The U.S. Small Business Administration has selected Everett M. Woodel Jr. to be the district director of its Columbus District Office. In this role, he will manage the strategic efforts and daily operations of SBA’s activities throughout 60 counties in central and southern Ohio, including the Dayton and Cincinnati metropolitan areas.

The partnership between Adena Health System and Fayette County Memorial Hospital (FCMH) continues to grow, with the opening of a second Adena clinic within FCMH.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine today announced the appointment of John Carey as the director of the Governor’s Office of Appalachia.

State Senator Joe Uecker, R-Clermont County, this week expressed his support for two local projects that were approved for additional funding this week by the State Controlling Board – a mechanism for handling state budget changes and approving state spending.

U.S. Air Force Reserve Airman 1st Class Andrew D. Blanton graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

Earlier this month, Deborah Ashenhurst was appointed the new Director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, the move was approved by the 133rd General Assembly of the Ohio Legislature and she began her duties in charge of the state-run agency that exists to help honor, provide benefits and resources and advocate for Ohio's former service members.

“To every member of Congress: Pass a bill that ends this crisis,” Trump said today. “To every citizen: Call Congress and tell them to finally, after all of these decades, secure our border. This is a choice between right and wrong, justice and injustice. This is about whether we fulfill our sacred duty to the American citizens we serve.”

Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted this week delivered the keynote address at the 34th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration. He noted the importance of understanding diversity and the idea that all are created equal.

A few days prior to being sworn in as Ohio Governor, Mike DeWine announced a bevy of candidates for appointment to his cabinet. Among those introduced on Jan. 10 was Deborah Ashenhurst, who served in the Ohio National Guard for 37 years and this week began her new assignment as Director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services.

ODOT District 9 crews continue working this morning, treating routes for freezing rain and “black ice.”

Today, State Representative Doug Green (R-Mt. Orab) voted to override Governor John Kasich’s veto of House Bill 228, legislation that modifies self-defense laws to better enable Ohioans to defend themselves and their families against harm.

Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader is under investigation. Reader is accused anonymously of stealing money taken from drug cases to fuel a gambling problem, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer.

Sheriff Donnie Barrera reports for the week of Dec. 3-9, the Highland County Sheriff’s Office received 264 911 calls, answered 129 requests for service, dispatched 144 fire and EMS runs, took 17 offense reports and investigated four traffic crashes.

Four finalists will compete in Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s 2019 Discussion Meet. They are Gregory Corcoran of Chillicothe, Andrew “Dewey” Mann of Ashville, Micaela Wright of Arcanum and Victoria Popp of Cincinnati.

Ohio Farm Bureau’s officers and trustees were elected Dec. 7 during the organization’s 100th annual meeting.