Commissioners proclaim Peace Officers Memorial Day

By RORY RYAN

The Highland County Press

   Dr. Charles Guarino, superintendent of the Southern Hills Joint Vocational School, updated the Highland County Board of Commissioners on the

school facilities and services at Wednesday’s meeting.

   Guarino discussed previous building renovations, including a number of exterior problems that were discovered after the original construction.

   Guarino, who has announced his retirement effective Dec. 31, said the JVS serves approximately 30 to 35 Whiteoak High School students each year.

Guarino said the SHJVS is consistently ranked among the top vocational schools in Ohio.

   “You get a lot of value for your dollar,” he said.

   Guarino also thanked Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Gary Heaton for their service to Highland County.

   * Commissioners also met with Danielle Ratcliff and Heather Gibson to discuss plans for the Help Me Grow program.

   Last December, commissioners appointed Ratcliff, who is the coordinator for Highland County Family and Children First Council, as the interim

administrator for the Help Me Grow program. The program is Ohio’s “birth to 3” system that provides state and federal funds to county Family and

Children First Councils to be used in conjunction with state, local and other federal funds to implement and maintain a coordinated, community-based

infrastructure that promotes trans-disciplinary, family centered services for expectant parents, newborns, infants, toddlers and their families.

   Ratcliff proposed that Gibson take over the program in July.

   Heaton suggested the program will have a better direction moving forward following the state transition from the Ohio Department of Health to the

Department of Education.

   Commissioners scheduled a resolution for next week to appoint Gibson as the Help Me Grow administrator.

   In a related correspondence to commissioners, Chuck Biggert, superintendent of the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities,

said he was still waiting on his past request for reimbursement from Help Me Grow. 

   “I provided information that clearly indicated what the Board of DD should have received in the second quarter,” Biggert wrote. “Can you provide

me with a written statement of the commissioners’ decision of my request to refund at the proper amount?”

Commissioners Heaton and Wilkin said the board’s stance was that the matter was resolved and no action was necessary.

   * The board proclaimed the third Saturday in May as PFC Zachary R. Gullett Day.

   * The board proclaimed May 15, 2010 as Highland County Special Olympics Day.

   * The board recognized the week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week and will lower the flag to half-staff on May 15 as resolved by Congress

on Oct. 1, 1962 for Peace Officers Memorial Day.

   In other action, commissioners approved the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:

   * The authorization of a modification to and a court-ordered transfer from the Special Projects fund as follows: from Other Expense to Transfers

Out, in the amount of $700, and from Transfers Out to County Court, Witness Fees, in the amount of $700.

   * The authorization of a modification to the General Fund (Airport) as follows: from Commissioners, Other, to Airport, Other Expense, in the

amount of $2,500.

   * The authorization of a modification to the Community Corrections Act budget as follows: from Personnel to Workers Compensation, in the

amount of $354.11.

   * The authorization of a modification to the Help Me Grow budget as follows: from Contract Services to Other Expense, in the amount of $1,000.

   * The authorization of a modification to the Recycling budget as follows: from Supplies, in the amount of $61.04, and from Overhead, in

the amount of $106.96, to Advertising, for a total of $168.

   * The authorization of additional appropriation to the County Court Computer Research Fund as follows: from Unappropriated Funds to Highland

County Court Computer Research Fund, in the amount of $12,000.

Special Olympics

   Highland County Special Olympics Track and Field Day will be held Saturday, May 15 from 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at McClain High School. Athletes

from Hills and Dales Training Center, Bright Local, Fairfield, Hillsboro, Lynchburg-Clay and Greenfield schools will be competing in events such as

basketball skills, volleyball, various track races and more.

   Highland County athletes recently competed in the Area 7 qualifying event at Rio Grande University.

   As a result, 23 athletes from Hills and Dales and  Lynchburg-Clay will be competing in the Summer Games held this June at Ohio State University.

   Parents, friends, and supporters are encouraged to come out this weekend to cheer their athletes to victory.

   Opening ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. at the McClain track with basketball and volleyball in the morning. Track events will begin at 12:30

p.m.

Dr. Charles Guarino, superintendent of the Southern Hills Joint Vocational School, updated the Highland County Board of Commissioners on the school facilities and services at Wednesday’s meeting.

   Guarino discussed previous building renovations, including a number of exterior problems that were discovered after the original construction.

   Guarino, who has announced his retirement effective Dec. 31, said the JVS serves approximately 30 to 35 Whiteoak High School students each year.

Guarino said the SHJVS is consistently ranked among the top vocational schools in Ohio.

   “You get a lot of value for your dollar,” he said.

   Guarino also thanked Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Gary Heaton for their service to Highland County.

   * Commissioners also met with Danielle Ratcliff and Heather Gibson to discuss plans for the Help Me Grow program.

   Last December, commissioners appointed Ratcliff, who is the coordinator for Highland County Family and Children First Council, as the interim administrator for the Help Me Grow program. The program is Ohio’s “birth to 3” system that provides state and federal funds to county Family and Children First Councils to be used in conjunction with state, local and other federal funds to implement and maintain a coordinated, community-based infrastructure that promotes trans-disciplinary, family centered services for expectant parents, newborns, infants, toddlers and their families.

   Ratcliff proposed that Gibson take over the program in July.

   Heaton suggested the program will have a better direction moving forward following the state transition from the Ohio Department of Health to the Department of Education.

   Commissioners scheduled a resolution for next week to appoint Gibson as the Help Me Grow administrator.

   In a related correspondence to commissioners, Chuck Biggert, superintendent of the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities, said he was still waiting on his past request for reimbursement from Help Me Grow. 

   “I provided information that clearly indicated what the Board of DD should have received in the second quarter,” Biggert wrote. “Can you provide me with a written statement of the commissioners’ decision of my request to refund at the proper amount?”

Commissioners Heaton and Wilkin said the board’s stance was that the matter was resolved and no action was necessary.

   * The board proclaimed the third Saturday in May as PFC Zachary R. Gullett Day.

   * The board proclaimed May 15, 2010 as Highland County Special Olympics Day.

   * The board recognized the week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week and will lower the flag to half-staff on May 15 as resolved by Congress on Oct. 1, 1962 for Peace Officers Memorial Day.

   In other action, commissioners approved the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:

   * The authorization of a modification to and a court-ordered transfer from the Special Projects fund as follows: from Other Expense to Transfers Out, in the amount of $700, and from Transfers Out to County Court, Witness Fees, in the amount of $700.

   * The authorization of a modification to the General Fund (Airport) as follows: from Commissioners, Other, to Airport, Other Expense, in the amount of $2,500.

   * The authorization of a modification to the Community Corrections Act budget as follows: from Personnel to Workers Compensation, in the amount of $354.11.

   * The authorization of a modification to the Help Me Grow budget as follows: from Contract Services to Other Expense, in the amount of $1,000.

   * The authorization of a modification to the Recycling budget as follows: from Supplies, in the amount of $61.04, and from Overhead, in the amount of $106.96, to Advertising, for a total of $168.

   * The authorization of additional appropriation to the County Court Computer Research Fund as follows: from Unappropriated Funds to Highland County Court Computer Research Fund, in the amount of $12,000.

Special Olympics

   Highland County Special Olympics Track and Field Day will be held Saturday, May 15 from 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at McClain High School. Athletes from Hills and Dales Training Center, Bright Local, Fairfield, Hillsboro, Lynchburg-Clay and Greenfield schools will be competing in events such as basketball skills, volleyball, various track races and more.

   Highland County athletes recently competed in the Area 7 qualifying event at Rio Grande University.

   As a result, 23 athletes from Hills and Dales and  Lynchburg-Clay will be competing in the Summer Games held this June at Ohio State University.

   Parents, friends, and supporters are encouraged to come out this weekend to cheer their athletes to victory.

   Opening ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. at the McClain track with basketball and volleyball in the morning. Track events will begin at 12:30 p.m.