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ORCHID: To 91-year-old Minnie Wolfe of Niles, aka "The Ice Queen," and the dozens of others who braved subfreezing temperatures last weekend to take part in the Polar Plunge in Mosquito Lake. Wolfe led the pack in submerging herself into the frigid waters. Others followed suit, and in the process raised more than $14,000 for Special Olympics Ohio through a partnership with the Cortland Moose Club. Wolfe called the day "beautiful, beautiful," adding it "shows that people care, and people watch out for each other." We couldn't agree more, Minnie.
ONION: To those individuals who choose not to take the necessary precautions to avert falling victim to the flu or other respiratory diseases this winter. Ohio health officials report flu illnesses and deaths have risen significantly in recent weeks. In addition to vaccinations recommended by state and local health officials, preventing worsening and spread of respiratory illnesses also should include staying at home when sick, washing hands thoroughly and coughing into your elbow, according to Erica Horner, director of nursing and community health at Mahoning County Public Health.
ORCHID: To leaders and staff of the Trumbull County Combined Health District for their successful and long-needed move to a new headquarters in Cortland. The TCCHD hosted an open house this week at its new
digs in the former Cortland Bank building downtown. The new facility ends overcrowding as it is nearly twice as large as the former downtown office, offers more convenient parking and is more centrally located in the county particularly for the benefit of rural residents.
ONION: To the Ohio state Senate for overriding Gov. Mike DeWine's responsible veto of a bill banning gender-affirming care in the state. The new law bans gender-affirming surgeries and hormone therapies and restricts mental health care for transgender individuals under 18. The governor reasonably explained that his veto was designed to protect parents and children from government overreach on medical decisions. Such extremely personal family decisions have no place in the halls of state government.
ORCHID: To the Friends of the Mahoning River organization for proposing to Girard City council that the canoe / kayak launch pad on the river in the city be named in honor of Don Rex, who died two months ago at 78. Rex served many years on city council and was a member of the Friends group seeking to clean and revitalize the river and its environs. The organization has allocated $1,000 for the memorial to include a tree, plaque, bench and engraved rock. Rex, who also served as a longtime teacher and principal in Girard schools, richly deserves this community memorial
ONION: To those irresponsible individuals who continue to court disaster by drinking and driving. Recent statistics released by the Ohio State Highway Patrol show 12 of the 17 fatal crashes in the county involved drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs by the driver, or about 75 percent of those senseless fatal accidents. All drivers would be wise to heed the sage advice of Lt. Daniel Morrison of the Warren Post of the OSHP: "OVI's have been a problem with our fatal crashes for last year and the year before as well. So it's definitely something that the public as a whole could improve on."