THIS WEEK IS WINTER SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK AND OHIO’S LT. GOVERNOR AND DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE DIRECTOR MARY TAYLOR HAS SOME HINTS AND ADVICE. TODAY LET’S LOOK AT WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE HOME DAMAGE. THE LT. GOVERNOR SAYS TO CALL YOUR INSURANCE AGENT OR COMPANY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND BE SURE YOUR AGENT KNOWS HOW TO CONTACT YOU IF YOU CANNOT STAY IN YOUR HOME. TRY TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY AND SALVAGE WHAT YOU CAN. CLOSELY INSPECT YOUR PROPERTY FOR DAMAGE, NOTING AND PHOTOGRAPHING ANY DAMAGE AND LOSSES, WHICH WILL HELP IN SETTLING CLAIMS. IF YOU MUST SEEK TEMPORARY HOUSING, CHECK YOUR INSURANCE POLICY FOR “LOSS OF USE” COVERAGE. MANY POLICIES COVER SUCH EXPENSES UP TO A STATED AMOUNT. FINALLY…BE SURE EVERYTHING IS CONSIDERED IN THE CLAIM AND BACK UP CLAIMS WITH WRITTEN ESTIMATES. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE AT: 1/800-686-1526 OR GO ON-LINE TO THEIR WEBSITE AT: WWW.INSURANCE.OHIO.GOV .
AUTHORITIES SAY A TRUCK STOLEN FROM THE NATIONAL TRAILS IN SPRINGFIELD WAS USED TO DRIVE INTO COMPTON POWER EQUIPMENT TO GAIN ENTRY AND STEAL ABOUT $5,500 WORTH OF CHAIN SAWS. THE BUSINESS OWNER SAID THIS IS THE SECOND TIME SOMEONE HAS RUN INTO A WALL OF THE BUSINESS SO THEY COULD BREAK IN.
WITH ALL THE ACCIDENTS HAPPENING ALONG OHIO ROUTE 235 TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS ARE GOING TO INVEST NEARLY $4 MILLION IN IMPROVEMENTS ALONG A STRETCH OF THE ROAD THAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS HIGHLY HAZARDOUS. CLARK COUNTY-SPRINGFIELD TRANSPORTATION COORDINATING COMMITTEE DIRECTOR SCOTT SCHMID SAID HE HOPES THE CHANGES MAKE IT EASIER FOR MOTORISTS TO NAVIGATE ROUTE 235. BETHEL TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE NANCY BROWN IS PLEASED WITH THE PLANS FOR THE BUSY ROUTE WHICH AVERAGES 13,800 CARS PER DAY.
KETTERING HEALTH NETWORK WHICH OPERATES EIGHT HOSPITALS IN THE DAYTON AND BUTLER COUNTY REGION HAS NAMED THEIR FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT. TERRI DAY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT TO ALIGN ALL HOSPITALS AND FACILITIES IN THE NETWORK WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING EIGHT HOSPITALS: GRANDVIEW, KETTERING, SYCAMORE, SOUTHVIEW, GREENE MEMORIAL, FORT HAMILTON, KETTERING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SOIN…ITS NEWEST HOSPITAL. DAY WILL REPLACE FRED MANCHUR, THE NETWORK’S PRESIDENT AND CEO SINCE 2010 WHO WILL RETAIN HIS TITLE AS CEO OF THE 48 YEAR OLD HOSPITAL SYSTEM.
TWO PEOPLE KILLED IN A BEAVERCREEK FIRE SUNDAY MORNING HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS 79 YEAR OLD JERRY STARR AND 78 YEAR OLD BESSIE BURCHETT-STARR. INVESTIGATORS SAY FUNCTIONING SMOKE DETECTORS COULD HAVE SAVED THEIR LIVES. A NEIGHBOR SAW THE FIRE AROUND 4AM AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE BEAVERCREEK FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU AND THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL ARE INVESTIGATING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THAT FIRE.
OHIO FOOD BANKS DISTRIBUTED 45 PERCENT MORE FOOD IN FISCAL YEAR 2012 THAN THEY DID JUST THREE YEARS AGO ACCORDING TO THE OHIO ASSOCIATION OF FOODBANKS. THEY SAY A DIFFICULT EMPLOYMENT CLIMATE AND INCREASED COSTS FOR DAILY NECESSITIES ARE THE REASON. SUCH NEED MIXED WITH AN UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC OUTLOOK HAVE FOOD CHARITY OFFICIALS BRACING FOR MORE INCREASES WHILE HOPING FOR CONTINUED GENEROSITY. LISA HAMLER-FUGITT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OHIO ASSOCIATION OF FOODBANKS SAID IN A DAYTON DAILY NEWS ARTICLE, “WE’RE LIMITED. THE POUNDS (DISTRIBUTED) ARE UP, AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IS UP AS WELL. ABOUT HALF OF THE FOLKS WE SERVE ARE HITTING EMERGENCIES THAT WERE UNEXPECTED, AND THEY’RE TAKING MONEY OUT OF THE FOOD BUDGETS TO SERVE OTHER NEEDS.” NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER ARE USUSALLY MONTHS OF INCREASED NEED WITH THE HOLIDAYS. OFFICIALS SAY DONATIONS ARE KEY TO THEIR OPERATION, BUT THEY ALSO SHARE THAT SOMETIMES THEY CAN DO MORE WITH MONETARY DONATIONS BECAUSE THEY HAVE DEALS IN PLACE TO BUY PRODUCTS AT REDUCED COSTS. HAMLER-FUGITT STATES, “CHARITY ALONE CAN’T DO THIS. PEOPLE WHO ARE IN FOOD LINES ARE THERE BECAUSE THEY EXHAUSTED ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES.” SHE SHARES, “THE BEST SOLUTION TO HUNGER IS A GOOD JOB THAT PAYS A LIVABLE WAGE. THAT’S WHAT WILL HELP THE MOST.”
IT WILL BE COLD TONIGHT AS LOWS DIP TO AROUND 25 DEGREES. SUNSHINE IS BACK ON THURSDAY WITH HIGHS FORECAST TO RISE TO 49 DEGREES. TEMPERATURES FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WILL ALSO PEAK NEAR 50 DEGREES…ALONG WITH LOTS OF SUNSHINE. OVERNIGHT LOWS EACH NIGHT WILL BE NEAR THE 30 DEGREE MARK. IT LOOKS LIKE SUNDAY SHOULD BE SUNNY WITH HIGHS GOING UP TO 52 DEGREES.
