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, April 30, 2020
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Carroll County records its first COVID-19 death By NANCY SCHAAR FPS Correspondent Carroll County Health Department has confirmed the first death in the county from COVID- 19. The 87-year-old woman died Monday, April 20. The patient had resided at Centreville Village prior to being admitted to a Canton hospital for surgery in early February. She was tranferred on Feb. 28 to Carroll Health Care Center for rehabilitation. Once her rehabilitation treatments were finished, Carroll Health Care Center’s medical director evaluated the patient before discharging her, according to Carroll Health Care Director Stacy Howell. “She was cleared by the physician to be released. The physician did his due diligence and followed all protocols. If anything had suggested she had symp-
toms of the virus, she would not have been transported,” stated Howell. “The patient was returned to Centreville when her rehab term was finished at Carroll Health Care Center. She became symptomatic after her return to Centreville. She was diagnosed at a hospital on a Saturday (April 18) and unfortunately died the following Monday (April 20),” stated Carroll County Health Department Director of Nursing Kelly Engelhart. Engelhart said, prior to being released back to her home at Centreville, the woman had a chest x-ray and a “respiratory panel” at Carroll Health Care Center. She noted the woman did not have a fever during her physical exam and was not tested for the coronavirus because she did not exhibit any symptoms at the time. The Free Press Standard has been told that it is not standard procedure for patients to be given chest x-rays or a “respiratory panel” at Carroll Health Care Center prior to being discharged, but “due to
the respiratory issues of COVID,” the patient had both. “We are following all the directives from the Center for Disease Control, the Ohio Department of Health and our local health department since this began about March 11,” explained Howell. Carroll Health Care Center has been closed to any visitors since March 11 and will remain that way until health officials say it’s safe to open the facility to family members and friends of residents. The health department is now monitoring 58 people related to the case. “We are deeply saddened by this loss in our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this individual” said County Health Commissioner, Wendy Gotschall. “We are continuing to see more prev-
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SAVE22 Hike is postponed until September SAVE22’s fifth annual Hike for Veteran Suicide Awareness scheduled for Saturday, May 2, has been postponed until Saturday, Sept. 26, because of the pandemic and restrictions involving large gatherings. The event draws nearly 500 people each year to Carrollton as they hike through town raising awareness of veteran suicides. A concert by Sailor Jerri had been planned Friday, May 1, at Bluebird Ampitheatre to kick off the festivities. It has also been rescheduled for Friday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. For more information, see save22.vet.
FPS File Photo / Kimberly Lewis
SAVE22’s Hike for Veteran Suicide Awareness has been postponed until Sept. 26 because of the pandemic and restrictions involving large gatherings.
24% turned out to cast votes by the April 28 deadline. The total included 2,790 Republicans, 1,434 Democrats and 74 Independents. Board of Election officials said there were 49 provisional ballots sent out
and 35 returned, which are not included in the unofficial count. The official canvass of votes cast will be held at the board’s next regular scheduled meeting Monday, May 11 at 9 a.m. at the Board of Elections office.
Commissioners look to cut expenses By NANCY SCHAAR FPS Correspondent During the board’s meeting on Monday, April 27, Commissioner Bob Wirkner announced that a Leadership Meeting will be held on Friday, May 1, in order to discuss possible lay-offs, reduction of work hours and questions regarding health insurance coverage. Wirkner said that commissioners have asked elected officials and department heads to reduce their budgets by 10% by May 1. Wirkner said he hopes the stimulus money will soon reach local governments, but has been told that to receive the latest round of stimulus money requires a population of 500,000 or more. “We need to ensure our county financ-
es are stable. Every dollar we save now will help us stay stable. A county that is stable is one that can provide essential service for everyone,” said Wirkner. He said commissioners will re-evaluate the financial situation in August. Emergency Management Agency Director Tom Cottis reported on the rainy forecast for the coming week. “The Conotton and Sandy Creeks are both full to the banks. We are expected to have a wet week with rain on Tuesday evening, also on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday,” said Cottis. He said that the county will probably see the creeks at their limits with this much rainfall predicted. Cottis also reported that the county health department has received personal protective equipment (PPE) and are working to meet the needs of longterm care facilities, law enforcement and other responders. Another shipment is expected this week.
Cottis said the Tobin Center has received the PPE they had requested. Wirkner said he has learned from 911 Coordinator Captain Cheryl Keyser that the county will most likely receive the grant for Text to 911 that will require a $10,000 match. Wirkner will ask the Technical Services Advisory Committee and the Planning Committee if 911 funds can be used as a match. Wirkner advised that he had met with the dog warden on Friday, April 24, to discuss the dog pound budget. Warden Josh Long said that his budget is currently behind in anticipated revenue. Several projects and planned expenditures were put on hold until the financial situation in the county improves. In other business commissioners: - RECEIVED the dog pound report with three impounded, one adopted out, two redeemed, none destroyed and no citations were issued for having no license or running at large.
COVID-19 by the Numbers These statistics are as of presstime Tuesday, April 30. Ohio - 16,128 confirmed cases; 16,769 total; 3,340 hospitalized (1,004ICU admissions); and 799 deaths. Median age is 51. Carroll County - 19 total cases; 16 confirmed cases in Augusta (1), Brown (2), Center (4), Harrison (3), Loudon (1), Monroe (1) and Rose (4) townships; 3 probable cases (l each in Center, Loudon and Rose townships); 6 hospitalized; and 1 death. 13 Of those cases, there were 4 that are 80 or older (1 hospitalized, 1 death); 2 that are 0-79; 4 that are 60-69 (4 hospitalized); 4 that are 50-59; 3 that is 30-39 (1 hospitalized); 1 that is 2029 and 1 that is 0-19. Nine are females and 10 are males.
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Democratic Primary
Representative to Congress (6th District) √ Shawna Roberts Justice of the Supreme Court (full term commencing Jan. 1, 2021) √ John P. O’Donnell Justice of the Supreme Court (full term commencing Jan. 2, 2021) √ Jennifer Brunner Judge of the Court of Appeals (7th District – full term commencing Feb. 9, 2021) No candidate Judge of the Court of Appeals (7th District – full term commencing Feb. 10, 2021) √ Cheryl L. Waite State Senator (30th District) √ Michael Fletcher State Representative (95th District) No candidate Judge of the (Carroll County) Court of Common Pleas (Probate/Juvenile
Division – full term commencing Feb. 9, 2021) No candidate County Commissioner (full term commencing Jan. 2, 2021) No candidate County Commissioner (full term commencing Jan. 3, 2021) √ Thomas R. White 1,157 Prosecuting Attorney No candidate Clerk of Court of Common Pleas √ William R. Wohlwend 1,210 Sheriff √ Dale R. Williams 1,243 County Recorder No candidate County Treasurer No candidate County Engineer No candidate Coroner No candidate
Republican Primary
24% of voters turn out for primary Despite the delay in the Primary election, nearly a quarter of the 17,763 registered voters in Carroll County exercised their voting privilege. According to the Carroll County Board of Elections, a total of 4,298 or
Primary Election Unofficial Results
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Columbiana County - 235 confirmed cases; 93 hospitalized; and 21 deaths. Jefferson County - 42 confirmed cases; 12 hospitalized; and 1 death. Harrison County - 4 confirmed cases; 1 hospitalized; and 0 deaths. Stark County - 324 confirmed cases; 77 hospitalized; and 36 deaths. Tuscarawas County - 59 confirmed cases; 11 hospitalized; and 0 deaths. It is now being recommended for residents to wear masks when they are out in the public or in stores. For more information, please see coronavirus.ohio.gov or carroll-lhd.org.
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Representative to Congress (6th District) √ Bill Johnson Kenneth Morgan Justice of the Supreme Court (full term commencing Jan. 1, 2021) √ Sharon L. Kennedy. Judge of the Supreme Court (full term commencing Jan. 2, 2021) √ Judi French Judge of the Court of Appeals (7th District – full term commencing Jan. 2, 2021) √ Carol Ann Robb Judge of the Court of Appeals (7th District – full terming commencing Feb. 10, 2021) No candidate Member of State Central Committee, Man (30th District) √ Jim Carnes 2,194 Member of State Central Committee, Woman (30th District) √ LeeAnn Johnson 2,195 State Senator (30th District) √ Frank Hoagland State Representative (95th District) √ Don Jones
Judge of (Carroll County) Court of Common Pleas Probate/Juvenile Division – term commencing Feb. 9, 2021) √ Sean R. H. Smith 2,380 County Commissioner (full term commencing Jan. 2, 2021) √ Robert E. Wirkner 2,242 County Commissioner (full term commencing Jan. 3, 2021) Donald E. Leggett II 1,257 √ Christopher R. Modranski 1,402 Prosecuting Attorney √ Steven D. Barnett 2,245 Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas No candidate Sheriff No candidate County Recorder √ Patricia J. Oyer 2,389 County Treasurer √ Jeff Yeager 2,433 County Engineer √ Brian J. Wise 2,326 Coroner √ Mandal B. Haas 2,422
Issues - B&M Joint Ambulance District – A 0.8-mill replacement tax levy for five years beginning in the 2020 tax year for providing ambulance service, medical service or both within the B&M Joint Ambulance District. For 438 Against 375 - Southern Local School District – An additional 2.25-mill tax levy for five years for permanent improvements within the school district. For 449 Against 358 - Sandy Creek Joint Fire District - An additional 3-mill tax for the purpose of providing and maintaining mechanical resuscitators, buildings and sites, for establishment and maintenance of lines of fire-alarm communications, for the payment of firefighting companies or permanent, part-time, or volunteer firefighting, emergency medical service, administrative or communications personnel to operate the same, including the payment of any employer contributions required for such personnel under section 145.48 or 742.34 of the Revised Code, for the purchase of am-
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bulance equipment, for the provision of ambulance, paramedic, or other emergency medical services, operated by a fire department or firefighting company, or for the payment of other related costs for five years, commencing in 2020, first due in calendar year 2021. For 320 Against 346 Stark Co. results were unavailable. Local Liquor Options - Local Liquor Option for the sale of beer, wine and mixed beverages and spirituous liquor be permitted by Leesville South Fork Marina LLC, doing business as Leesville South Fork Marina, an applicant for a D1, D-2 and D-3 liquor permits, who are engaged in the business of operating a marina restaurant at 4131 Deer Rd. SW, Bowerston, in Orange Twp. precinct. For 144 Against 73 - Local Liquor Option for Sunday sales of wine and mixed beverages and spirituous liquor between the hours of 10 a.m. and midnight by Leesville South Fork Marina. For 120 Against 98
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