The Ohio Department of Development and Area Agency on Aging 3 are once again offering assistance to help Ohio’s families stay cool during the hot summer months.
From July 1 through Sept. 30, income-eligible Ohioans can receive assistance in paying their electric bill, purchasing an air conditioner or fan, or making repairs to their central air conditioning unit through the Ohio Department of Development’s Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program.
The Summer Crisis Program assists low-income households or those that have a disconnection notice, have been shut off, are trying to establish new service on their electric bill, require air conditioning, or those with an elderly household member (60 years or older) who can provide physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for their health. Qualifying medical conditions can include lung disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, asthma, and others.
The Allen County Engineer's Office has announced that Reservoir Rd. between Mumaugh Rd. and McClure Rd. will be closed on Monday, July 29, 2024 from 7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. for chip seal work. Emergency Vehicles will have access during this closure.
State Wildlife Officer Ethan Bingham, assigned to Williams County, received a call from the Williams County Sheriff’s Office about a common loon in a yard. Officer Bingham captured the loon, which appeared to be healthy and unharmed. Loons need a large body of water to take off and fly. The loon was transported to Lake La Su An Wildlife Area, where it was released on a lake.
State Wildlife Officer Eric VonAlmen, assigned to Wood County, observed four individuals fishing below the dam at Mary Jane Thurston State Park. After fishing, the anglers left behind the trash they had accumulated as they prepared to leave. Two individuals placed plastic bait containers into the river, and a trash bag was thrown into the weeds. All four suspects received a summons for stream litter, and each paid a $150 fine.
The State of Ohio has announced that two years after its debut, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a proven safety net for thousands of Ohioans each month who face emotional distress or thoughts of suicide.
Since its launch on July 16, 2022, the service has grown steadily. In that time, Ohio’s 19 call centers – the most of any state in the nation – have responded to nearly 340,000 calls, texts, and chats: an average of more than 14,000 contacts each month.
Ohio 988’s average speed-to-answer rate is 25 seconds, compared to 36 seconds nationally, and since its launch, the average amount of calls rolling over to the national 988 network is just 2%, reflecting a workforce capacity that allows the vast majority of calls from Ohioans to be answered in-state, by individuals with knowledge of local resources that can make a difference in a crisis.
