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ORCHID: To twins John and Joshua Reble, 15, sophomores at Howland High School and members of Scout Troops 122 / 28, for helping to safeguard a vital piece of Trumbull County history. The boys have decided to pursue their Eagle Scout projects by working in the ongoing restoration of Howland's Brown-Mackey House, better known as The Yellow House that was built in 1836. John is planning an 86-foot walkway and a placard sign in honor of the late Warner Taiclet, founder of the HHS and a leading proponent for preserving the Yellow House. Joshua is planning a large 4-foot by 5-foot sign that will be displayed in the yard with the name of the Brown Mackey House on it. These additions will add luster to the historic home and renews our faith in the civic-minded demeanor of many of today's young people.
ONION: To Niles resident and unsuccessful 2023 Niles mayoral candidate George Kuriatnyk for attempting to violate the terms of his temporary civil protection stalking order issued by Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Magistrate Patrick McCarthy. The order prohibits Kuriatnyk from coming within 500 feet of Niles Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz after the mayor requested the protection order, alleging Kuriatnyk on at least two occasions has gone into a "menacing stance" against the mayor, attempting to spur a "physical altercation." Until a formal hearing takes place on Mienkiewicz's request later this month, there is no reason for Kuriatnyk to blatantly attempt to circumvent the order that carries the force of law.
ORCHID: To Trumbull County commissioners and the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments planning agency for laying the groundwork toward securing a share of some $42.2 billion in federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment -- BEAD -- grants to be distributed to communities across the United States. According to a 2021 state analysis of broadband availability, approximately 40% of Trumbull County does not have adequate high speed internet access. "There is certainly a digital divide in different areas of the county," Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa said. We're therefore pleased by the concerted, proactive and aggressive efforts by those groups to close that gaping divide swiftly and fully."
ORCHID: To the Ohio Department of Aging for awarding Easterseals of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties a $327,000 grant to expand day care services for adults. This funding will allow Easterseals to fortify current services in Mahoning County while also developing a new program for Columbiana County. With the senior citizen population in the Mahoning Valley growing by leaps and bounds, the funding will go a long way toward helping our region stay ahead of the curve in providing this essential and compassionate service that is far less costly and far more beneficial to seniors than institutional care.
ORCHID: To the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force for its success in ridding our communities of illicit drug trades that contribute heavily to community crime and personal tragedies. Though the task force likes to keep a low profile because of the covert nature of its work, the group deserves public accolades for apprehending the merchants of those drugs. Last year, for example, its investigations of 196 individuals led to the successful prosecution of 36 of them. So far this year, it has seized more than 100 pounds of methamphetamines in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Such success clearly shows the force is up to its task of improving the health and safety of the Valley.
ORCHID: To recipients of the 2024 Golden Apple Awards from the Diocese of Youngstown's Office of Catholic Schools. This year's winning educators from Mahoning Valley schools are Elizabeth "Betty" McCullough, principal at St. Nicholas School, Struthers; Jacqulyn DiNardo, teacher at St. Nicholas School, Struthers; Michael Klockner, teacher at John F. Kennedy Catholic School Upper Campus, Warren; and Shawn Mark, teacher at John F. Kennedy Catholic School Upper Campus. We join the diocese in saluting them for excelling in the qualities the award embodies: strong professional development, commitment to students and school, exemplary leadership qualities, service to church and community, effective teaching skills and representing a solid role model as a Catholic educator.