Commish hear EMS concerns

By Cornelia Grace Harrison News-Herald Reporter

— The Harri -

CADIZ son County commissioners met for their regular weekly meeting on May 31 with all commissioners in attendance.

The meeting began with Department of Job and Family Services Director Deb Knight bringing an agreement regarding a drug use grant. “This is a memorandum of understanding between DJFS and Coleman Health Services,” she said. “This for our START Program, which is a program we’ve been trying to launch for some time. This is to address the issues some of our families are having with drug use. This is just one piece of that program.

The MOU is to highlight the areas that Coleman will provide for us in the way of assessments and counseling services for our families that we refer.”

She explained there’s also training that goes into the program and the MOU will allow workers to be reimbursed for their non-billable time.

The second item is a Title XX plan that is required to be on file. It is rewritten every year and, this year, DJFS has added several new services, including case management for adult services and several employment services.

The commissioners moved on to regular business, including approving purchase orders and vouchers, passing the second reading of a tax levy renewal for November’s ballot, and approving contractor payment for the Skull Fork Creek Bridge Project. They also approved the purchase of 10 new signs for the Conotton Creek Trail as many of the signs along the trail are old and becoming unreadable.

County resident James Kerr spoke during public comment, addressing the EMS backup services which are currently in negotiation. “I was unfortunate to lose my son,” he said. “Unfortunately, the medics were not able to save my son’s life. … I’m highly concerned about the ambulance service.”

He explained that while some may have the luxury of making mistakes in their work, medical personnel can not risk that.

“What I’m getting at is, you’re dealing with life. This is very important. Once you lose a son, you can’t get them back.

I see what’s happening right now. I’ve had discussions with Hopedale Fire Department. They’re fine individuals, and they’re doing a good job. Unfortunately, sometimes it isn’t enough,” Kerr said.

He brought up that having paid EMS is something to consider although he said volunteers are welltrained and didn’t want to give the impression he didn’t appreciate those volunteers.

“It seems to go dollars, not ethics, not the potentials,” he said. “It looks more like ‘Well, who’s got the cheapest situation?’ When you’re dealing with life, that’s not the route.”

Kerr requested that the commissioners “heavily analyze the situation” and that once they make the decision, they take the responsibility seriously. He said that while the current quality of EMS is good, he would like to see more people entering EMS with paid positions and higher-level training.

The commissioners have been discussing the need for backup EMS in the county for many months. They are currently in negotiations with Bowerston Fire Department and the Hopedale Fire Department.

The lot of people that saw it in the paper and though ‘I’ll belive it when I see it.’ Well I’m going to say this, you need to believe it, because it’s here.”

Jones thanked all those who worked behind the scenes on the project and shared that Puskarich was the biggest driving force behind it, asking for a round of applause for him. “We need to be proud today of Harrison Coun-

Ourant Schoolhouse celebrates 150 years

CADIZ — Ourant Schoolhouse continues with its history and traditions marking 150 years.

The present Ourant Schoolhouse was built in 1873 and was named for the Washington Ourant family who lived on a farm nearby. At the time, the school boasted the highest number of pupils in the township. In a typical one-room school, a single teacher taught students of all grades ranging in age from 4 to 21 using very strict discipline. Times changed, however, and the school closed in 1941, and students transferred to Barrett’s School.

The Ourant Schoolhouse hosts many different events throughout the year. The Harrison Hills City School District has second graders come to the school during the month of May to experience what it was like to attend school in a one-room schoolhouse. The Retired Teachers Association has its annual luncheon at the school every year.

There is also the annual Cake Walk on the second Saturday of June and the annual Fall Festival on the last Saturday of September. Last, but not least, Ourant Schoolhouse has its Christmas Gathering, the first Sunday of December for members of the association to discuss the upcoming