim@harrisonnewsherald.com)

CADIZ—The Harrison County Board of Elections passed two emergency resolutions Wednesday to place Hopedale’s tax levy renewal and Green Township’s cemetery levy on the November ballot. Making the process more complicated, the two issues missed their deadline; when their corresponding resolutions were delivered — supposedly to the building housing the Board of Elections — the individual who signed for the document containing the official resolutions did not submit them to the Board, according to director Dion Troiano.

The individual who received the documents did not sign legibly and did not print their signed name. Troiano said they have no idea what happened to the signed and delivered document because they never received it. According to Troiano, the issue was discovered when Hopedale treasurer Denise Geanangel and Green Township trustee James Ward inquired about the ballot issue.

“Somebody signed for it March 23,” Troiano said of the documents from Hopedale and Green Township. However, he stated that neither he nor anyone in the office of the BOE signed that tracking receipt.

“We do not know who signed for it. We do not recognize the signature,” Troiano explained. “And we were open by appointment only, so yeah, we don’t know who signed for it, but whoever signed for it did not give it to us,” he said on the document’s March delivery.

“I don’t remember ever seeing an envelope with any kind of green tracking stamp, barcode, number, anything like that, that the U.S. Post Office would have put on it,” Troiano continued. No one else in the Board of Elections office recalled seeing the package, either.

“We cannot find it in this office or any of the filing cabinets we have that are ours,” he said, stating it could have been someone in other parts of the building or even next door. But of the people they have asked, no one has been able to identify the signature.

Troiano said that when the Board contacted the Ohio Secretary of State’s legal team, they decided it should not be on the ballot because of the missed deadline. But Troiano said Director of Elections Amanda Grandjean placed the decision back onto the Harrison County Board of Elections. Now both issues will be on the November ballot.

Lakeland improvements setting school up for 2022 growth

BY JD LONG (jim@harrisonnewsherald.com)

FREEPORT—The Lakeland Academy has experienced vast improvements over the past year: new flooring, a complete paint job, and a more professional look. President James Fleming stated that some of their COVID funds were used to pull up the old carpet and install a new vinyl floor. And the Academy has purchased the lot between the school and the old insurance building on Main Street. Fleming said they hope to extend the playground with more fencing in the future.

Tuesday, Lakeland gathered for their October meeting and heard glowing reports from Joyce Lewis of Lake Erie West’s (the school’s sponsor) Educational Service Center. The financial statements recorded over $51,000 for their month-to-date receipt

and expenditures at $89,000. Treasurer Ethan Tice stated that it left them with a fund balance of $133,596.89. Their cash on hand showed 85 days, meaning that’s how many days the Academy could operate with no income. Tice said it was lower than previously reported but also up from several years ago.

Tice stated that government funds spent totaled just over $46,400, which went toward supplies and tables for their new preschool. Tice reported 81 current students, also up from the past few years.

For the five-year forecast, Tice predicted 10% growth for fiscal 2022, with a “big part” of it coming from preschool. For 2023 through 2026, Tice predicted a 3% growth rate, stating it was a “reasonable” estimate that could be met. The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 9.

MWCD releases drawdown schedule

NEW PHILADELPHIA—As part of the flood risk management operation of the reservoirs and dams in the Muskingum River Watershed, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducts annual temporary drawdown of the normal pool elevation of the lake levels. The drawdown allows for additional flood storage capacity need during the winter thaw and spring rains. Drawdown will begin in early November, and the return to normal pool elevation will initiate in February; normal pool elevations will be obtained in time for the summer recreation season.

The temporary 2021–2022 drawdown lake levels include Atwood to be drawn down 8 feet; Charles Mill, 5 feet; Clendening, 5 feet; Leesville, 8.75 feet; Piedmont, 5 feet; Pleasant Hill, 6 feet; and Seneca and Tappan 8 feet each. All reservoirs are to be refilled by March 15, 2022.

Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District shorelines to be addressed this winter

Shoreline projects planned for the winter of 2021–2022 include:

Seneca Lake: 500-foot-long concrete block seawall at the Seneca Lake Marina. This work is being done in conjunction with the Master Plan’s Marina deck replacement and ADA access project.

Charles Mill Lake: 1,800-foot-long project at the Yacht Point Cottage Area and a 550-footlong project in the Sites Lake Cottage Area off Pike Drive.

Atwood Lake: 450-foot-long project along Berwyn Drive in the Pines Cottage Area, 600-foot-long project along Menlo Drive in the Pines Cottage Area, and 400-foot-long project at the Park Camp Area 1 (right next to the Marina).

Suspect arrested after 110-mph chase

BY JD LONG (jim@harrisonnewsherald.com)

CADIZ—Early Monday morning, Cadiz Police received a report of a drunk driver on Route 9 near Industrial Park Road. When police caught up to the motorist, he sped up and was clocked at 110 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone. Lt. Ron Carter and officer Tim Skinner were on the chase, witnessing the 26-year-old Anthony Stephen of West Virginia repeatedly swerving across the road.

Stephen’s vehicle was cut off and finally stopped, but he refused to exit the vehicle, forcing the officers to draw their weapons. As a result, the road was shut down, but Stephen relented and surrendered minutes later.

Carter said Stephen tested at .168, well over the legal limit. According to Carter, Stephen is being charged with speeding, reckless driving, left of center, no seat belt, and passing a double yellow line.

Hopedale talks new building needs, water tank costs

BY JD LONG (jim@harrisonnewsherald.com)

HOPEDALE—One of Hopedale’s village buildings is in disrepair, with downspouts, the roof, and gutters needing attention. At Wednesday’s meeting, mayor Mike Pelegreen told the council that a metal roof would need to be installed, only the color was yet to be decided.

Pelegreen said the chimney would also need to be removed, with repairs coming to $20,900. A shingled roof would eliminate $2,000 from the cost, though. He added that the repairs could be done quickly and that the tornado damage has mostly been cleaned up. The council agreed to go with a metal roof, and the motion was approved.

Pelegreen talked about a tour he took of Hopedale and other villages and their water systems in preparation for their own project. He also spoke about finances and stated that the over $4 million was not affordable for the village’s water tanks. He said the range they were looking at now covered $2.7 to $3.1 million.

HALLOWEEN DATES AND TIMES

Cadiz: Oct. 30 from 4-6 p.m.

Scio: Oct. 30 from 3-6 p.m.

Tippecanoe: Oct. 30 “Trunk or Treat” at firehouse/time TBA

Jewett: From Oct. 31 from 4-6 p.m.

Adena: From Oct. 31 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Hopedale: Oct. 31 from 4-6 p.m.

New Athens: Oct. 31 from 5-6:30 p.m.

Deersville: TBA Freeport: Oct. 29 from 5-6:30 p.m.

Bowerston: Oct. 31 from 4-6 p.m.