CHILLICOTHE, OH (Nov. 12, 2020) – Adena Health System is searching for new and experienced Medical Assistants (MAs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) with a passion for caring for others. During its hiring event, Adena will accept applications and host open interviews for nurses at all stages of their career.
Opportunities are waiting for both MAs and LPNs.
When: Thursday,November 19, 2020
4 to 6 p.m.
Where: Adena PACCAR Medical Education Center
446 Hospital Rd.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
Instructions for the event:
· Complete the online application in advance of the event
· Medical Assistant applicants must currently be registered or certified in the state of Ohio or have the ability to obtain their certificate within 90 days of hire.
· LPN applicants must be licensed in Ohio or have the ability to obtain their license within 90 days of hire.
All interested MAs and LPNs are encouraged to attend this hiring event. Sign-on bonuses of $1,500 for MAs and $2,000 for LPNs are available. Opportunity for the sign-on bonus will be active for those who apply through November 30, 2020.
During the event, all state and local health guidelines for social distancing and masking and enhanced safety measures will be strictly followed to ensure everyone’s health and well-being.
Adena offers competitive pay and benefits for MAs and LPNs. To learn more about career opportunities at Adena, visit www.adena.org/careers.
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)— In a statewide address to Ohioans Wednesday evening, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine called on citizens to recommit to their individual efforts to prevent coronavirus spread as Ohio moves through its most intense, widespread, and dangerous surge of cases to date.
Ohio is currently facing a record number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations and intensive care admissions, with nearly 3,000 people in the hospital, including more than 700 people in the ICU. During the first week of November alone, 104 Ohioans infected with the coronavirus died.
“With this new wave of COVID-19, the onset of flu season, and an already-exhausted group of healthcare workers, there are serious concerns that there won’t be enough people to fully staff our healthcare facilities in the next few weeks,” said Governor DeWine. “If we don’t change this, Ohio won’t be able to provide appropriate care for COVID patients or for Ohioans who require other emergency care for things like accidents, strokes, and heart attacks. Hospitals will again be forced to postpone important, but less urgent, care.”
Although testing capacity in Ohio has nearly doubled, the number of people testing positive for the coronavirus has increased almost four times. At the end of September, Ohio averaged under 1,000 new cases per day; this week, Ohio hit a record high of more than 6,500 new cases reported in a single 24-hour period.
“As we wait for the vaccine, which could come as soon as December, we have so much to protect,” said Governor DeWine. “What each Ohioan does in his or her own life impacts every citizen and every place we desperately want and need to keep open– our schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and businesses.”
To reinforce the necessity of wearing masks and slowing virus spread, Governor DeWine announced two forthcoming orders:
Revised Mask Order
Although most people and businesses have properly followed COVID-19 safety guidelines issued in Ohio’s July 23, 2020, mask order, others are not following the order.
To protect frontline workers and customers, the Ohio Department of Health will reissue Ohio’s mask order and add the following provisions:
Each store will be required to post a sign outlining face-covering requirements at all public entrances to the store;
Each store will be responsible for ensuring that customers and employees are wearing masks; and
A new Retail Compliance Unit, comprised of agents led by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, will inspect to ensure compliance. A first violation will result in a written warning and a second violation will result in closure of the store for up to 24 hours.
New Social Gathering Order
Ohio’s April order that limits public events and private gatherings of more than 10 people is still in effect, however, there has been rampant spread of the virus as a result of banquets, wedding receptions, and social gatherings following funerals.
To address the tragedies that have resulted from such events, the Ohio Department of Health will issue an order that will place significant new restrictions on these social activities. Specifically, open congregate areas will no longer be permitted to open, and everyone will be required to be seated and masked unless they are actively consuming food or drinks.
Bars, restaurants, and fitness centers may remain open, but this will be reassessed one week from tomorrow for potential closure.
“If the current trend continues and cases keep increasing, we will be forced to make these closures,” said Governor DeWine. “I am very well aware of the burden this will place on employees and owners, but these are places where it is difficult or impossible to maintain mask-wearing, which we know now is the chief way of slowing this virus.”
He’s a fixture on the highways and byways of Southern Ohio, head into the wind, pedaling against the clock, with a carriage for his son in tow.
Chillicothe’s Joe Lawhorn of Team Dayton Cycling, spent 12 years serving his country during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, first in the US Marine Corps, then another six years in the US Army.
A broken back forced Sgt. Lawhorn into retirement. Rehabilitating from the injury, he rediscovered cycling.
Litter Media introduced viewers to Lawhorn for a video project promoting the Tour of Ross County Heroes, a fundraising cycling event in 2019 to assist the Chillicothe VA Medical Center’s Veterans Bike Program, which Lawhorn is a peer volunteer assisting the program’s director Matt Cox, a US Army veteran. The two were friends at Unioto High School before the attacks on 9/11 in 2001.
Lawhorn tells of his cycling experiences, transitioning from a runner to a cyclist and its rewards. He also recounts the emotional ride into Chillicothe during the grueling 3,000-plus mile Race Across America and how cycling has helped him connect with veterans.
Selecting the roadways for the Tour of Ross County Heroes was easy because the were routes used in his training each day. Lawhorn also talks about a special stretch of roadway he always visits near Southeastern Local Schools, the gravesite of his friend Aaron Reed who was killed in action in Iraq.
What’s ahead for 2021? Lawhorn recently posted on his facebook page, an attempt to chase 500 miles in 24 hours and breaking the Trans-Ohio record, traveling from Pennsylvania to Indiana… then turning around and going for “a double”.
The interview below is unused footage from an conversation with Lawhorn in preparation for the 2019 Tour of Ross County Heroes ride.
The Pop-Up Testing for COVID-19 got underway about 9:15am because so many were in line at the parking lot of the municipal swimming pool in Chillicothe’s Yoctangee Park.
Ross County Health Commissioner Garrett Guillozet talks about the process in our #LitterMediaLIVE segment below. The event was scheduled to run until 2pm November 9th, 2020.
(The following is an email from the Ross County Historical Society to its members.)
The current coronavirus has affected everyone and forced RCHS to suspend our normal operations of museum tours and research for the past several months. It also caused us to cancel many programs and events this year, such as the Spring & Fall Speakers Series, Archaeology Day, the Farmer’s Market, Junior Member Programs, Schmitt’s German Night, Christmas Open House. Unfortunately, we do not know what other activities will be effected in 2021.
During this time of uncertainty, your support is more important than ever. Our membership count was on the rise, and we were working on more new and exciting ideas to promote local history when all the plans came to a stand still. However, RCHS has stood strong for 125 years, and we will continue our mission of providing entertaining and educational opportunities for our members and friends as soon as we feel it is safe to do so.
As we re-open our facilities within the state guidelines of public health safety standards, we ask for your understanding and cooperation. Please do not hesitate to call us before visiting our facilities if you have any questions or concerns. Our schedule for opening to the public is as follows:
The Ross County Heritage Center, including the Museum and Knoles Log House, will be open by appointment on Fridays & Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. during the COVID 19 Pandemic as long as the Ohio COVID Public Health Emergency Level is at 2 (Orange) or below. The Museum will be closed to the public whenever the level is at 3 (Red) or above. To schedule a museum tour, please call 740-772-1936, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays. The size of tour groups will be limited to four members of a family, the same household, or those traveling in the same vehicle.
The McKell Library will be open by appointment, 1-5 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, based on the same emergency levels at the Museum – open at Level 2 (Orange) or below and closed whenever the level is at 3 (Red) or above. Please call 740-773-1896 during operating hours for an appointment.
Walk-ups will only be admitted to both the Museum and Library if the time slot is not already reserved. Hand sanitizing, social distancing and face masks are required for all facilities. Disposable masks will be provided at no charge to those without their own.
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted today provided the following updates on Ohio’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
RECORD-BREAKING CASES & HOSPITALIZATIONS
Governor DeWine announced today that Ohio is once again breaking records in regard to COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
Between yesterday and today, health officials have reported a total of 4,961 new positive coronavirus cases in Ohio, the highest number of new cases in a 24-hour period to date.
There are currently 2,075 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 which is a 55 percent increase in hospitalized patients compared to two weeks ago.
Of the hospitalized patients, 541 people are in intensive care. The previous record for intensive care admissions was 533 in April.
“This virus is flaring up, and we have to push it down – the economy depends on it,” said Governor DeWine. “If the virus continues to aggressively spread, people will lose confidence in their ability to safely go to stores, restaurants, and other businesses. If we want to keep our economy moving, we must all live with this virus and we must all be more careful.”
Governor DeWine stressed that the new record number of cases is not due to increased testing capacity in the state. Since September 24, the total number of tests in Ohio has increased by approximately 44 percent, but positive cases have increased 280 percent in the same time period. If a person is tested multiple times, they are only counted once.
STATEWIDE HIGH INCIDENCE
New health data compiled by the Ohio Department of Health revealed today that all 88 counties in Ohio are now considered “high incidence” as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“There have been so many cases in the past two weeks that the risk of catching this virus in every county of this state is very real and very concerning,” said Governor DeWine. “Again, I ask everyone to recognize their personal responsibility in slowing the spread of this deadly disease. It’s up to every citizen in Ohio to choose to slow the spread by wearing masks, distancing, and making overall smart decisions.”
According to today’s updated Ohio Public Health Advisory System map, 56 counties are currently rated as having a very high risk of exposure and spread (Red Level 3), up from 43 counties last week. This represents the highest number of Red Level 3 counties since the launch of the advisory system in July. As of today, 86 percent of Ohioans are living in a Red Level 3 county.
Governor DeWine announced multiple key additions to the existing administration at the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff: Dr. Vanderhoff previously served for more than a decade as a Senior Vice President and as the Chief Medical Officer at OhioHealth. He has years of experience leading large teams in successfully dealing with important healthcare issues in Ohio and prepared OhioHealth to deal with the threat of Ebola and the H1N1 flu pandemic.
Director Stephanie McCloud: Director McCloud previously served as Governor DeWine’s administrator of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, managing an agency of 1,800 colleagues and over $28 billion in assets. She has considerable experience in the area of mental health and addiction treatment which is a priority in Ohio’s health improvement plan.
Senior Deputy Lance Himes: Himes had previously served as the interim director of ODH where he has played an integral role in running and managing many aspects of the pandemic response operation. He will lead the coordination of the state’s vaccine distribution plan and will continue to work directly with Ohio’s local health commissioners.
Chief of Staff Kathleen Madden: Madden had previously served as Assistant Director at the Ohio Office of Budget and Management and will now play a key role in keeping ODH’s pandemic and non-pandemic programs and operations on track. She will work to prioritize and resolve critical issues, provide oversight and guidance to ODH staff, and ensure that ODH funds are spent responsibly and strategically.
Other key members of the ongoing COVID-19 response who will continue their roles in assisting ODH are:
Adjutant General Maj. Gen. John Harris, Ohio National Guard: Maj. Gen. Harris will continue work to ensure complex operations, such as COVID testing and contact tracing, are well-coordinated, monitored, and improved when necessary. He will also work directly with Senior Deputy Himes on the planning and logistics of the forthcoming vaccine distribution program.
Director Ursel McElroy, Ohio Department of Aging: Director McElroy will continue to direct virus prevention efforts for older adults in the community and in long-term settings, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Director Lori Criss, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services: Director Criss will continue to lead efforts to address the increasing mental health needs of citizens during the pandemic.
NEW OHIO BWC ADMINISTRATOR
Governor DeWine announced that John Logue, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s (BWC) Chief of Strategic Direction, will become the new administrator of Ohio BWC effective on November 16.
Logue has worked for 26 years in the industry. Before returning to BWC in 2019, he most recently served as the vice president of client services for International Absence Management Company where he focused on Ohio workers’ compensation.
CURRENT COVID-19 DATA
There are 235,170 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Ohio and 5,461 confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths. A total of 20,015 people have been hospitalized, including 3,969 admissions to intensive care units. In-depth data can be accessed by visiting coronavirus.ohio.gov.
Video of today’s full update, including versions with foreign language translation, can be viewed on the Ohio Channel’s YouTube page.
For more information on Ohio’s response to COVID-19, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.
Members of the Pebble Twp. Fire Department pose with the new $167,000 Brush Truck that arrived last weekend.
There’s a new weapon in the arsenal for fighting brush fires in Pike County.
Pebble Twp. Fire Chief, Jerry Wessel says the two-year long process finally came through with a happy ending. Through grant funding, the department which covers 35 square miles of Pike County, the township needed to raise just $18,000 of the cost of the Ford F-550 truck which will replace two trucks.
Wessel says the old brush truck had been in service for more than 30 years. The new truck, coming in at $167,000, distributed water more than 30 feet from its front bumper sprayers and the remote controlled Tornado nozzle shoots water between 50-75 feet during a demonstration at the firehouse October 31st. The nozzle can has a wide range of capabilities, including launching an oscillating plume or a wide range spray of water.
The truck was built by Weis Fire & Safety in Salina, Kansas. Wessel drove the truck back home to Ohio late last week and said its presence commanded quite a few looks from other travelers.
Pebble Twp. FD has mutual aid with neighboring townships in Pike County and bordering Pike County.
Members of the Pebble Twp. Fire Dept. await the arrival of the township’s new Brush Truck, which will be a game changer in fighting brush fires in Pebble and surrounding townships.
FROM WEIS FIRE & SAFETY EQUIPMENT: The Weis Quick Attack 300RM has ample storage space, a PAC Tool Board, two rear Hannay hose reels, TFT Tornado monitor with joystick control, a side whipline, and front ground sweeps. . . this big tire brush truck has the ability to reach those difficult-to-reach locations and extinguish a fire.
Specifications
Type: QA300RM
Tank: 300 gallon
Pump: Hale model HPX300-B18
Truck Body: 2020 Ford F-550 Super Duty Chassis
Chassis: Super Cab
Additional Features
Warn Zeon 10 quick mount winch
1.0” x 8’ red rubber booster whip line at the passenger front corner of the fire body
Two Hannay EF-24-30-31 heavy duty electric rewind booster reels
One TFT 1.0” QuadraFog 5-10-24-40-60 GPM adjustable gallonage nozzle with pistol grip with each booster reel
Two bumper mounted ground sweep nozzles
TFT Tornado with joystick control
Fully Transverse Compartment with a PAC vertical slide out tool board
Compartments with satin finish roll up doors
Compartments over the Rear Wheel Wells
Two underbody toolboxes
Rear Tool Compartment 96”D x 30”W x 5”H
Loose Storage Compartment behind the headache rack
Two pull-out drop-down steps on the rear of the apparatus
Kussmaul Auto Charge 1000 with Super Auto Eject plug and battery status indicator
Whelen Liberty II NFPA compliant 54” (Red) LED light bar with 360-degree protection including side protection
Three 10” Tomar LED TRX Off-Road single row flood lights
Two 20” Tomar LED TRX Off-Road single row flood lights
Back up camera with a 7” screen
One LED underbody ground light under each corner of the fire body
Two LED work lights provided, mounted one on each side of the headache rack
Dual steering stabilizers and replace the OEM shock
The Chillicothe Police Department is into its annual fundraising campaign for local cancer survivor support group Southern Ohio Survivorswith their “No Shave November”. Officers wishing to participate make a donation to SOS to allow the male officers to let their facial hair grow and female officers to let their hair down, a break from their standard military uniform code.
The shaving resumes in December as the department then prepares for its annual “Shop with a Cop” event for children. They’ll also be making a donation to United Way Ross County in January of 2021.
Jason Blevins holds his 2020 Virtual Champion Award for raising the most dollars in the Dance For Kids’ Sake Virtual Competition. Pictured are Litter Media’s Dan Ramey (DFKS Co-Host); BBBSSCO CEO & President Julie Violette; Blevins and Debbie Bettendorf (DFKS Co-Host).
Litter Media was on hand Monday during the awards presentation for the 2020 Dance For Kids’ Sake virtual competition, benefiting Big Brothers-Big Sisters of South Central Ohio.
Nourse Chillicothe Automall’s Jason Blevins was crowned the 2020 DFKS Virtual Champion, raising $8,625.
“This was different” said Blevins accepting the award in the Nourse Toyota showroom. “Last year, I was extremely nervous (about dancing before a crowd) but it was still a lot of fun. I did it for all the children in the community – all the Little kids that don’t have mentors or anybody to look up to. I appreciate everything that Julie (Violette) does with the Big Brothers-Big Sisters.”
Due to the pandemic, the BBBS was unable to host the traditional dance competition fundraiser. “We had to think outside the box in order to keep everyone safe this year” said Violette, the agency’s CEO and President. Nine participants from previous competitions agreed to compete during the month of October campaign for the mentoring agency which serves children in Fayette, Highland, Pickaway, Pike and Ross Counties.
“Everyone in the community, whether you were a sponsor or you voted for one of our dancers” said Violette, “we thank you from the bottom of our heart.”
Others in the campaign, which raised just short of $24,000, included Dave Strickland, Jennifer Lykins, Elizabeth Scott, Jeff Downs, Julie Preston, Tara Gillum, Matt Knisley and Big Sister Lisa Johnson with her Little Sister Rieghlynn.
Over the last eight years, Dance For Kids’ Sake has been the agency’s biggest fundraiser, generating important operating monies. The 2020 campaign total is about a third of the event’s normal tally. But in a year of a worldwide pandemic which has strapped non-profit organizations financially, any amount is an important boost.
To learn more about becoming a volunteer or contributing to Big Brothers-Big Sisters of South Central Ohio, visit www.bbbssco.org or call 740-773-2447.
