Holmes commissioners recognize efforts of mental health providers

Holmes County commissioners presented Mental Health & Recovery Board of Wayne and Holmes Counties Executive Director Nicole Williams with a proclamation recognizing May as Mental Health Month.

"Mental health is important and we need every day to reduce the stigma," Williams said. "Mental health is a part of us and it is important to be talking about it. We talk abut heart health and every part of health. Our brain is a part of us and it's important , and if we don't talk about it, we're doing ourselves a disservice.

"I think we do a good job of this in Holmes County," she added. "We have a lot of good services, and we have a lot of partner agencies here today. I see we're doing good things, and I'm proud of that."

Partners on hand were Jen Grim, executive director of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Wayne and Holmes Counties, Tami Mosser executive support of the MH&RB, Wayne Holmes Counseling Center CEO Tiffanie Kestner and Mark Woods of ANAZAO.

Commissioner Dave Hall said one in five U.S. adults and 478,000 adults in Ohio experience mental health illness each year.

"Resources have been established in Holmes County to help combat mental illness and promote mental wellness, including the partners here today," he said. "These numbers are staggering."

Williams added people just don't talk about it, especially in the farming community, where probably a lot goes unreported. She said state Sen. Al Landis recently spoke to NAMI about, Checking Your Engine, which focusses on farmers and that community.

Courthouse lighting project approved

In other business, the commissioners approved a resolution accepting a proposal for the Holmes County Courthouse tower lighting design from KLH Engineers for $38,500.

"This is something we've been working on for a long time," Commissioner Joe Miller said. "We've got good company here and I feel good about this."

"This group has done a lot in the southwest area and throughout the state," Hall added. "They have documents of lighting big and small historical sites. They are the experts who will give us guidance about what to put out there and where to place lights so the whole building is lit up properly."

KLH will recommend which lights should be used on the courthouse and partner with the commissioners for the rest of the project.

Successful recycling event at fairgrounds

Holmes County Solid Waste Director Tim Morris thanked the Lakeville Lakers 4-H Club, Gary Graham and other volunteers for helping to make the May 4 home hazardous recycling event go so well. He also thanked Holmes Rental for sponsoring and Millersburg Tire for its part in taking tires.

Morris said a steady stream of more than 300 vehicles went through 8 a.m.-noon. He said the most common item recycled was old television sets. He estimated about 200 TVs were brought in, along with other appliances and larger items not normally accepted at recycling sites throughout Holmes County.

"We had good help," Morris said. "I thought we had a pretty good turnout."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Holmes County commissioners laud efforts of mental health professionals