MOUNT VERNON – Mount Vernon’s Police Department added a therapy dog for school resource officer Jeremiah Armstrong.
The officer is working with the middle school to name the dog, a Bernedoodle.
“The middle school is doing a fundraiser right now,” Mayor Matt Starr told the Mount Vernon News. “They're on their way to raising I think up to $5,000 for local charities, animal charities, (and) the winning class in the middle school gets to name the dog.”
Officials expect to announce the winning class and its name for the therapy dog on Thursday.
The Police Department has been considering a therapy dog for quite some time, he said. Donors include Rick and Carla Shaffer and Mike Pryjba of SOS Tree Service.
Mount Vernon City Schools superintendent William Seder Jr. gave the therapy dog his approval.
Beth Kane with Beth’s Bernedoodles assisted the city with the dog, which is one-third standard poodle and two-thirds Bernese mountain dog. She is expected to grow to about 60 pounds.
New phone system installed
A new VOIP (voice over internet protocol) phone system should result in big costs savings for the city, Starr said.
“Right now, we’re just doing the mayor’s office, safety-service director’s office and human resources,” he said.
The city participated in a pilot program with the Public Utilities Department.
“We didn't have any time that those phones went down over the last six months, and so we're encouraged. Plus, it's going to save a lot of money for the city,” he said.
Podcoast on domestic violence
The city produced a podcast last week on domestic violence with the help of the Law Office, Starr said. Law director Rob Broeren, assistant law director Brittany Whitney and client advocate Ellie Cline answered questions.
They discussed the department’s role in handling domestic violence cases and how the city law office staff are helping victims become survivors, They also outlined the work that they do with other agencies, Starr said. The podcast is posted on the city’s website.
The podcast concludes a series of four on domestic violence awareness. One of the podcasts was with Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and covered the Safe at Home program.
“Essentially, it's for people who are survivors of domestic abuse, who want to vote. And when you go and you vote, you have to put down that address and that's a public record. And so this program enables people who are survivors to not have to divulge where they live,” Starr said.
A podcast with New Directions discussed domestic violence in general and the programs the organization offers. The series kicked off with county recorder Tanner Salyers discussed property check, which helps protect residents against fraudulent activities relating to their property and alerts residents when official documents are recorded on their property or requested.
Civil Service
The city has had great success with lateral transfers of police officers to its Police Department. It also has a competitive entry level civil service exam at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 16 at the Knox County Career Center cafeteria. Applications and the job posting can be found on the city’s website under the Civil Service Department section.
Street Department
Five trucks were out the afternoon and evening of Jan. 6 putting salt out for the city’s first snowfall, Starr said.
The Street Department also began its annual traffic and stop sign inspections. This week, pothole patching was scheduled to begin. City residents can the department to notify them on where potholes can be found by calling 740-393-5019.
