Latest news with #OpenDoorSchool
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
ChiliFest packs them in
Mar. 27—Annual DD event brings in hundreds COAL GROVE — It was packed throughout Open Door School on Saturday as at the community came out in droves for the annual ChiliFest. "We are very happy with the turnout," said Julie Monroe, superintendent with Lawrence County DD, "We've got a lot of people from the community and people with developmental disabilities, so it is a chance to interact. And it is a chance for people to come in and see our facilities. And it is a good experience for both." One of the students, Allen, who was acting as emcee for the event and other students were helping out where they could. And Monroe was having a good time. "I am! It is so good to see everyone," she said. "And the chili is really good. My favorite part is the wonderful chili and all the vendors." There were 20 different groups offering up their best chili to both support the school fundraiser and to get bragging rights. Those tasked to judge the 20 entries this year were Lawrence County auditor Paul David Knipp, Lawrence County Probate Judge Patricia Sanders, Big John and Bill Cornwell from Kindred Communications and Lawrence County Commissioner Colton Copley. This is the fifth or sixth year that Copley has been a judge. He said the Open Door school does a great job with the funding they have and that he appreciated that fundraisers like Chilifest brings out the community and the kids and adults that use the Lawrence County DD programs. "I do like to come here and have great chili, but the real thing is coming out to raise money to support their budget. It is much needed," he said. And as a long-time chili judge, what is his secret to picking the best. "You just take them one at a time," he said, adding he created a number system so he can keep track. Although, he favors the more traditional chili. "I am a traditional guy," he said. "I enjoy the chicken chilis, but I find myself leaning to the traditional flavor. I think growing up, going to elementary school here in southern Ohio, I remember the traditional chili with a peanut butter sandwich. That's the one I kind of end up leaning towards." There were also a couple dozen vendors on hand selling everything from candy to popcorn to syrup to crafts. "We have vendors all over the school," Monroe said. "This year, we have local honey and local maple syrup. We have all kinds of Easter candies. You could come here and shop early for Easter."
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
LCDD honored at commissioners meeting
Mar. 2—The Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce had a group of special visitors on Tuesday. Students from Open Door School attended, as a proclamation was read in honor of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The proclamation makes March DD Awareness Month in Lawrence County. President Ronald Reagan first made March Developmental Disabilities Month in 1982 "to increase awareness of the contributions and challenges of millions of Americans who have some form of developmental disability," read Commissioner DeAnna Holliday. "The Lawrence County DD programs serve over 600 individuals with developmental disabilities throughout Lawrence County and their families. We acknowledge that all people are capable of contributing to the community and support the full inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of community living." The commission then took a moment to take their picture with the students before resuming the county's business. "We are glad everybody is here," said Commission President Colton Copley. Julie Monroe, superintendent with LCDD, thanked the commissioners for their continued support of LCDD. "This month is about shining a spotlight on what our people need in this community," she said. "They have abilities and give back just like everyone else." She added they look forward to all the events they will be having this month including their annual Chilifest be on March 22 from 10 a.m. — 2 p.m. at the Open Door School, 606 Carlton Davidson Lane, Coal Grove. "We look forward to seeing everyone there," Monroe said. Lawrence County 911 coordinator Nick Kuhn gave the commissioners a rundown of the calls they calls the 911 center got last year. He said that in 2024, the dispatch center answered 43,072 calls, of those, 22,993 were 911 calls. Kuhn said while the numbers seemed different, if there was, say, a fire or a car accident, the center will get multiple calls from the public for the same event. "We could get five or ten calls just for one thing," he said. Kuhn added that 98 percent of 911 calls were answered within three seconds, "which puts in the top tier for compliance with the state." He added the average time, from the call to the appropriate agency being notified, was 90 seconds. The dispatchers have also been trained in fire dispatch protocols and with the new protocol and the short dispatch time, it helps to lower insurance rates for Lawrence County residents. He added that other agencies across the state have been talking with their Lawrence County counterparts, including the Ohio State Highway Patrol and other counties' dispatch center have begun mirroring Lawrence County procedures. "This is all made possible by teamwork. There has been a lot of great teamwork happening," Kuhn said, adding that dispatchers are putting in a lot of extra time and training to get better. He said before a recent snowstorm, people came in and slept in the office just in case an emergency arose in the county. "I am pretty proud of that." The Lawrence County Commissioners meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday on the third floor of the Lawrence County Courthouse.
