THE TOLEDO AREA IS SEEING AN INCREASE IN SERIOUS FLU CASES IN LINE WITH A RISE ACROSS THE STATE. THE NEWS OF THE INCREASE COMES ON THE HEELS OF THE WARNING FROM HEALTH EXPERTS THAT WE JUST TOLD YOU ABOUT.
THE TOLEDO-LUCAS HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORTS AN INCREASE IN SERIOUS FLU CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS - SO FAR UP TO 33 PEOPLE AND THAT NUMBER IS RISING.
AROUND THIS TIME LAST YEAR, THE AREA SAW ONLY TWO HOSPITALIZATIONS FROM THE FLU AND ZERO DEATHS.
THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS THE NUMBERS OF FLU-ASSOCIATED HOSPITALIZATIONS IN OHIO ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER WITH 200 THROUGH NOVEMBER COMPARED WITH 89 LAST YEAR.
TIMBER!! THAT'S A PHRASE LUMBERJACKS HEAR QUITE OFTEN IN THE FOREST, ESPECIALLY HERE IN OHIO RECENTLY.
A STATE EFFORT RAISED MORE THAN $1 MILLION FOR 18 RURAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES WITH THE SALES OF TIMBER FROM FOREST MANAGEMENT HARVESTING. THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES PRESENTED CHECKS TO SOME SCHOOLS, WITH THE BIGGEST GOING TO VINTON LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IN SOUTHEAST OHIO AT MORE THAN $300,000.
SMOKEY BEAR WAS ON HAND WITH DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS FOR SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS. THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT'S FORESTRY DIVISION'S "TREES TO TEXTBOOKS" EFFORT, SOME OF THE REVENUE FROM FOREST MANAGEMENT GOES TO THE COUNTY, TOWNSHIPS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHERE THE ACTIVITY TOOK PLACE.
'TIS THE SEASON FOR PARKING TICKETS - THAT'S NOT NORMALLY SOMETHING YOU HEAR AROUND THE HOLIDAYS.
BUT ONE NORTHEAST OHIO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ACTUALLY HELPING TRAFFIC VIOLATORS GET OUT OF GETTING A TICKET. AND, AS A RESULT, HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE A BRIGHTER CHRISTMAS.
AS THE CUYAHOGA FALLS POLICE PATROL THE STREETS MAKING TRAFFIC STOPS, VIOLATORS MIGHT BE ABLE TO AVOID GETTING A TICKET. THAT'S BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE ENFORCING THE TOYS FOR TICKETS PROGRAM. IT ALLOWS MOTORISTS WHO ARE STOPPED FOR A MINOR TRAFFIC OR PARKING OFFENSE TO ACCEPT A WARNING IN EXCHANGE FOR A WAIVER ASKING THEM TO DONATE A NEW TOY.
THE CUYAHOGA FALLS GOOD NEIGHBORS GROUP DISTRIBUTES THE DONATED TOYS TO AREA NEEDY CHILDREN IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS. THIS IS THE FIFTH YEAR FOR THE TOYS FOR TICKETS PROGRAM.