Shoemaker moving forward

The Highland County Press

Former Hillsboro City Council member David Shoemaker has a warning to anyone taking multiple prescription and/or over-the-counter medications: Always consult your family physician and double-check online for any potential side effects.

Shoemaker sat down with The Highland County Press this week to discuss the aftermath of his July 30 arrest in Fayette County.

As previously reported, Shoemaker, 55, resigned from Hillsboro City Council following the incident.

On Sept. 19 in Washington C.H. Municipal Court, two of the charges against Shoemaker were dismissed. He pleaded guilty to an unclassified misdemeanor and paid a fine of $500 plus $165 in court-related costs.

Shoemaker said he had been on medication for recent surgery and other medical conditions. He said he believes he encountered a serious reaction to his medication.

After the incident, Shoemaker said he went to his family physician to determine if any medical conditions had contributed to his unusual behavior.

After a blood workup and an MRI that came back negative, Shoemaker and his physician began to review recent surgeries and new medications and their side effects to see if he had encountered a serious reaction.

"I am currently off of some meds and weaning off others," he said. "I have really felt better in the last 30 days. This is not any doctor or pharmacy's fault; we all have to keep in mind that everyone's chemical makeup in the body is different. In the future, I won't be taking any prescribed medication without checking the side effects and conferring with my physician."

Shoemaker also said he wants to thank the hundreds of people who called, sent cards, letters, e-mails or stopped by the house to offer any help or support during this ordeal.

"I never knew I had so many caring friends, the support just means so much to Charlene and me," Shoemaker said.