Commissioners Corner

May has been a very interesting month. It started out a lot like April, wet and cool, and now it is warm and humid, and setting up for bad weather. The good news is the farmers have had a chance to get the planting done, and it is finally feeling like summer. Summer always makes people feel better, and with the sunshine and warmth, it is a good time to complete those projects we thought about last winter.

Here in the Commissioner’s Office, we have had a flurry of activity. This month we have had the first and second hearings of the C.D.B.G. (Community Development Block Grant). This year, we have even less money to disperse, ($104,000) than last year, and we can only go up to four projects. We are in the process of deciding where the money will do the most good. This is always a very hard decision, as the needs of the communities are all valid. It is pretty obvious that this program will get less and less each year.

Along those lines, we are in the process of doing mid-year budget hearings with all of the department heads. Right now, we are still holding the line on budgets. It is hard to decide on budgets at this time, as things can change before the end of the year. So far, things look good for the county but we prefer to take a cautious wait and see attitude. We will know a lot more by November. Our Department Heads are all doing a great job in holding down costs, and at the same time not losing efficiency. If you meet a person who works in the Courthouse, thank them for a job well done.

We also have several big projects that we continue to work on, and we hope to have some news on them in a short period of time. One other project is the re-lining of the plumbing at the Sheriff’s Department. We are in the process of asking for quotes on the project, and by this time next month, it is possible this process could be completed. This needs to be done, as the plumbing has been a problem for years, and is hindering the work at the County Jail. As you travel into downtown Greenville, if you look at the Courthouse and the Commissioner’s Office, you will notice new signs in front of both buildings. There is also a new sign in front of the Law Library. These signs, indicating not only what they are, but when they were built, should help people to find what they are looking for. You would be surprised at how many people stop in and ask where these buildings are, or are they in the right place. The signs are made of recycled material, and were put in by Coletown Signs. The signs also indicate where the Building Regulations and the Zoning Offices are located, in the basement of the Administration Bldg./Commissioners Office.

Thanks to our Solid Waste Department for providing the funding for these signs. New signage is just one of the many upgrade projects we have planned for our county buildings this year and in the future. We realize the importance of maintaining buildings that you, the people, have provided for us, and we will take the utmost care with them so they remain functional for a good, long time.

This month starts the parade and festival season in Darke County. The Arcanum Old Fashioned Days Parade was attended by the Commissioners, and we thank the people of Arcanum for their hospitality. Next month things get into full swing with Poultry Days. Also in June is the OALPRP (Ohio Association of Litter Prevention and Recycling Professionals; that’s a mouthful), Summer Conference to be held in Greenville. This conference will bring in people from all over the state for three days, June 19-21, for tours, meetings and discussions on solid waste management. Congratulations to Krista Fourman, the Darke County Solid Waste Director, for securing this event for Darke County. May is also the month of Memorial Day, which is Monday May 27. There are several services in the county to honor those who are no longer with us. Please take time to commemorate those who have passed on.

On the economic front, Darke County continues to hum along very nicely. According to Marc Saluk, our Economic Development Director, some counties are experiencing a slow- down in activity, but Darke County still is in full go mode. Our Workforce Development program is coming together very well, the Manufacturing Readiness class is looking at expansion to include high school seniors, and our companies have a lot of projects in the works. On May 21, the Partnering for Progress Group held a “Meet and Greet” for the new plant managers in Darke County at the Bistro in Greenville. Four of the managers attended, Billy Bryant from F.P.E. in New Madison, Rocky Harrison of Continental Carbonic, Gene Dura of Fram, and Ken Hossler of Whirlpool. These four gentlemen employ about 1500 people in Darke County, and their commitment to our county is very much appreciated. One thing will be clear when you meet these men, not only do they have a great desire to move their companies forward; they really are true gentlemen in every sense of the word. Thanks to Marc Saluk, Melanie Nealeigh, and Commissioner Delaplane for arranging this get together that approximately 100 people attended. Also, we would be remiss if we did not say a big “Thank You” to Ted Abney at the Bistro for hosting this event. With leaders of this caliber running our companies, Darke County should remain in the forefront of economic development for a long while.

The summer season is in full swing, and as you can see, a lot of good things are happening in Darke County. Do you have any suggestions to make things better? If you do, why not attend a Commissioners meeting? We meet every Monday and Wednesday publicly at 1:30 p.m. in the Commissioner’s Office, 520 S. Broadway, Greenville, just south of the Courthouse. Hope to see you there.

The Darke County Commissioners

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Secretary of State Husted releases Voter Fraud Report

COLUMBUS – Secretary of State Jon Husted recently released the first ever statewide report on voter fraud based on a review of cases by Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections and the Secretary of State’s office following the 2012 Presidential Election.

To date, 135 cases have been referred to law enforcement for further investigation and possible prosecution. This includes 20 individuals Secretary Husted will refer to the Attorney General who are registered to vote in Ohio and another state, and who appear to have cast ballots in each this past November. These cases were identified as a result of Ohio’s voluntary involvement in the Interstate Crosscheck Program – a consortium of 22 states seeking to improve overall elections integrity.

“This report demonstrates that voter fraud does exist; but it is not an epidemic,” Secretary Husted said. “More importantly, our effort to look into irregularities and root out voter fraud sends a strong message that no amount of fraud is acceptable. If you cheat, you will be caught and held accountable.”

In January 2013, Secretary Husted issued Directive 2013-01, instructing all county boards of elections to have a process in place to review substantiated allegations of voter fraud or voter suppression. Boards were directed to refer potential legal violations to law enforcement for further investigation and possible prosecution. The counties are in various stages of their processes; however at this point in time, boards of elections have identified and reported 625 cases of voting irregularities statewide. Based on reports from the counties, no voters were denied ballots and zero referrals have been made as a result of voters claiming suppression.

County boards of elections have referred voters to local law enforcement for double voting, voting for other people (including for those who had passed away before Election Day) and for voting from an address from which they were not eligible. It is worth noting that in a majority of the cases in which a voter was found to have cast multiple ballots in Ohio, only one of those ballots was ultimately counted.

“While it is apparent that incidents of voter fraud have occurred and we must remain vigilant, it is also clear that the safeguards we have in place worked in the majority of these cases,” Secretary Husted said.

It was in cross-state registrations where some have slipped through the cracks. Based on data Ohio received and vetted from other states, a small number of 2012 Presidential Election voters did manage to cast ballots in both Ohio and another state.

Through the Interstate Crosscheck Program, Ohio was able to compare its Statewide Voter Registration Database against the voter databases from the other participating states. From there, Secretary Husted’s office reviewed any matches using a thorough process that involved requesting additional information from elections officials in other states and from Ohio’s county boards of elections. The result: 20 cases are on their way to the Ohio Attorney General’s office for further investigation.

Efforts to uncover instances of voter fraud would have been more difficult if not for the work done by Secretary Husted and county boards of elections to improve the accuracy of Ohio’s voter rolls and get more complete information for Ohio voters.

Additionally, Secretary Husted issued Directive 2013-11, which requires Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections to look into voter registrations using a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) or a commercial mailbox storefront address, such as Mail Boxes Etc. or the UPS store where the voter may rent a post office box. Under Ohio election law, the place where an individual receives mail, but does not live, cannot be considered that individual’s residence for voting purposes.

Under the Directive, boards of elections will be required to compile a list of all USPS and commercial mailbox storefronts located in the county. Boards will then match those addresses against county registration records to determine if any voter is registered from one of those locations. Additionally, each board will be required to program its county voter registration system to flag future usage of any such address, or to regularly examine its voter file to ensure addresses are residential.

This Directive will not impact voters with post office boxes on file for the purposes of receiving mail due to USPS operations and ensure receipt of notification from boards of elections. In these instances, post office boxes are provided by the voter in addition to their residential address.

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New website a valuable resource for individuals and businesses

While the budget bill was still in the Ohio House of Representatives, committee hearings about the budget were posted online, where people could tune in to watch deliberation and testimony about the legislation.

Filming committee meetings served a very important purpose, which was to make state government more open to the people of the state. Ohioans deserve to know what their tax dollars pay for.

Similarly, letting people and businesses know the rules that affect them is a necessary component to building a fair and prosperous economy. With more than 120 agencies and commissions statewide, there are times when various rules may change to help an agency carry out its purpose.

The Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, more simply known as JCARR, is tasked with making sure that the actions of these agencies are within the boundaries of their authority. Made up of legislators from both the Ohio House and Senate, JCARR reviews nearly 9,000 rules every year.

The committee recently launched a new website called “RuleWatch Ohio,” which provides updates of rules that helps families, businesses and individuals follow rule changes in Ohio. The website can be accessed by going to www.RuleWatchOhio.gov.

To track changes, a person simply needs to log into the site and then click on the various subject matters that he or she wants to follow. There are several topics to choose from, such as accounting, insurance, and agriculture. You can choose to follow as many topics as you like.

From there, RuleWatch will send messages directly to your e-mail account, updating rule changes in the selected areas. It will send no more than one e-mail per day.

Additionally, Ohioans can submit to JCARR recommendations or concerns regarding rule changes. The committee is very receptive to hearing your ideas because everyone offers a unique perspective of how various rules impact their lives and businesses.

Technology has helped businesses operate more efficiently for years, and through resources like RuleWatch Ohio it is helping state government run more smoothly as well.

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Expanding inefficient federal programs is not in best interest

When I first was elected to the Ohio House in 1983, the Medicaid budget in the state was $3 billion. Since that time it has grown faster than the rate of inflation and is now $26 billion. Medicaid gets more than primary and secondary education and takes up nearly 40 percent of the state’s operating budget.

Recently, there was discussion about expanding Medicaid to cover a larger population and that was a bold proposal. It is important as legislators and for our fellow Ohioans to do what we can to help people who are in need. Our ultimate goal is to help them reach the point where they no longer need public assistance.

Obamacare is not the answer, and it seems every week we learn of more problems presented by the law. A recent study released by the Society of Actuaries revealed that some Ohioans may see their healthcare premium costs jump by more than 80 percent by 2017 because of Obamacare.

With so much uncertainty about the law, the House determined that accepting money from Washington to grow an inefficient program and further extend the reach of the federal government into the states was not the right action to take. Should the Obama administration fail to uphold its end of the bargain, which is a real possibility considering the irresponsible spending taking place in Washington, it would place serious strain on future state budgets.

Therefore, after nearly 70 hours of debate and testimony on the budget, Medicaid expansion was stripped from the bill. Shortly after the bill passed out of the House, the Senate announced that it also will not include expansion in its budget proposal.

The budget does require that legislation be introduced this year that will be focused on reducing the number of Ohioans dependent on Medicaid, seek ways to lower the net state and federal costs for the program, and promote workforce readiness and educational services. In west central Ohio, we call these types of changes reform. Working to get people the help they need to get off government assistance was an issue to large to be fully scrutinized in the budget.

I opposed Obamacare from the very beginning. It is critical that we make smart decisions regarding healthcare policy. Allowing a huge program that has doubled in cost just during the past decade to get even bigger is not a smart, or responsible, way of addressing healthcare in the state of Ohio.

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Protecting Ohio’s water resources, promoting economic growth

Ohio has always been a water-rich state. Access to our state’s many bodies of water attracted early settlers and supported generations of farmers and fishermen, manufacturers, and boaters. Today, our harbors and waterways contribute billions of dollars to our state’s economy, and Ohio’s harbors alone directly support more than 8,500 jobs. With our beautiful and plentiful lakes, rivers, and streams, it comes as no surprise that our water infrastructure matters. Passing the Water Resources Development Act which funds critical water infrastructure programs, like the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund and the National Dam Safety Program, is a critical step.

We all know that the Great Lakes region is an invaluable resource – providing a source of water for countless households, generating economic activity for the region, and providing jobs through commerce, fishing, and tourism. That’s why – along with my Great Lakes colleagues – I’ve fought to preserve funding for dredging in the Great Lakes.

We simply cannot afford to delay harbor maintenance. If we don’t work to ensure Ohio harbors are kept open for shippers, then our steel mills, grain elevators, and aggregate terminals will suffer. We need to ensure that iron ore from Minnesota makes it to the steel mills along Lake Erie, and that grain grown in Western Ohio can be exported to the world through our Great Lakes ports. The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund provides the funding for the economically important work of dredging Ohio’s harbors so that they can help deliver products to the world.

But ensuring modern water infrastructure is about more than commerce – it’s also about protecting the public from unsafe dams. That’s why the National Dam Safety Program which brings the federal government, state agencies, and local stakeholders together to ensure dam safety is so important. Right now, Ohio’s aging water infrastructure includes more than 900 hazardous or potentially hazardous dams. Of these 900, more than 400 of the dams are designated as “high-hazard,” meaning that they could cause loss of life and/or significant damage to surrounding properties should they fail. More than 500 are designated as “significant-hazard,” meaning failure could result in economic loss, environmental damage, flooding of highways or railroads, or impact other concerns. Whether classified as a “high-hazard” or “significant-hazard,” neither is acceptable for our state. We must do everything we can to ensure that our dams are sound.

But unfortunately, among thousands of dams in our state, far too many lack a basic, emergency action plan (EAP). In other words, if a dam breaks and communities flood, families, and business owners would be ill-prepared for an emergency. We know that site-specific EAPs are useful in both identifying potential hazards and minimizing the likelihood that they occur. It just makes sense to ensure that all Ohio communities and homeowners located near dams are protected.

That’s why the Water Resources Development Act is so important to Ohio. This legislation includes critical resources for dam inspections and maintenance. First, it would help state and local emergency management agency’s create action plans. Next, it would identify potential hazards before an emergency involving dams and levees occurs. Finally, it would create an inundation map that shows which areas would be affected by dam failure.

Together, we can move forward and create safer communities. Passing the Water Resources Development Act will help ensure that Ohio water resources will continue to promote economic growth, create jobs, and serve our communities.

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Americans deserve answers and accountability

Americans need common-sense solutions to help create jobs, and they need accountability from their government. In the House of Representatives, we’re working to deliver both.

With millions of Americans still struggling to find work, our top priority is jobs, and putting in place policies that create sustained economic growth and job creation. We cannot allow sluggish growth to become the new normal.

That’s why, on May 16th, the House voted for the third time in three years to fully repeal and defund the president’s health care law. Not only is the law raising costs, it’s reducing access to quality care and making it harder for small businesses to hire.

Some critics suggest this is a waste of time. But the president has signed into law seven different bills that repealed or defunded parts of the health care law. Full repeal is needed so we can clear the way for patient-centered reforms that lower costs and protect jobs.

As we press ahead with a jobs agenda that also includes pro-growth tax reform and an ‘all of the above’ energy strategy, recent events underscore the importance of the House’s other major responsibility: oversight.

Our committees are working to get to the bottom of what happened in Benghazi, and – thanks to the leadership of Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan and others – they insisted on the scrutiny that helped bring the IRS abuses to light.

The details are chilling. Media reports and testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee shows the IRS targeted conservative groups with demands for everything from the content of their prayers, to printouts of Facebook posts and lists of books they had read. The agency even used its immense powers to single out individuals, including the former leader of the Cincinnati Tea Party.

The IRS has blamed these outrageous actions on a few rogue agents, but reports now indicate officials in Washington kept quiet for months. Clearly, many more questions remain to be answered – especially as the IRS takes on expanded powers as the chief enforcers of ObamaCare.

These events remind us that public service requires humility. Everyone in public office needs to constantly remember that they serve the American people – not the other way around.

Americans should never be targeted and harassed by the government for their political or religious beliefs. If reporters’ telephone calls are monitored, the government better have a clear, convincing explanation. And when Americans are killed while serving abroad, the government should tell the truth – not shade it or stonewall for partisan purposes.

Our system of democracy requires bonds of trust between the American people and their government. Nothing dissolves the bonds between the people and their government like the arrogance of power in Washington. Sadly, that’s what Americans are seeing today from the Obama administration: remarkable arrogance.

This House will stop at nothing to get the American people the answers and the accountability they deserve. But the best way to begin to repair this damage is for this administration to tell the truth – the whole truth – listen to the American people, and do their will.”

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Americans deserve the truth about scandals

The last two weeks have further weakened our trust and confidence in our government. And no matter who is in power, Democrat or Republican, that's not good news for our democracy.

Revelations of misconduct by the IRS in targeting certain groups based on their politics, the Obama administration misleading us on Benghazi, the Department of Health and Human Services inappropriately raising money from companies they regulate to support ObamaCare, as well as new disclosures about the Department of Justice targeting the Associated Press, all raise serious questions about whether some public servants in Washington are putting short-term political gain ahead of their obligations to the American people.

First, Benghazi. Reports by Weekly Standard and ABC, followed by Congressional hearings on Capitol Hill, revealed startling evidence that administration officials cared more about the political interests of the president than the truth about the attacks that resulted in the deaths of four Americans. Talking points used during interviews by Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice were altered by administration officials. She told the American people that the attack was the result of an inflammatory video even though analysts in the CIA, the State Department and the White House had already determined that terrorism was involved.

It turns out that those talking points were edited no less than a dozen times. These edits were specifically made to eliminate references to al-Qaeda and related terrorists organizations that intelligence agencies suspected were responsible for the attack. Also removed were references to previous incidents that had led the CIA to warn the State Department about the dangers present in Benghazi.

This deliberate attempt to hide the truth from the American people is bad enough. Perhaps even worse, when the White House was asked at the time if the talking points were edited by anyone in the White House or State Department, they claimed that only one change was made, and that change was purely cosmetic. Either the White House was incompetent or purposefully misleading.

At the same time the truth about Benghazi was unfolding, the Internal Revenue Service was also making news for all the wrong reasons. The IRS admitted to intentionally singling out dozens of nonprofit organizations for investigation for no cause other than that they had conservative political leanings.

As every American knows, the IRS wields immense power, a power that is going to grow even more under the authority granted it by ObamaCare. For it to use that power against people solely for exercising their most basic, fundamental right of free speech is chilling. Chief Justice John Marshall once wrote that the power to tax is the power to destroy. It is doubtful he ever imagined this power would be directed at the First Amendment.

The IRS was not the only government department overstepping its authority. News reports indicate that Kathleen Sebelius, the head of Health and Human Services, solicited donations from companies that HHS oversees to fund enrollment efforts related to the health care insurance exchanges established by ObamaCare. At best, this appears to be an inherent conflict of interest. At worst, it is a potentially illegal augmentation of the appropriations process established by the Constitution. But no matter what the case, companies and organizations should never be pressured for money because it sends the message that contributions are necessary to secure favorable regulatory decisions -- creating a "pay to play" environment -- or to avoid regulatory reprisals. It is astonishing that the administration would ignore this most basic rule of good government.

On top of all this, news broke this week of a widespread inquiry launched by the Department of Justice into the Associated Press. Two months of telephone records were seized, in an investigation the head of the AP -- one of America's most respected news sources -- called a "massive and unprecedented intrusion" into an organization known for investigative reporting. A free press has always been a bulwark of freedom in this country, and it is critical that the administration explain the purpose of this investigation, whether it is ongoing, and if a judge or grand jury signed off on these actions.

The American people should be able to put their faith and their trust in their elected leaders. These four incidents have shaken that trust in ways that will reverberate for years to come. One might be an aberration, two a curiosity, three a coincidence, but four such events indicate a pattern and at the very least, incompetence at the highest levels of our government. Mere apologies are not sufficient.

The American people deserve the truth about the attack in Benghazi and its aftermath as well as what occurred at the IRS, HHS and DOJ. Only when we get to the bottom of these incidents can we begin to rebuild the bridge of trust between us as citizens and our federal government in Washington, D.C.

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Grumpy Side of 60 - Back in the saddle again

“I love working with old people,” a young lady told me recently. “That’s my career goal, to take care of old people.”

“You mean like me?”

“Yeah,” she said, matter-of-factly. “Like you.”

I got a grin out of that. She needs a lot more education and a few years’ experience under her belt before she’ll be able to handle a grumpy old man like me.

For several years I’ve had post-secondary students (high school juniors and seniors) in my Edison classes. Some of them, like this Greenville High School senior, have challenged me and given me hope about our future leaders. I’ve learned a lot from them… I hope they can say the same about me.

I’ve been an Edison instructor for more than a decade. Since leaving the Advocate in 2009, I’ve carried a full Edison load, and two years ago began substituting in Darke County schools. Most of my assignments have come from the Greenville school district.

Originally my goal was to limit myself to junior and senior high students. But something happened. Former Greenville Supt. Susie Riegle and former Woodland Elementary Principal Tammy Stritenburger talked me into trying the kiddies.

“These children need male role models,” they said, adding that my “kneecaps” would get a lot of hugs.

The idea scared the hell out of me, but I agreed. I was a nervous wreck the first day I got a Woodland assignment. I believe it was kindergarten. To make matters worse, my smile sometimes faltered when these tiny “blank” faces stared up at me as they walked into the classroom. They weren’t smiling.

“What have I gotten myself into?” I asked myself. “Darned if I know,” I answered myself.

I don’t remember if that day was great, so-so or a disaster. I think I was numb, but I survived. The next assignment was easier because I finally figured out how to drop to their level (it wasn’t as tough as I thought). Long story short, I fell in love with them… even the “Little Rascals.” And my kneecaps got lots of hugs.

Then something else happened. Early Bird publisher Fred Foutz asked if we could talk. Okay. Sure. Why not? We talked and the rest is history. I was given an opportunity to come out of retirement and finish what I’d started so many years ago… reporting on and writing about the adopted county I’d grown to cherish.

Ever had a decision that was tough and easy at the same time? Answer the call of the ink that still ran through my veins, or continue to devote my days to working with young people from kindergarten through post-secondary and college level adults. The answer was obvious, but still very, very hard. Maybe one of the hardest decisions I’d ever made.

I’d lost track of the times I left one of the campuses – I’ve been to all of them – tired and achy but feeling great. Working with our youth – especially the little ones - is probably one of my most rewarding adventures… short of practicing my life-long vocation of informing readers about the events in their community.

To those who have welcomed me back, thank you. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support. If you are on the Grumpy Side of 60, you’ll remember the song that Gene Autry wrote. It fits perfectly here… “Back in the Saddle Again.” I’m loving it!

Then there’s the “Little Rascals” and all the other children I’ve gotten to know and love… They’ll still be seeing me, maybe not as often, but I’ll be around.

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Paul Ackley - May 19, 2013

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Ending prescription drug abuse, saving Ohio lives

Although it is shocking that the national death toll from prescription overdoses has doubled in recent years, what is even more alarming is that in our state, it has tripled. In fact, since 2007, more Ohioans have died from accidental prescription drug overdoses than auto accidents. This is unconscionable. Ohio families deserve help and they deserve answers.

We know that easy access to prescription drugs has fueled the prescription drug epidemic that engulfs communities in all of Ohio’s 88 counties. But fortunately, this problem does not have to touch another family, or take another life. Prescription pain medications, such as Oxycodone, morphine, and methadone – which are largely responsible for increasing overdoses and deaths – can be disposed of safely.

That’s why efforts, like National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which was held this year on the last Saturday in April, are so important. The Ohio Attorney General’s office estimated that Ohioans disposed of more than 16 tons of unused prescription drugs on Take Back Day, this year. Last year, Ohioans disposed of 13 tons, so it’s clear that we are making strides in bringing community awareness – both to the problem of prescription drug abuse and to the methods available to stop the epidemic. Although the national Take Back Day has come and gone, there are drug drop off locations throughout Ohio that operate all year. In order to find a site near you, please visit: http://www.brown.senate.gov/rxtakeback.

But beyond prescription take-back programs, there’s even more work we can do to protect families and the integrity of health insurance programs – especially as some bad actors use the Medicaid system to fuel their addictions or obtain prescription drugs to sell. We can save taxpayer dollars – and lives – by stopping criminals and addicts from illegally using Medicaid cards to fill false prescriptions for addictive drugs.

That’s why I will reintroduce the Stop Trafficking of Pills Act, to create a “Medicaid Lock-In”. This legislation would require national adoption of Medicaid Lock-In programs that limit the number of doctors from which a high-risk patient can receive prescriptions. It does the same for pharmacies – cutting down on the “pharmacy hopping” and “doctor shopping” of high-risk patients who abuse or sell these powerful drugs.

This is important because the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found some 65,000 cases in which Medicaid beneficiaries visited six or more doctors, and up to 46 different pharmacies to acquire prescription drugs. GAO also found that about 1,800 prescriptions written for dead patients and some 1,200 prescriptions were “written” by dead physicians. This is illegal, immoral, and has cost the lives of far too many people. This must stop.

Since 2011, I’ve worked to stop this problem – by urging Attorney General Holder to work with state agencies to establish tactical diversion squads and calling on Governors to stop the “Oxy-Express”, the prescription drug pipeline from states like Florida to Ohio.

We cannot afford to let improper disposal, pharmacy-shopping, and doctor-hopping threaten the safety of Ohio families. Together, we can move forward and create safer communities by addressing the concerns of Ohioans who are eager to end prescription drug abuse – and save lives.

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Ohio First Lady and Department of Agriculture accepting nominations for 2013 Ohio Agriculture Women of the Year Awards

COLUMBUS - Ohio First Lady Karen W. Kasich and Ohio Agriculture Director David T. Daniels announced they are accepting nominations for the 2013 Ohio Agriculture Women of the Year Awards. The award program is administered through the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Office of the First Lady.

“Last year, I was honored to meet and introduce our first four outstanding women chosen as Ohio Agriculture Women of the Year. Each woman was an amazing testament to strength, personal integrity, and success,” said Mrs. Kasich. “In the second full year of this program, I am looking forward to hearing the stories and celebrating the achievements of more strong women in agriculture.”

Nominations must be submitted by June 21 and will be reviewed by a diverse committee of industry leaders. Winners will be selected on the basis of their outstanding contributions to Ohio agriculture, leadership and advocacy in the agricultural community and significant impact on the agriculture industry as a whole.

Recipients will be recognized by Mrs. Kasich and Director Daniels during an awards reception at the Ohio Governor’s Residence and Heritage Gardens. Each awardee will have her name engraved on a plaque for permanent display at the Ohio Department of Agriculture and receive a commendation from the Governor and First Lady. Recipients may also serve as members of the selection committee the following year.

“We don’t often get the chance to honor those who have made measureable impacts on the state’s most important industry – food and agriculture,” said Daniels. “Women have made significant strides in the great success of agriculture in our state, and I’m proud to be a part of this program that provides some of the recognition they deserve.”

Nomination materials are available on the departments website at http://www.agri.ohio.gov/Top News/AgricultureWomenOfTheYear/

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Building a Stronger Economy for New Graduates

Earlier this month President Obama delivered the commencement address at Ohio State University. It was a fine speech, and I join the president in congratulating the Class of 2013. But while the president used his address to highlight the noble aspects of service and citizenship, he missed a chance to focus on the opportunities our government owes the American people. After an unprecedented government spending binge, our country desperately needs robust economic growth and job creation. More than 21 million Americans are still unemployed, underemployed or have given up looking for work. Unfortunately, many of the policies coming out of Washington are crowding out opportunity and undermining growth. Just look at the president’s health care law, with its 21 new tax hikes and more than 20,000 pages of new regulations. Far from ‘bending the cost curve,’ the projected price tag of the law has nearly doubled since 2009. A recent study by the House Energy and Commerce Committee found that ‘Americans earning as little as $25,000 will still pay more’ and ‘In the case of young adults, the premium spike will be even more painful.’ And don’t forget the impact on jobs. A survey of small business owners found that ’71% say the law makes it harder for them to hire more employees.’ Even those who helped push the plan into law are now speaking out. One Senate Democrat recently admitted he’s ‘very concerned about what's going to happen with young people.’ Another warned we’re headed toward a ‘huge train wreck.’ With all the new government spending, higher prices and added debt, it’s no wonder that jobs are tough to come by – particularly for young people starting their careers. According to the New York Times ‘the United States has gone from having the highest share of employed 25- to 34-year-olds among large, wealthy economies to having among the lowest.’ Republicans may be the minority party in Washington, but we’re leading on jobs and offering a plan to expand opportunity. Our solutions empower the real drivers of growth – the inventors, manufacturers and hard-working Americans who just want the freedom to chase their dreams. So whether it’s making our tax code simpler and fairer; expanding American energy production; reining in red tape; or repealing the president’s health care law that’s hurting small business, creating a better environment for jobs has been and will remain our top focus. But presidential leadership is really what’s needed. The House has passed a plan to balance the budget, increase wages, and create jobs. Where is the president’s plan to remove the barriers holding our economy back? If we’ve learned anything these past five years, it’s that we can’t borrow and spend our way to prosperity. Slow growth cannot become the new normal. So let’s come together for all our new graduates – and all those looking for jobs – and guarantee a future where everyone has the opportunity to find work and chase the American dream. It’s the least that we can do for our children and grandchildren.

Boehner represents Ohio’s 8th District, which includes all of Butler, Clark, Darke, Miami, and Preble counties, and the southernmost part of Mercer County. He was first elected to Congress in 1990.

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Legislation revises reading guarantee requirements

COLUMBUS—Representative Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) announced the Ohio House of Representatives passed Amended Substitute Senate Bill 21, legislation to revise the requirements for reading teachers under the Third-Grade Reading Guarantee.

“For educators in west-central Ohio, this will allow our great teachers to continue doing a fine job,” Buchy said, “With a better understanding of the existing talent in our schools, these updates to Ohio law will allow administrators and teachers to implement the full Third-Grade Reading Guarantee program.”

The legislation gives districts more flexibility when determining staffing needs related to the reading guarantee. Specific provisions of the bill include:

* Allowing districts to submit and operate under alternative staffing plans for up to three full school years

* Expanding to three years the time during which existing alternative teacher credentials are permitted

* Recognizing the need to continue to have educators with specialized credentials available to serve students with special needs

* Requiring the Department of Education to collect and analyze data and report annually on the progress Ohio is making on all students in grades K-3 becoming proficient readers

* Requiring the State Board of Education to adopt reading competencies to establish standards for effective reading instruction

* Requiring the reading endorsement by July 1, 2016 and teacher licenses for grades PK-3 and 4-9 by July 1, 2017 to align to the adopted reading competencies

Am. Sub. S.B. 21 passed from the House with unanimous support.

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Ending prescription drug abuse, saving Ohio lives

Although it is shocking that the national death toll from prescription overdoses has doubled in recent years, what is even more alarming is that in our state, it has tripled. In fact, since 2007, more Ohioans have died from accidental prescription drug overdoses than auto accidents. This is unconscionable. Ohio families deserve help and they deserve answers.

We know that easy access to prescription drugs has fueled the prescription drug epidemic that engulfs communities in all of Ohio’s 88 counties. But fortunately, this problem does not have to touch another family, or take another life. Prescription pain medications, such as Oxycodone, morphine, and methadone – which are largely responsible for increasing overdoses and deaths – can be disposed of safely.

That’s why efforts, like National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which was held this year on the last Saturday in April, are so important. The Ohio Attorney General’s office estimated that Ohioans disposed of more than 16 tons of unused prescription drugs on Take Back Day, this year. Last year, Ohioans disposed of 13 tons, so it’s clear that we are making strides in bringing community awareness – both to the problem of prescription drug abuse and to the methods available to stop the epidemic. Although the national Take Back Day has come and gone, there are drug drop off locations throughout Ohio that operate all year. In order to find a site near you, please visit: http://www.brown.senate.gov/rxtakeback.

But beyond prescription take-back programs, there’s even more work we can do to protect families and the integrity of health insurance programs – especially as some bad actors use the Medicaid system to fuel their addictions or obtain prescription drugs to sell. We can save taxpayer dollars – and lives – by stopping criminals and addicts from illegally using Medicaid cards to fill false prescriptions for addictive drugs.

That’s why I will reintroduce the Stop Trafficking of Pills Act, to create a “Medicaid Lock-In”. This legislation would require national adoption of Medicaid Lock-In programs that limit the number of doctors from which a high-risk patient can receive prescriptions. It does the same for pharmacies – cutting down on the “pharmacy hopping” and “doctor shopping” of high-risk patients who abuse or sell these powerful drugs.

This is important because the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found some 65,000 cases in which Medicaid beneficiaries visited six or more doctors, and up to 46 different pharmacies to acquire prescription drugs. GAO also found that about 1,800 prescriptions written for dead patients and some 1,200 prescriptions were “written” by dead physicians. This is illegal, immoral, and has cost the lives of far too many people. This must stop.

Since 2011, I’ve worked to stop this problem – by urging Attorney General Holder to work with state agencies to establish tactical diversion squads and calling on Governors to stop the “Oxy-Express”, the prescription drug pipeline from states like Florida to Ohio.

We cannot afford to let improper disposal, pharmacy-shopping, and doctor-hopping threaten the safety of Ohio families. Together, we can move forward and create safer communities by addressing the concerns of Ohioans who are eager to end prescription drug abuse – and save lives.

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A school funding plan that is fair to rural schools

The Ohio House of Representatives made some significant changes to the governor’s original school funding plan, which in many ways will benefit the schools in the 84th House District. While I commend the governor for his ideas and leadership, the original version was not as friendly as it could have been—or should have been—to area schools.

But that is why the legislative procedure is so important. Discussion with constituents in my district made many of these changes possible.

A closer look at the governor’s plan showed that, had the formula not been changed, 80 percent of the schools in the 84th District would have been on the guarantee. The guarantee would keep schools at the current funding level for the next two fiscal years, but after that all bets are off. This would have caused uncertainty in our schools’ budgets and put their economic outlook on shaky ground.

In talking with the people of the 84th District, I know that we share the same goals when it comes to funding our schools. We want a formula that is fair and makes sure that the high-performing schools are compensated accordingly. In west central Ohio, we have the highest amount of farm receipts and our land is high valued. The high valued land incorrectly made our per-capita wealth appear higher than suburban and urban areas.

We have the best schools in Ohio, and they will continue to be the best, but we should be rewarding the high performance as opposed to funding our tax dollars to the suburban and urban districts. As a result of the work done on the Ohio House Finance and Appropriations Committee, the funding formula was re-crafted to include a measurement of agriculture which increased funding to rural schools and dramatically reduced the number of schools on the guarantee across the state.

Communication with school leaders, such as superintendents and treasurers, is a critical part of the process. Those meetings and conversations help us to understand how education is going in Mercer, Auglaize, Darke and Shelby counties. The input from local school administrators was helpful in crafting the final funding plan.

The budget is now being considered by the Ohio Senate. Your input is helpful at all times. You can answer a question about this topic by completing a monthly online survey. Please let me know your thoughts by going to TinyURL.com/BuchyMay.

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Ryan's World - Potatoes, Duct Tape and Business

After a couple of weeks of exalting my wife in this column, I’ve decided to lay off of her for a little bit. Since I can’t – wait, let me rephrase that. Since I don’t want to write about my wife again (is that better dear?) that means I need to either write about myself or my daughters. There for a while I was starting to worry that my daughters had learned not to do anything embarrassing around me for fear they would be featured in one of my columns. There has been a drought of silliness and “what were you thinking” moments. Normally that would be good, but when I depend on their antics for fuel for my column it makes me work a little harder. They haven’t even done anything worthy of me updating my Facebook status, let alone devoting an entire column to one of them.

That all changed a couple of weeks ago. My oldest daughter reverted back to providing me with some “why did I become a parent?” moments. Almost from the time she was born, her mother and I knew that we had a unique child. For the first few years of her life we called the things she did weird, but stopped doing that when we realized it could give her a complex and possibly cost us a ton in therapy bills - like writing about her for all to read in the newspaper, on the blog or Facebook won’t give her a complex. (I think I’m going to need a book deal to pay for her therapy.) We agreed to call her unique. We’ve even thought about changing her name to Uniqua (You-Neek-Wa). The term is not catching on with her friends and other family members. They still think she’s weird.

It all started with a night out for dinner and a trip to the mall. We went to my favorite restaurant, Five Guys Burgers & Fries. This restaurant is known for the heaping mounds of fries it puts in the sack and keeps the sacks potatoes in the lobby (evidently to show they are made fresh in the store). We sat down next to one of those sacks and my daughter asks, “what do they use potatoes for?” I gently reminded her that French fries are made from potatoes. “They serve those here,” she asks? I just stared at her for a couple of seconds before she said, “Oh, I guess they do. It's in their name.”

I really thought that would be the extent of rolling my eyes at her. Nope, there was more to come. While doing a little shopping at the mall she ran across a store that had mustache duct tape on sale. This duct tape was like normal duct tape, except mustaches were printed all over the roll.

Before I even knew that she had bought the roll of tape, I look down and her shoes were transformed from normal tennis shoes to mustache duct tape tennis shoes. I could have lived with it if we were at home and she was walking around with these uniquely decorated tennis shoes there, but we were at a busy mall on a Saturday night.

On the way home she used her duct tape to make a mustache duct tape wallet. I couldn't help myself and actually encouraged her. I said, “That's perfect because a wallet is the place where you mustache your cash.” She didn't even laugh.

She also volunteered to duct tape my belt that had broken earlier in the day. I politely declined and threw it away before she had a chance transform my belt with the other duct tape she purchased – penguins, flowers, hot pink, neon green, etc.

In addition to making wallets and shoes, she has also made duct tape hair bows and water bottles and offered them for sale. She has sold $7 worth of her creations. Unfortunately, she has spent over $20 on duct tape.

By the way, she wore her shoes to school and received rave reviews. I certainly don't understand it.

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It’s really about the kids

“Why won’t Greenville support us?”

Two sharp, talented Greenville High School students asked that question a few years back… it was after voters had defeated an earlier attempt to approve a new school facility.

I didn’t have an answer for them. I’d heard “reasons.” They’ve been discussed ad-nauseam. The question these two seniors asked has haunted me over the years. Not one of the “reasons” was about the kids, but how to make them understand that? Would it make a difference?

From their perspective the voters had a chance to support them and they declined.

This August voters will once again have an opportunity to provide our future leaders with the best education possible. We have a new skipper at the helm, GCSD Superintendent Doug Fries, and the timing is right. It’s a new ballgame.

Fries was kind enough to work me into his hectic schedule earlier this week to discuss the proposed levy.

You’ll be hearing a lot about bringing the school facilities into 21st Century technology, online assessments, meeting today’s national content standards, better security, a longer funding cycle, low interest rates and the best opportunity we are likely to have to get some of our money back from the state. You’ll hear about the cost savings of a new structure over the maintenance expenses of old buildings, one of which “celebrated” its one-hundredth birthday last year. You’ll be hearing about that and more. It’s time to meet those needs.

For me it’s simple. It’s about the kids.

I’ve had the privilege of being a substitute teacher in the District for the past two years, as well as an Edison Community College instructor for more than 10 years. Several of my Edison classes have included post-secondary students (high school juniors and seniors).

The talent, intelligence and desire to learn I’ve seen in most of these students is amazing. From kindergartners excited about the new world they are entering to seniors planning to make their mark in fields of medical technology, structural engineering, veterinary medicine and more, we have much to be proud of in our students and the teachers who are helping them achieve their goals.

Unfortunately, desire, talent and the old way of doing things is no longer enough. Our kids have to compete in a global economy and a highly technical society. In junior high our kids are learning algebra and trigonometry, courses I didn’t have until high school. High school students are tackling chemistry, applied science and calculus that I never saw until college. Providing today’s technology in outdated facilities is a major challenge right now.

I often ask my students if they plan to return to Darke County after college. The vast majority say they want to… if they can find jobs. That’s reasonable. They are incurring tremendous expense to get their educations, usually with residual debt that has to be repaid.

The Business Advisory Council unanimously supports this levy proposal. Why? Because businesses prefer to hire locally! Employers considering relocation or expansion want to see a community that supports education and its youth.

They want to see “Strong Schools for a Strong Community.”

Many of today’s voters are retired. Some, like me, are “working retired.” We’ve raised our kids, so why should we be educating someone else’s? How about our grandkids? Nieces, nephews, cousins… most of us have family who are going to Greenville Schools or soon will be.

Fries said that the District’s goal is to give our kids the same opportunities as everyone else. Yours. Mine. Ours. They are all Greenville’s kids.

Today’s children will be tomorrow’s leaders. It’s time to give them an equal playing field.

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Paul Ackley - May 12, 2013

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Readers Write - True Science Doesn’t Bear it Out

Dear Editor,

During the last of February Bill O’Reilly, of Fox News, dogmatically stated that the Bible story of creation was allegory. According to O’Reilly, he based that on “science.” I don’t think true science bears that out. In the mid 19th century Louis Pasteur debunked the prevalent scientific theory that life sprung from non-living matter. His true scientific method led to the development of the modern scientific cell theory that “all life originates from preexisting living material.” According to the true scientific method his experiments was observed and are reproduced today. No true scientific method of experimentation or observation has been conducted showing life coming from non-life.

The much exalted hypostasis of evolution begins with the non-scientific assumption that for some unexplainable occurrence life came from non-life. Especially when that unexplainable occurrence has been scientific proven to be very unlikely.

The prevalent cell theory states that: The cell is the basic unit of life; and Cells arise from pre-existing cells. Hence the first living cell could not have come from a non-living cell. Hence no matter how skillfully you imagine the evolutionary tree, it has no scientific root.

It truly isn’t scientific to dogmatically say that the Biblical story of creation in Genesis 1 is allegorical. It takes blind faith to believe that there is scientific evidence proving that the biblical story of creation is allegorical. Also, I agree, it takes faith to believe that an eternal, omnipotent omniscience, all wise and personal God who is simple spirit spoke the worlds into existence.

Believing there is a God, I believe that God has communicated truth to us in terms that we can understand. It is in that communication that I find the answers of life. Genesis 3 is one chapter assumed to be allegorical, yet it is the only explanation for all the evil in the world or why church attendance has dropped off. Most believe in God and Believe He is holy and deserved to be worshipped both privately and publically. I go to church because I am not holy and I need help.

Yours praying America once again attends public worship

Charles J. Arnett

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Readers Write - Remarks Were Offensive

Dear Editor,

As a proud member of the Darke County LWV, I was indeed shocked to read the scathing “Letter to the Editor” written by an opinionated writer on April 3. I found her remarks pertaining to the speakers and the LWV to be highly offensive and uncalled for.

The two presenters were highly recommended, and they did help educate the audience regarding the issue of fracking. Yes, some of the information was somewhat advanced; the purpose of education is to learn more about a particular subject. I know I learned more about fracking on March 18.

If you have the opportunity to view the “Gasland” DVD and “Promised Land” DVD and movie, you will learn a great deal more about fracking as it impacts our environment and health. As concerned citizens, we must protect our natural resources!

Thank you for attending the LWV program “To Frack or Not To Frack;” it is very much appreciated.

Sincerely,
Joan Klein,
retired teacher

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