SEORMC Diabetes Support Group Update

“Thank you for sponsoring the truck and tractor pull to raise funds for the diabetes support group,” said Chris Veselenak, R.N., C.D.E., to members of the Cambridge Lions Club. “We use those funds to purchase supplies to help local people who have diabetes.”

Veselenak, a registered nurse and certified diabetes educator, is the in-patient coordinator for diabetes education. She was joined by Cindy Fisher, R.N., B.S.N., the out-patient diabetes education coordinator. Both are employees of Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center.

“For some people insulin costs over one hundred dollars per month,” Veselenak said. “Testing strips cost one dollar each. Some people have to test four times a day. You can see how that would add up.”

While insurance covers the cost of some supplies for medication and supplies, it does not always cover all of the costs. The uninsured sometimes need help with these costs.

Fisher spoke about diabetes education classes. “We have been recognized by the American Diabetes Association for our classes,” she said. “We have been notified that we will have to start charging for classes to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Usually insurance will pay for this, but we will have a number of people who will still have a financial need for support.”

“We have a children’s support group,” Fisher said. “We also need to give our support to parents, and we prepare diabetes survival kits. We also need to make the schools aware of the students’ needs with their 504 plans.” These plans are for children with physical needs or other needs who are not covered by individual education plans.

“We will have a fund raiser in cooperation with the local Eagles organization,” Fisher said. “We will have a poker run, (a motorcycle ride where groups ride to different locations and pick up cards that are then combined at the end of the ride to form a poker hand for prizes.) “This money will be used to help local people with diabetes.”

There are two types of diabetes. Type one diabetes occurs most frequently in children and young adults when cells located in the pancreas stop producing insulin. Type two diabetes is a condition where the body may still be producing insulin but the body is not using it effectively, or it may not be producing it in sufficient quantities.

Complications from diabetes can affect the nerves and the blood vessels and may lead to kidney problems, circulatory problems, and blindness.
Dan Luskovich reported that the club had made a donation to the S.A.L.T. Factory. The Lions rose sale is underway with roses to be delivered September 18 and 19. Ron Guthrie reported that four people received assistance with the cost of eye glasses. Ken McConnell reported that materials for the annual peace poster contest have arrived, and he will be contacting local art teachers to distribute materials.

Judge Ellwood provides court statistics

Guernsey County Common Pleas Court Judge David A. Ellwood challenged the members of the Cambridge Lions Club to set a good example to our future generations by serving when called for jury duty. A show of hands indicated that a majority of the members had already served on a jury.

“We had a third grade class visit the court (last year),” Ellwood said. “I let them sit in the jury box and in the other seats in the courtroom. I explained how the court works.”

“They wrote thank you notes after their visit,” said Ellwood. “One girl said, ‘I hope to be a judge some day.’ Another student thanked me for explaining that the pictures in the court room were of all the men who had served as judges. (One student) asked, 'Do you think I could be a probation officer someday?’”

Ellwood introduced officers of the court and explained some of their duties saying, “I want to publicly recognize these people who do so much for the court.” He acknowledged the contributions of Capt. Tim Oliver, the chief probation officer and a certified instructor for court personnel, Lt. Bob Hollins, bailiff, Lt. Beth Brown, deputy chief probation officer, Sgt. Craig Savage, intensive supervised probation officer, Scott Jones, electronic monitored house arrest officer, Bob McCoy, bailiff of the small court, Kevin Shipe, probation officer, Kelly Gebhart, administrative assistant, and Chelsea Coburn, paralegal.

Ellwood reviewed court statistics comparing the first half of 2008 with the first half of 2007. “We have seen a decrease in violent crimes, but the theft of copper has increased. We need to send a message that the court will send copper thieves to jail.”

“The local court is assisting in trying to alleviate the mortgage crisis by trying to get the mortgage holders and the homeowners to work out other arrangements where possible rather than foreclosing. We have more foreclosures now than during the Great Depression in the 1930’s,” Ellwood said.

Ellwood said that Ohio laws allow for courts to charge a supervision fee for those convicted of nonviolent crimes. This helps pay for community service supervision and is a better solution than putting people in jail.

“We also have had over thirty-six thousand dollars paid back to the victims of crime,” Ellwood said.

The common pleas court hears cases involving divorce/dissolutions, child custody, visitation and support, personal injury, civil and criminal cases, and property foreclosures. The court also supervises the drug court program

Rose Sale Approaching

Lion Gene Moore has announced it's time, once again, for our annual Cambridge Lions Club Rose Sale September 18th and 19th. For $20 you can have a dozen roses delivered to your someone special and support the purchase of eyeglasses and sight assistance in our community! Orders can be placed with any Cambride Lions Club Member or call (740) 432-5940 or (740) 439-1543 to place an order. Don't miss out on this oppurtunity to put a smile on someone's face, and give the gift of sight!