Commissioners proclaim April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month
The Highland County Press
Highland County Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Jeff Duncan and Tom Horst proclaimed April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month during their March 16 meeting.
Julie Brassel, Kara Stone, Peggy Lang, Chanda Valentine, Melody Gilbert and Dara Gullette of the Alternatives to Violence Center met with commissioners Wednesday morning. They told commissioners that a sexual assault response team has been in place by the center for three years and has made progress in educating the public and enhancing community awareness.
The center is planning two events to raise awareness of sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking.
The Alternatives to Violence Center’s fifth annual Tea for Tweens, Teens and Queens will be held Saturday, April 9 from 9-11:30 a.m. at the Hillsboro High School Gymnasium.
The theme is “Don’t ‘Bee’ A Bystander.” The event is free and open to females ages 11 and up. The tea includes brunch and activities focused on teen dating violence awareness and tips on action to take when witnessing violence.
Pampering stations will include massage, hair, nails, waxing and jewelry making.
For more information, call (397) 393-8118.
Additionally, the Center is sponsoring a poster contest for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 10-16. The theme of the contest is “Serving Victims, Building Trust, Restoring Hope” and must be incorporated into the poster design.
The contest is open to youths ages 7 through 18 residing in Clinton and Highland counties. Posters should be submitted on a 8.5x11 sheet of white paper with the participant’s name, age and contact information on the back of the poster. Entries must be postmarked or dropped in designated drop boxes by Saturday, March 26 or hand-delivered to the Center at 938 West Main St., Hillsboro or 94 North South St., 3rd Floor, Wilmington.
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Members of the Waw-wil-a-way chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Pat Young, Martha Saylor and Jane Stowers met with commissioners to discuss their desire to refurbish the 1930-era plaque on the courthouse in memory of local Revolutionary War soldiers.
A bronze plaque was installed on the courthouse in 1930, and the DAR members are seeking approval to restore the plaque at their own expense.
Commissioners thanked the DAR members for their interest in the project and voted 3-0 to approve their request.
“We appreciate your dedication to this,” Horst said. “Probably 75 percent or more of the names on that plaque include families in the area today.”
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Commissioners also received a letter from Michael Miller, Director of the Ohio Public Works Commission, on the approval of a grant request in the amount of $600,000 for the project entitled CR 5-14.29/SR 73-834.
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Wilkin reported that Highland County Job and Family Services director Katie Adams will sign a new lease agreement for HCJFS.
As previously reported, commissioners announced at their March 9 meeting that they would be meeting with utility providers for potential energy savings. Wilkin said that commissioners are in the process of calling references for all of the providers.
Commissioners also voted 3-0 to adopt the county’s new recycling policy.
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Commissioners approved the following resolutions, each by a 3-0 vote:
• A request from the Engineer for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds within the Engineer Budget in the amount of $2,000.
• A resolution establishing a Healthier Buckeye Council with the membership of the Highland County Community Action Rural Impact Council.
• A resolution appointing the 2016 board members to the Highland County Local Corrections Planning Board and Reentry Coalition.
• A request from the Probation Department for a budget modification within the Probation Budget and a request for an advance to Pre-Trial Budget from Probation in the amount of $7,000.
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• Commissioners also wished the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs success in the Ohio Div. III Final Four basketball tournament this weekend.