News briefs: Law enforcement officers take CIT training
The Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board announced that 13 law enforcement officers and first responders, who serve in the Paint Valley ADAMH Board region, completed Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training on Friday, May 5. The weeklong, 40-hour class is designed to train law enforcement officers and first responders in skills that assist them in interacting with individuals with mental illness and/or a developmental disability.
Melanie Swisher, Executive Director of the Paint Valley ADAMH Board, said she, the board, and CIT Planning Committee are excited about being able to offer the training to increase safety for the community, officers, and first responders.
“Our first responders are daily met with crises. This training is so important to equip them with the skills to de-escalate situations safely and provide them with the knowledge of local resources that can assist them,” Swisher said.
A total of 172 officers and first responders across the Paint Valley ADAMH region have completed CIT training since the first class in 2013. Fayette County has five CIT officers, Highland County has 39 CIT officers, Pickaway County has 39 CIT officers, Pike County has 12 CIT officers, and Ross County has 76 CIT officers.
The CIT Planning Committee is comprised of mental health providers from Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center (SPVMHC), law enforcement officers, representatives from the Veterans Administration, and ADAMH staff who worked together to develop the local CIT training. The training is funded by the Paint Valley ADAMH Board, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Ohio provides additional funding for presenters to assure the best training in the state is available for our law enforcement officers.
The training was facilitated by Dr. James Hagen and Dr. Brian Bethel and included presenters from various local agencies including the Pickaway and Ross County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, Chillicothe Police Department, Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office, The Ohio State University, SPVMHC, VA Medical Center, NAMI Southern Ohio, and Ohio University Chillicothe.
May 2023 CIT Officers: Ofc. Brett McMillan, Hillsboro Police Dept., Sgt. Alex Hopkins, Waverly Police Dept., Ofc. Michael Maynard, South Bloomfield Police Dept., Paula Gibson, Scioto County Sheriff’s Dept., Ofc. Terry A. Davis, VAMC Police Dept., Lt. Benjamin H. Barker, VAMC Police Dept., Ofc. Bobby Sizemore, VAMC Police Dept., Ofc. Chance Blankenship, Chillicothe Police Dept., Corporal Kodi Jackson, Fayette Co Sheriff’s Dept., Sheriff Matthew Hafey, Pickaway Co Sheriff’s Dept., Detective Zackary Johnson, Pickaway Co Sheriff’s Dept., Deputy Colten Hale, Pickaway Co Sheriff’s Dept., Deputy Clark Kreager, Pickaway Co Sheriff’s Dept.
Small business topics to be discussed at workshop
PIKETON -- Affiliated Financial Group will be hosting a no-cost educational workshop for small business owners called: Small Business Topics and Tax Tips, What You Should Know.
It will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. May 25, at OSU Endeavor Center South, 1862 Shyville Road Ste #144, Piketon.
Starting or running your own business can challenge even the most seasoned entrepreneur. Join us and discuss the challenges faced by businesses owners in today's landscape and address how businesses can stay competitive amidst those challenges. This workshop will touch on business structure, tax saving tips, retirement plans, succession planning, and retirement, how Secure Act 2.0 affects small businesses.
"We are excited for the opportunity to share this information with local business owners and hope the material helps them navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship," said Sharon Nickell, Financial Professional with Affiliated Financial Group.
Meetings
The Ross County Planning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 16 in Conference Room D at the Ross County Service Center on Western Avenue.
Cristy's Pizza launches Community Giving Round-Up Program
CHILLICOTHE -- Starting in May, Cristy's Pizza will be launching a new program called Community Giving Round-Up. This program is designed to give back to the communities that have been so supportive of Cristy's Pizza over the years.
Every two months, a new cause will be featured on the Cristy's Pizza website, and customers will have the opportunity to round up or donate to the cause at the end of their online and in-store orders. Once the two-month donation period has ended, 100% of the proceeds will be donated directly to a local organization or charity that supports the chosen cause and Cristy’s will match a portion of the proceeds.
Chris Hammack and Jason Biggs started in the pizza business over 33 years ago. Over the years, Cristy's Pizza has grown to seven locations throughout Ohio including Lancaster, Baltimore, Circleville, Amanda, Logan, and Chillicothe.
With the launch of this program, Cristy's Pizza is taking another step toward fulfilling its mission of giving back.
The causes featured on the Cristy's Pizza website will be selected by Cristy's team members and will reflect issues that are close to their hearts. These causes may range from supporting local recovery centers and abuse shelters to helping those with terminal illnesses or supporting those with disabilities.
Cristy’s has announced that the first Community Giving Round Up cause will be tos upport local recovery centers -- a cause that is important to one of the owners, ChrisHammack.
“Like many of us, I have witnessed the negative effects of substance abuse on people I now from all walks of life. The trail of damage affects everyone in our communities in one form or another," he said in a news release. “Over the years, I have contacted the recovery center to find help for people close to me in need, including some members of my team. The Recovery Center staff has and continues to save lives and help families stay together. A true lifesaving organization to our communities.”
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: News briefs: Law enforcement officers take CIT training
