Briefs: Pioneer awarded $6.6M, harm reduction vending machines, Crestline library programs

USA TODAY NETWORK
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Pioneer to receive $6.6M grant for career technical education

SHELBY — Pioneer Career & Technology Center has been selected as a recipient of a grant through through Ohio's Career Technical Construction Program. Pioneer is one of 35 career-technical planning districts in Ohio to receive a portion of the $200 million that is part of the state's recently passed budget bill. Pioneer will receive $6,613,375 to create an advanced manufacturing center and add additional programming on its Shelby campus.

“We are so excited that our proposal is being funded," said Pioneer Superintendent Greg Nickoli. "Adding an advanced manufacturing training facility as well as a residential electrical training program will enhance our ability to serve the students and employers of our region."

The advanced manufacturing center will house a second welding program at the school as well as its precision machining and its industrial maintenance programs. The residential electrical program is new for the school and will be housed in the former precision machining lab space.

Harm reduction vending machines now at Bucyrus and Galion Hospitals

Crawford County Public Health has partnered with Avita Health System to provide harm reduction vending machines outside the emergency department entrances at Bucyrus and Galion Hospitals.

These machines provide free, easily accessible life-saving tools and disease prevention supplies. They are stocked with naloxone, fentanyl test strips, at-home COVID-19 test kits, male condoms and female condoms. Community members have 24-hour access to the machines, and all of the items are free. Just select the item’s code as if using a standard drink or snack vending machine. No other information is required.

Crawford County Public Health and Avita Health System have partnered to provide harm reduction vending machines outside the emergency department entrances at Bucyrus and Galion Hospitals.
Crawford County Public Health and Avita Health System have partnered to provide harm reduction vending machines outside the emergency department entrances at Bucyrus and Galion Hospitals.

The machines at Bucyrus and Galion Hospitals were installed on Oct. 17. In the first week, 900 free products were distributed to community members, including 199 naloxone, 302 fentanyl test strips, 236 male condoms, 67 female condoms, and 96 at-home COVID-19 test kits.

Officials say harm reduction vending machines help reduce drug overdose deaths, as well as decrease the risk of spreading COVID-19, HIV, Hepatitis C, sexually transmitted infections and more. They have been used in other countries since 1987 when Denmark introduced the first one. They were launched in the United States in 2017 and have grown as the overdose crisis has worsened.

The machines in Crawford County are funded by the Drug Overdose Prevention Grant and maintained by Project DAWN. Crawford County Public Health stocks the vending machines daily Monday-Friday but cannot guarantee availability of products.

Crestline library plans two upcoming programs

CRESTLINE — The Crestline Public Library will host a program where participants can create greeting cards using the "iris folding" method. It's set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Instructor Dana Blankenship will lead this craft. Signup is necessary and there is a $5 fee for materials.

On Nov. 28 at 5:30 p.m. there will be a solar eclipse education program. Astronomer Dan Everly of Lowe Volk Park and the Gorman Rupp Observatory will discuss the solar eclipse that will cross much of the state, peaking in Crawford and Richland counties, on April 8. Free solar glasses will be distributed.

Mansfield News Journal

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Pioneer grant, Avita vending machines, Crestline library programs