ORCHID: To Margie Petrunia of Cortland for her exemplary service over more than three decades as a library aide in the Lakeview Local School District. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce rightfully recognized that stellar service last week by awarding Petrunia its 2026 Recognizing Inspirational School Employee of the Year award. The award, established by an act of the U.S. Congress, honors classified school employees who provide exemplary service to their school communities. Lakeview Schools Superintendent Ashley Handrych nominated Petrunia for the prestigious award. “Margie is one in a million. She has done so much for our district in addition to being a library aide,” Handrych said. We congratulate Petrunia and wish her the best toward clinching the national RISE award later this year.

ONION: To Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine for granting an overly generous three-year reprieve for the execution of Death Row inmate Danny Lee Hill of Warren who was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1985 torture, rape and murder of 12-year-old Raymond Fife. Though we understand appeals are continuing for Hill and that the state’s capital punishment system has languished in a state of limbo for four years now, it is conceivable that the state Legislature could act as soon as this year to revive the death penalty via protocols other than the flawed system of lethal injection. DeWine’s reprieve therefore could handcuff Ohio’s next governor to be elected this fall from expediting Hill’s execution for at least 2 ½ years should such new capital punishment protocols be put into place.

ORCHID: To the Hubbard High School Prep Bowl team and its coach Michael Brekoski for recently winning the 2026 Trumbull County championship by besting 16 other stellar teams from districts throughout the county. Just as gridiron and basketball stars deserve cheers for their dedication and outstanding performances at their crafts, so, too, do students who rise to the top of their game in academic prowess. The popular competitions also ooze in long-term value by fostering strong critical thinking skills, boosting confidence and promoting academic excellence in a competitive, team-oriented environment.

ONION: To the Office of the Ohio Public Defender for significantly reducing its level of funding support to counties throughout the state to help finance legal representation for indigent defendants who cannot afford it. After reimbursing nearly 100% of such costs in 2022, the state has lowered reimbursements every year since, and today stands at an estimated 82% for fiscal year 2026. The reductions, according to Shara Taylor of the Trumbull County commissioners office “jumped our payments significantly right out of the gate.” At a time when county governments — and most all local governments — face critical financial struggles to provide services and meet state mandates, such pullbacks in state support only make balancing their budgets all the more taxing.

ORCHID: To the Ohio School Bus Safety Program for awarding about $1 million to a wealth of school districts in the Mahoning Valley last month to ensure the safest mode for student transit to and from school remains the good old reliable and trusted yellow bus. The funds will be used for repairing, replacing or adding authorized safety features (such as cameras or other safety enhancements) to new and existing school buses. The program’s proactive initiative represents a practical and welcome investment in the state’s most precious resource bar none — its children.

ORCHID: To state Rep. Tex Fischer, R-Canfield, for sponsoring new legislation to increase penalties for those who boisterously disrupt formal religious services in Ohio. His House Bill 662 was motivated by recent angry protests inside a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, that resulted in federal grand jury indictments against at least nine people, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon. HB 662 would make a conviction for disturbing a lawful meeting of religious worship more serious by increasing it from a first-degree misdemeanor to a fifth-degree felony. That move would result in potential one-year prison sentences for violators. We find Fischer absolutely justified in asserting, “We want to continue to permit people to practice their First Amendment right of freedom of religion without being harassed.”

ORCHID: To shareholders of Kimberly-Clark Corp. and Kenvue Inc. for approving K-C’s acquisition of the consumer health company in a vote last week. The merger creates a mammoth $32 billion global health and wellness leader, combining iconic brands such as Huggies and Kleenex with Kenvue’s portfolio that includes Band-Aid and Tylenol. The company’s exciting new growth spurt comes at a particularly auspicious time for the Mahoning Valley, as Kimberly Clark completes work on its massive $1 billion production plant and distribution campus in Trumbull County with hiring projected to begin this spring.

ORCHID: To Mary Anne Russo, longtime Youth Services supervisor at the Hubbard Public Library, for giving nearly four decades of dedicated, creative and helpful service to scores of appreciative young people and their parents in that community. Russo retired as the children’s librarian last week after 37 years there, as well as more than four additional years at the Ritter Public library in Vermilion. Over those years, she instituted many positive changes and enhancements to the children’s area, including brighter lighting, an indoor gazebo, a dedicated room for children’s programs and an outdoor sensory garden. She also oversaw creative fun-based literacy programs. At her recent retirement party, she thanked Hubbard parents for sharing their children with her. We’re certain, however, that Russo, too, that most of those parents would join us in sending supersized thanks to her for the positive impact she has made on hundreds of children’s lives.