Commissioners proclaim Catholic Schools Week in Highland County

By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press

Highland County commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeff Duncan proclaimed Jan. 25-31 as Catholic Schools Week during their Jan. 21 board meeting.

St. Mary Catholic School Principal Mary Stanforth and several St. Mary pupils accepted the proclamation on behalf of the school.

The Catholic Schools Week theme this year is "Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.” The theme encompasses several concepts that are at the heart of Catholic education.

St. Mary Catholic School will kick off the week with a schoolwide Mass on Sunday, Jan. 25 at 10 a.m. Students will participate in the Mass by being servers, readers, flag bearers and participate in the offertory procession. There are several activities planned to celebrate Catholic Schools Week.

For more information about St. Mary Catholic School, call Mrs. Stanforth at (937)-840-9932. All faiths are welcome.

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• After meeting with Rhonda Fannin, Bill Fife and Amy Roades of the Highland County Continuum of Care on Jan. 14, commissioners have offered their support of the group's proposal.

The Highland County Continuum of Care was adopted in January 2012. The basis for the HCCoC is to bring together government, non-profit, and faith-based organizations to organize and deliver housing and services for homeless or at-risk individuals and families.

The Continuum of Care staff has conducted an area survey on housing needs and availability in the county for those who are homeless or deemed at risk of becoming homeless.

“We want to develop a housing response plan,” Roades told the board on Jan. 14. She said they are pursuing federal and state funding opportunities. The group asked for commissioners’ endorsement of their proposal.

According to Fife, “We’re not looking at building (a housing project).”

Fannin said, “The need is there. This is a big deal for the county.”

The Highland County Continuum of Care is an active partner of the Region 16 Continuum of Care (South Central Ohio Region), serving Clinton, Fayette, Highland, Pickaway and Ross counties. The mission is to provide a coordinated response to housing needs in Highland County through collaboration and effective use of resources to empower individuals toward
self-sufficiency.

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• In other business, commissioners approved leases for two Dodge sheriff's cruisers for the Highland County Sheriff's Office.

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• Commissioner Wilkin announced that the 2015 43rd annual Ernie Blankenship Radio-Telethon for the Highland County Society for Children and Adults will be Wednesday, March 25 at NCB Bank in Hillsboro. The telethon is sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Hillsboro and Greenfield.

Wilkin encouraged the community to make a contribution to the annual fund-raiser.

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• The board voted, 3-0, to lower the bond for the county treasurer from $100,000 to $50,000, saving approximately $500 annually.

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• Commissioners also met with David Clarke, an account executive with TimeWarner Cable Business Class. Clarke represents Adams, Brown, Clermont and Highland counties.