Telephone town hall set on Asian longhorned beetle infestation
Lead Summary
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Second District Rep. Jean Schmidt has scheduled a telephone town hall for Tuesday, Nov. 29, to answer questions about efforts to halt the spread of tree-killing Asian longhorned beetles in Clermont County.
As many area residents as possible will be called about 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday by Schmidt. Residents who don’t get a call or who can’t be home at that time will be able to listen in via a link that will be posted that day under “Latest News and Hot Topics” on house.gov/schmidt/.
A representative of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture will answer questions along with Congresswoman Schmidt.
“This is the best way to reach as many people as possible to hear their concerns,” Congresswoman Schmidt said. “Many residents have questions, and I want honest answers from actual experts.”
Ohio officials requested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture help try to prevent the spread of the beetles, which are thought to have infested the area as early as 2004.
The insects were first confirmed in Tate Township in June. Ohio officials imposed a quarantine to prevent the movement of firewood and other regulated materials from all of Tate Township, part of Monroe Township, and East Fork State Park, which includes parts of Batavia Township and Williamsburg Township.
Schmidt has been in contact with local, state, and federal officials to hear their views on the best options to prevent the spread of the insects.
On Nov. 22, Schmidt spent 2½ hours on an inspection tour of the Tate Township farm of Bill Skvarla, where the non-native insect was first discovered
“This is traumatic for many residents who don’t want to lose trees that don’t appear to be infested,” Schmidt said. “I want the eradication to be responsible and as painless as possible.”[[In-content Ad]]
As many area residents as possible will be called about 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday by Schmidt. Residents who don’t get a call or who can’t be home at that time will be able to listen in via a link that will be posted that day under “Latest News and Hot Topics” on house.gov/schmidt/.
A representative of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture will answer questions along with Congresswoman Schmidt.
“This is the best way to reach as many people as possible to hear their concerns,” Congresswoman Schmidt said. “Many residents have questions, and I want honest answers from actual experts.”
Ohio officials requested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture help try to prevent the spread of the beetles, which are thought to have infested the area as early as 2004.
The insects were first confirmed in Tate Township in June. Ohio officials imposed a quarantine to prevent the movement of firewood and other regulated materials from all of Tate Township, part of Monroe Township, and East Fork State Park, which includes parts of Batavia Township and Williamsburg Township.
Schmidt has been in contact with local, state, and federal officials to hear their views on the best options to prevent the spread of the insects.
On Nov. 22, Schmidt spent 2½ hours on an inspection tour of the Tate Township farm of Bill Skvarla, where the non-native insect was first discovered
“This is traumatic for many residents who don’t want to lose trees that don’t appear to be infested,” Schmidt said. “I want the eradication to be responsible and as painless as possible.”[[In-content Ad]]