C o n t i n u i n g To P r o u d l y S e r v e C a r r o l l C o u n t y S i n c e 1 8 3 1 $1.00
Thursday, October 10, 2019
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U.S. Route 30 project moving forward By NANCY SCHAAR FPS Correspondent
Carroll County Commissioner Robert Wirkner brought the Board of Commissioners up to date on the project to make U.S. Route 30 a four-lane highway. Wirkner has been a member of RTIP (Regional Transportation Improvement Project) for several years. The goal of the committee has been to find support and funding to change U.S. Route 30 into a four lane highway. Carroll County is a rural area and does not have one inch of four land highway in it. Wirkner said the need for the committee is crucial because county growth is dependent on transportation through trucking and other modes of transportation. Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks met with this committee recently. After hearing about the need for the highway to encourage business development in the area, especially for gas and oil expansion, Marchbanks asked to see the U.S. Route 30 area for himself. Wirkner traveled with fellow RTIP members and Marchbanks and started where Route 30 begins. In the adjacent photo, Wirkner is shown with Marchbanks and members of the RTIP committee standing in front of the Monoca, Pennsylvania, refinery. Also accompanying the group were state engineers and members of the TRAC (Transportation Review Advisory Council). “The Director of Transportation is interested in details about the project. The group traveled from Monoca along Route 30 to the Deep Water Port in Wellsville on the Ohio River. Businesses in our area have expressed using deep water ports for exports to the Asian and China markets. To make this efficient, Route 30 needs completed, according to Wirkner. They also viewed the intermodal at Wellsville, West Virginia. An intermodal is an area where multiple types of transportation are used to ship goods such as train, aircraft, ships,
road vehicles and more. “The comments from Director Marchbanks and the TRAC committee are positive. They could see the need for infrastructure for this project,” said Wirkner. Commissioner Regula was recently in Washington, D. C. building support for an infrastructure grant. These federal dollars would make the project feasible. Route 30 will be completed in incremental steps. It would be a regular four lane interstate highway with on and off ramps, according to Wirkner. The next step for RTIP is to seek help from ODOT. “I see this as the most important time for this project. It’s the best I’ve seen in 30 years,” stated Columbiana County Engineer Bert Dawson. Dawson has been trying to make the Route 30 improvement project happen for the last 30 years. The RTIP committee is hopeful that the group from ODOT was impressed enough by what they viewed to give this area a hand in financing the project. “This is not a pipe dream. This is a serious project. We need to get this done,” continued Wirkner.
Members of the RTIP (Regional Transportation Improvement Program) for the U.S. Route 30 project are (from left) Carroll County Commissioner Robert Wirkner, Columbiana County Engineer Bert Dawson, Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks, Senator Kirk Schuring, and Stark County Commissioner Richard Regula.
Health Dept. reports severe pulmonary disease associated with E-cigarettes, vaping
Lee charged with felonies after indictment, remains in jail
Officials at the Carroll County General Health District have received notice from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) that The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and multiple states are investigating the occurrence of severe pulmonary disease among people who report vaping. As of Sept. 26, state and local public health officials in Ohio have confirmed 21 cases of vaping-related severe pulmonary illness and are investigating an additional 19 reports of illness among patients experiencing serious respiratory symptoms following e-cigarette or vaping product use. Multiple states across the country have reported clusters of patients experiencing severe respiratory disease after using e-cigarette or vapor products. As of Sept. 26, 805 cases have been reported across 46 states and one U.S. territory. Twelve deaths have been confirmed in 10 states. E-cigarettes typically contain nicotine, most also contain flavorings and other chemicals, and some may contain marijuana or other substances. They are known by many different names and come in many shapes, sizes and device types. Devices may be referred to as e-cigs, vapes, e-hookahs, vape pens, mods, tanks, or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). Some e-cigarette devices resemble other tobacco products such as cigarettes; some resemble ordinary household items, such as USB flash drives, pens, and flashlights; and others have unique shapes. Use of e-cigarettes is sometimes referred to as “vaping” or “juuling.” The vaping liquid is contained in a pod. A single Juul pod has the nicotine equivalent of 20 cigarettes. E-cigarettes used for dabbing are sometimes called “dab” pens. E-cigarettes can contain harmful or potentially harmful substances, including nicotine, heavy metals (e.g.,
By NANCY SCHAAR FPS Correspondent
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lead), volatile organic compounds, and cancer-causing chemicals. Additionally, some e-cigarette products are used to deliver illicit substances; may be acquired from unknown or unauthorized (i.e., “street”) sources; and may be modified for uses that could increase their potential for harm to the user. Youth, young adults, pregnant women, as well as adults who do not currently use tobacco products should not use e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes containing nicotine have the potential to help some individual adult smokers reduce their use of and transition away from cigarettes. However, e-cigarettes are not currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a quit smoking aid, and the available science is inconclusive on whether e-cigarettes are effective for quitting smoking. Patients have reported vaping in the weeks to months prior to illness. Many patients have reported using THC and nicotine. The latest findings from the national investigation into lung injuries associated with e-cigarette use, or vaping, suggest products containing THC play a role in the outbreak. The investigation is ongoing. No specific product has been identified by all cases, nor has any product been conclusively linked to this clinical syndrome. Respiratory symptoms include: - Cough - Shortness of breath - Fatigue Other symptoms may include: - Fever - Anorexia - Pleuritic chest pain - Nausea - Abdominal pain - Diarrhea Recommendations for the Public: 1. While this investigation is ongo-
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ing, if you are concerned about these specific health risks, consider refraining from using e-cigarette products. 2. Regardless of the ongoing investigation, anyone who uses e-cigarette products should not buy these products off the street (e.g., e-cigarette products with THC, other cannabinoids) and should not modify e-cigarette products or add any substances to these products that are not intended by the manufacturer. 3. Regardless of the ongoing investigation, e-cigarette products should not be used by youth, young adults, pregnant women, as well as adults who do not currently use tobacco products. If you use e-cigarette products, monitor yourself for symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, chest pain) and promptly seek medical attention if you have concerns about your health. CDC and FDA will continue to advise and alert the public as more information becomes available. 4. Adult smokers who are attempting to quit should use evidence-based treatments, including counseling and FDA-approved medications. If you need help quitting tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, contact your doctor. 5. If you are concerned about harmful effects from e-cigarette products, call your local poison control center at: 1-800-222-1222. 6. We encourage the public to submit detailed reports of any unexpected tobacco or e-cigarette-related health or product issues to the FDA via the online Safety Reporting Portal: https://www.safetyreporting.hhs.gov. For more information, please contact Caitlin Mathews, Tobacco Treatment Specialist, at the Carroll Country General Health District at 330-627-4866, ext. 1559, or visit the Carroll County General Health District website at https://www.carroll-lhd.org/.
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Gary Lee was scheduled to be released from the Carroll County jail Thursday, October 3, but the Grand Jury met Wednesday, October 2, and indicted Lee on five felony indictments. They were Felony 3 importuning, Felony 2 pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor and Felony 3, pandering obscenity involving a minor. Lee was arrested in March following an undercover investigation by the sheriff’s office. An undercover deputy sheriff was aboard a school bus and more officers were in a vehicle following the bus in early March. On three separate occasions Lee was seen exposing himself to a young girl as she got off the school bus at her home. Lee had done this numerous times while standing near his garage when the school bus brought her home. Lee pleaded not guilty at first but changed that plea to guilty at the end of March. Lee also waived his constitutional rights. He has remained in the county jail since his initial arrest on March 8. Carroll County Prosecutor Steve Barnett had been criticized for not filing felony charges in March against Lee but the evidence presented at that time left him only able to file misdemeanor charges against Lee. With the lesser charges, Lee was not even required to register as a sex offender when released. Lee had been accused by a neighbor for months for flashing his young daughter as she got off the school bus. He has remained in jail serving three counts of public indecency. Carroll County Sheriff Dale Williams said that new evidence was brought forth and more information and details about Lee’s behavior was revealed
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GARY LEE following a continuing investigation by his department. Searching the confiscated electronic devices Lee used, deputies were able to present the new evidence to the grand jury resulting in the five felony indictments. Lee allegedly tried to solicit sex from a minor which resulted in the importuning charge, according to Williams. Williams was satisfied with the new charges brought against Lee. He said that Lee would be required to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison if found guilty of the additional felony charges. “We do our best to keep all residents of Carroll County, especially the children, safe in every way that we can. This department works hard. And we did not give up until all possible evidence had been founded,” said Williams. Lee remains in the Carroll County jail.
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