Local News Briefs - Friday, July 24th
Ohio Mask Mandate in Effect
OHIO’S STATEWIDE MANDATORY MASK ORDER IS NOW IN EFFECT. EVERYONE
AGE 10 AND OLDER MUST WEAR A MASK WHEN OUT IN PUBLIC OR IN A PLACE
WHERE UNABLE TO FOLLOW SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES. AN EXCEPTION IS FOR
THOSE WHO HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT KEEPS THEM FROM WEARING
A MASK. GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE SAYS THE INCREASED RATE IN POSITIVE
CASES OF COVID-19 HAS SLOWED IN COUNTIES WHERE MASKS WERE ALREADY
REQUIRED
Shelby County Offering Small Business Relief
APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED STARTING MONDAY FOR THE SHELBY
COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF PROGRAM, WHICH IS OFFERING $100,000 IN
GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE COUNTY THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC. ELIGIBLE SMALL BUSINESSES CAN APPLY FOR UP TO
$5,000 IN GRANT FUNDS TO BE USED FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF ELIGIBLE
EXPENSES. THE PROGRAM IS BEING FUNDED WITH MONEY SHELBY COUNTY
RECEIVED THROUGH THE CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY
ACT, ALSO KNOWN AS THE CARES ACT.
Miami County Hires Absentee Ballot Committee
THE MIAMI COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS VOTED THIS WEEK TO HIRE A
CLEVELAND-BASED VENDOR TO HANDLE THE COUNTY’S VOTE-BY-MAIL
ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR THE NOVEMBER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. MIAMI
COUNTY HAS HAD AROUND 10,000 MAIL ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUESTS IN
PREVIOUS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. ELECTIONS DIRECTOR LAURA BRUNS
SAID SHE ANTICIPATES THIS FALL’S REQUESTS COULD REACH UP TO 30,000. THE
QUOTE FOR 30,000 BALLOTS WAS ALMOST $67,000
Troy Converting to Reverse Angle
ON SUNDAY, THE CITY OF TROY STREET DEPARTMENT WILL
CONVERT PARKING ALONG TWO BLOCKS OF EAST MAIN STREET TO REVERSE-
ANGLE PARKING. IT’S PART OF A PILOT STUDY, WHICH BEGAN WITH THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF REVERSE-ANGLE PARKING ON NORTH SHORT
STREET. REVERSE-ANGLE PARKING REQUIRES THE DRIVER TO BACK IN THE
ANGLED PARKING SPACE WITH THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE TOWARD THE
CURB. THIS TYPE OF “ANGLE-IN” PARKING ALLOWS FOR BETTER VISIBILITY FOR
MOTORISTS.
Fatal Crash in Darke County
DARKE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES WERE CALLED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
TO INVESTIGATE A FATAL CRASH ON STATE ROUTE 571 NEAR UNION CITY. A
CAR COLLIDED HEAD-ON WITH A VAN. THE CAR’S DRIVER, 50-YEAR OLD
RODNEY WEAVER OF UNION CITY WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. THE
OTHER MOTORIST, 35-YEAR OLD ZACHARY VANVICKLE OF GREENVILLE, WAS
TAKEN TO WAYNE HEALTHCARE WITH UNKNOWN INJURIES. THE CRASH
REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
Shelby County Receives DARE Grant
THE SHELBY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS GOING TO RECEIVE A DARE GRANT
FOR THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR. THE GRANT, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE
OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE, IS FOR CLOSE TO $135,500. ACCORDING
TO SHERIFF JOHN LENHART, THE AWARD WILL ALLOW THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE TO
CONTINUE ITS SUPPORT OF LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS, BY PLACING SCHOOL
RESOURCE OFFICERS IN THOSE PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AND
CONTINUING THE DARE PROGRAM.
Pre-Trial Set for Piqua Man
A PRE-TRIAL HEARING IS SET FOR AUGUST 20 FOR A PIQUA MAN FACING
CHARGES INVOLVING COMPANION ANIMALS. ACCORDING TO REPORTS FROM
THE MIAMI COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 31-YEAR OLD CHET YOUNG WAS
CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH A REPORT OF LOOSE UNLICENSED DOGS ON
NORTH STATE ROUTE 48 ON JUNE 17. WHILE INVESTIGATING, A DOG WAS
FOUND TIED TO A TREE WITH SOME FOOD, BUT NO WATER. YOUNG PLEADED
NOT GUILTY IN MIAMI COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURT.
Greenville Residents Asked to Update Mailboxes
SAFETY CONCERNS HAVE PROMPTED THE U-S POSTAL SERVICE TO REQUEST
RURAL RESIDENTS NORTHWEST OF GREENVILLE TO UPDATE THEIR
MAILBOXES. SOME OF THE BOXES DO NOT MEET THE HEIGHT STANDARD
REQUIRED FOR MOTORIZED MAIL CARRIERS. AS A RESULT, THE MAIL CARRIER
IS FORCED TO REMOVE THEIR SHOULDER SAFETY BELTS TO REACH
MAILBOXES. A MAJORITY OF THE ACCIDENTS INVOLVING MAIL TRUCKS ARE
THOSE BEING REAR-ENDED WHEN PARKED AT A MAILBOX. THE REQUIRED
HEIGHT OF MAILBOXES IS 42 TO 48 INCHES FROM THE ROAD SURFACE TO THE
BOX.