Guest Column from Representative Tony Burkley

A Welcome from the Ohio Statehouse

I have happily called Northwest Ohio home for most of my life, so it was an honor to be selected to represent Defiance, Paulding, Van Wert and part of Auglaize counties. I look forward to all of the hard work ahead and encourage the people of the 82nd House District to keep in touch with my office to provide feedback and opinion for what needs to be done for our region and the state as a whole.

The responsibility is not to be taken lightly, and I am joining a group of people who have laid the groundwork over the past couple years that I believe is moving the state in the right direction. By taking moves such as eliminating the estate tax and putting in place policies that will hold government agencies more accountable, Ohio is becoming friendlier to business, as evidenced by the more than 120,000 jobs created in the state since January 2011.

But everyone knows the job is not complete. There is still a long way to go, which is why I pursued the seat in the 82nd District. My more than 40 years of private sector experience have taught me a lot about what it takes—both from business and government—to create jobs. Needless regulations hinder businesses from hiring workers because, often, the regulations impose additional costs on the business. It takes people from many different backgrounds to look at all angles of an issue, and I am eager to offer my insight from a small business perspective.

The 82nd District has a lot to offer to the people of Ohio, particularly in agriculture and other related industries, which is why I was honored to be appointed to the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. The issues that will be debated in that committee will have a direct impact on Auglaize, Defiance, Paulding and Van Wert counties.

Please do not hesitate to contact my office at any time regarding state matters. I am grateful for the opportunity to represent Ohio’s 82nd House District and look forward to working with you to affect positive change for the state.

Rep. Burkley may be reached by calling (614) 466-8114, e-mailing Rep82@ohiohouse.gov or writing to State Representative Tony Burkley, 77 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

REYNOLDSBURG – The Ohio Department of Agriculture has announced a Certified Livestock Manager training event is scheduled for Feb. 12-13 at the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s campus in Reynoldsburg. The training enables participants to complete all of the required training to apply for or to renew a Certified Livestock Manager certification.

The training sessions will provide discussions on nutrient management, insect and rodent control, record keeping, manure contracts and liability, spill response, safety issues and will include a review of the rules and regulations concerning manure handling.

Interested persons may attend one or both days. The training will be held in the department’s Bromfield Administration Building Auditorium from 8:15a.m. to 4:00p.m. each day at a cost of $30 per day. Registration forms and a detailed agenda are available on the department’s website at: http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/DLEP/dlep.aspx.

ANTWERP – The Antwerp Rotary Club made a decision on Jan. 10, 2013, to cease maintenance and operation of the recycling trailer located at the Antwerp Water Works on Feb. 15. The club has determined that the recycling trailer that has been in operation since 1996 is a duplication of services now offered by Erie Recycling Services.

Erie Recycling Services offers free drop off service for a full range of recyclable materials at their 103 Waterplant Drive, Antwerp, location.

Rotary Club president Mark Greenwood expressed the club's gratitude to all those who have supported the recycling trailer by making deposits.

“Reduce - Reuse - Recycle!”

By BILL SHERRY • Correspondent

PAULDING – Paulding Village Council met Tuesday, Jan. 22, one day later than the normal meeting date due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.

The safety committee proposed, and council approved, another one-year contract with Werlor Waste Control of Defiance for the village’s solid waste collection. This is the last year that the solid waste removal contract can be awarded without a bid.

PAULDING – The Paulding County EMA has announced that it will sponsor a weather spotters class at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21 at the Paulding County OSU Extension Building. The National Weather Service will be conducting this year’s training as a webinar.

The class is open to the public. No reservations are needed.

For questions, contact the EMA office at 419-399-3500. Visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Paulding-County-Ohio-EMA/222076761160975

Winter Health and Safety Tips

Winter’s various dangers to people can occur suddenly, like a heart attack while shoveling snow, or slow and stealthily like carbon monoxide poisoning. Hypothermia and frostbite are always a concern, especially for the elderly and for people with chronic health conditions. The Ohio Departments of Aging, Health and Mental Health offer these safety tips to help keep you and your family safe this winter season.

Frostbite

Frostbite is the most common cold-related injury. Frostbite is an injury to the body caused by freezing of skin tissue. Frostbite causes loss of feeling and color in the affected areas. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers or toes. Frostbite can permanently damage the body and severe cases can lead to amputation. The risk of frostbite is increased in people with reduced blood circulation, those who drink alcoholic beverages, the elderly and people who are not dressed properly for extremely cold temperatures.

At the first signs of redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin – frostbite may be beginning. The following signs may indicate frostbite: a white or grayish- yellow skin area; skin that feels usually firm or waxy; numbness. A victim is often unaware of frostbite until someone else points it out because the frozen tissues are numb.

What to do

If you detect symptoms of frostbite, seek medical care. Because both frostbite and hypothermia result from exposure, first determine whether the victim also shows signs of hypothermia, as described above. Hypothermia is a more serious medical condition and requires emergency medical assistance.

If there is frostbite but no sign of hypothermia, and immediate medical care is not available, proceed as follows:

• Get into a warm room as soon as possible.

• Unless absolutely necessary, do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes. This can increase the damage.

• Immerse the affected area in warm – not hot – water (the temperature should be comfortable to the touch of unaffected parts of the body).

• Or, warm the affected area using body heat. For example, the heat of an armpit can be used to warm frostbitten fingers.

• Do not rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it, at all. This can cause more damage.

• Do not use a heating pad, heat lamp or the heat of a stove, fireplace or radiator for warming. Affected areas are numb and can be easily burned.

These steps are not substitutes for proper medical care. Hypothermia is a medical emergency and frostbite should be evaluated by a healthcare provider. It is a good idea to take a first aid and emergency resuscitation (CPR) course to prepare for cold-weather health problems.

Taking preventative action is your best defense against having to deal with extreme cold- weather conditions. By preparing your home and car in advance for winter emergencies, and by observing safety precautions during times of extremely cold weather, you can reduce the risk of weather-related health problems.