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Columbiana County auditor working for property tax reform

Local Columns

To the citizens of Columbiana County: A few weeks ago, I shared with you that my office, in compliance with Ohio law, was in the process of completing what is known as the Triennial Update with the Department of Taxation. I know that for many of you, property taxes have become a tremendous burden. As I shared with you previously, it is my strong belief that the current process of property evaluation is flawed and in desperate need of reform. Until that happens, my office and I have worked diligently to send evaluation proposals to the state that would serve to keep your tax ...

Guidance out of D.C. causing confusion about COVID boosters

Editorials

Changes in guidance out of Washington, D.C., have left many confused about the accessibility of COVID booster shots this fall. There are questions about eligibility, insurance, and even where a patient can get the vaccine. Axios tried to unravel the mystery and found states falling into three categories (they used one pharmacy chain, CVS, as the test): unavailable, available without a prescription and prescription required for specific age groups. West Virginia falls into the latter category — prescription required. But in Ohio, the shots are available without a prescription. ...

National metrics don’t reflect the economics of households

Editorials

When it comes to economic indicators, the big national metrics don’t always reflect what is happening in ordinary households. But families certainly understand what it means for them if they are forced to rely more on credit cards to get by. According to WalletHub’s “States with Largest and Smallest Credit Card Debt Increases,” released this month, Ohio has the eighth-largest credit card debt increase in the country in the second quarter. In the Buckeye State, the average credit card debt increased by $858,373 from Q1. The average household in the state owes $9,352 in credit ...

New Dem congressional map for Ohio goes nowhere fast

Local Columns

You’ve got to give Democratic state legislators a little credit for their quixotic congressional redistricting map proposal. At least they offered something even though the map was never going to go anywhere. The Democratic redrawing of lines would take the current map that favors Republicans 10-5, though two of the Democratic districts are very much tossups, and make it an 8-7 map in favor of the GOP. The Democrats introduced the map Tuesday. By Wednesday, the House Rules Committee, controlled by Republicans, didn’t even bother to refer the bill to a committee. Not that it would ...

Shingles are more likely as we age

Local Columns

Editor’s Note: The following column was originally published Feb. 21, 2020. Thanks to breakthroughs in medicine and nutrition in recent years, we are living longer than ever before. But this increase in life expectancy also brings an increase in the number of diseases, injuries and impairments that affect older adults. With this in mind, we at the local Visiting Angels office in Salem have created this series of articles to keep our older population and their families informed and to offer some practical advice for meeting the challenges faced by seniors and those who care for them. ...

On your feet: Common foot problems for seniors

Local Columns

Did you know that each of your feet has 26 bones and 33 joints? The number of muscles, tendons, and ligaments is more than double that. Your feet are complex structures that are exposed to a lot of wear over your lifetime. Think about how much time you spend walking, running, and simply moving across different terrains and shifting positions. As you age, the skin and fat pads on your feet become thinner. Circulation and feeling in your feet may decrease. Your bones may become more brittle and susceptible to injury. A twisted ankle, broken bone, blister, or cut can have a significant ...