Juvenile System Needs Change
Remember the children’s story, “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” in which the King mistakenly believes a splendid suit is being made for him?
Eventually the whole town was convinced that the “clothes made of this cloth had a wonderful way of becoming invisible to anyone who was unfit for his office or who was unusually stupid.”
The King went on parade and was cheered, until one child proclaimed the truth. He was naked.
That story could be the theme for Geauga County’s juvenile systems.
A recent news article confirmed kids are being sent to detention home by our county that other counties don’t. Community-based solutions have been the trend in Juvenile Law for decades!
Reclaim Ohio gives rewards to communities that resist sending kids to DYS. Studies prove that once a child is incarcerated/institutionalized he/she is more likely to become an adult offender.
In addition, we passed a levy so that children’s services can continue to institutionalize children. We are paying for kids to be given dangerous drugs, teaching them that drugs solve problems. We accept that family is being usurped by institutions. Such children are often cut off from their family members who love them. I, personally, know of three cases where law-abiding grandparents and family were excluded. I have heard there are many more.
I challenge readers to learn the history of social work, and a time when children of the poor were swooped up from city streets and sent to farms, where many were abused and used as labor. I challenge similar regarding the history of the mental health industry. The state of Ohio requires children be placed with family first. There is a heroin epidemic, but real reason the number of children in institutions has increased is counties not following the laws. The Family First Prevention Services Act before Congress, H.R. 5456, seeks to end this horrific nationwide trend. It took an Act of Congress and Supreme Court rulings to ensure individual rights for institutionalized persons. Dependent children do not have the same rights.
In bureaucracies, there is excellence and ignorance, people with strong work ethic, who live by the Golden Rule, and people who abuse their power. And they all need funds.
The tainted history of “helping fields” is being repeated in Geauga County. Let us not be like the people in the Hans Christian Anderson story, afraid to declare the nakedness of the leader/leaders, so we won’t be thought of as stupid, or won’t fit in, or worse — punished.
Robin Neff
Chardon
A Tribute to Hoffstetter
Geauga County lost one of its best and most devoted long-term public servants this week with the passing of retired County Commissioner Neil Hoffstetter. He was a man of honor, integrity, and a champion of the people by opposing wasteful government spending and tax increases. He always put the people of Geauga County above politics.
Mr. Hoffstetter served Montville Township for decades as a firefighter and Township Trustee, and served Geauga County as a hardworking County Commissioner. Neil joined with then-State Representative Diane Grendell in the fight against e-check, which ultimately resulted in e-check being free for Geauga County residents; and he joined with then-State Senator Tim Grendell in the fight against unnecessary and overly expensive state-imposed home septic system regulations.
Mr. Hoffstetter was a strong supporter of local veterans. A veteran himself, he had proudly served in the U.S. Army, was a long time member of AMVETS, and co-chaired the Geauga County Veterans Memorial committee.
Neil and his wife Lillian attended countless community activities and supported many local community groups. Neil and Lillian made a great team, and Neil will be sorely missed.
Judge Diane V. Grendell
11th District Court of Appeals
Judge Timothy J. Grendell
Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court
Where is Grendell Bandwagon Headed Next?
The bandwagon must have passed by the courthouse and my guess is that Judge Grendell jumped on based on his recent letter to the editor. The good judge commended the Russell Park Board on the recent purchase of the Modroo Farm property. Rather strange as he has been appointing, in general, park commissioners that have not favored park land acquisition.
One individual in particular was heard to say that he would prevent the purchase of the Modroo property soon after his appointment. In my view, the only reason the board went ahead is because of public pressure for the acquisition.
Perhaps they feared a tar and feather party would be in the offing had they continued to make excuses to avoid the purchase. Russell citizens expressed their view in droves in spite of continued delays and an attempt at silencing by commissioners.
To get a picture of what Judge Grendell’s idea of the ideal park commissioner is, you need only make a public information request from the court of the long questionair the judge requires all applicants to fill out. Then request the actual paperwork filled out by the existing commissioners. The form is an obvious litmus test to pick people with little interest in protecting threatened natural areas. Occasionally, the judge makes a mistake and picks good people, but he corrects that not long after by prompt firings.
Nick Fischbach and Jeffery Orndorff, two excellent commissioners, suffered that fate at the hands of the good judge.
So, where is the Grendell bandwagon heading?
Likely where it will do him the most personal good, but not in the direction of protecting our diminishing natural areas . . . after all, that was the reason the Ohio legislature passed park district enabling legislation way back in the early l900s.
Maybe the good judge should have a read.
John G. Augustine
Parkman Township
Trump Appointment Unfit for EPA
As a scientist working and living in Ohio, and a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists, I strongly oppose President-elect Trump’s appointment of Scott Pruitt for the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Pruitt has a clear record of hostility to the EPA and of climate change denial. As Oklahoma attorney general, he repeatedly sued the EPA to overturn clean air and water rules; built a track record of standing up for fossil fuel interests over public interests; and helped lead efforts against the Clean Power Plan.
His statements and actions conflict with the job to which he has been nominated.
If confirmed, Pruitt may rescind public health standards, putting the health of all at risk.
He will likely not support efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are required to curb climate change.
Science-based safeguards play a vital role in protecting the health and safety of all. Pruitt’s history of willful denial of climate change and health science makes him unfit to lead the EPA. We need an Administrator that will adhere to science and preserve these protections.
Senator Portman should stand up for Ohioans and vote ‘no’ on Scott Pruitt for EPA Administrator.
Richard Coin
Hambden Township