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LISBON -- Fairfield Township resident Linda Garwood of Leetonia will join the Columbiana County health board in the seat left empty July 29 by the death of longtime board member Tom Haugh.
The Columbiana County Health District Advisory Council selected Garwood on Monday with a unanimous vote of the 15 members present after hearing county Commissioner Tim Weigle read her letter of interest. The unexpired term ends in March 2025.
In the letter dated Sept. 7, Garwood said she and her husband John were both raised on farms and continue engaging in the business of farming and harvesting and processing logs into firewood. She's employed by several local companies in the county as chief financial officer, with her responsibilities including managing payrolls, invoicing, billing, permitting and loan management. John is a Fairfield Township trustee.
"Serving the community has been vital in my lifetime as a past 4-H advisor and volunteer for over 35 years, Farm Bureau member for 41 years, and a lifetime Dairy Booster member. I feel I would be a valuable member of the health board with the experience I have over the years as a farmer and business owner/manager," she wrote.
A retired pharmacist and Wellsville resident, Haugh had been a member of the health board since his appointment in 2001 and attended the July meeting.
The county Health District Advisory Council, made up of township trustees and representatives of communities in the health district, meets at least twice a year and is responsible for appointing health board members.
After Weigle announced the vacancy and the letter of interest received from Garwood, Lisbon Mayor Peter Wilson questioned if the opening had been advertised and letters of interest requested. Weigle said letters were not requested but that he had talked to Garwood. He also mentioned they were short on time and this was just for the remainder of Haugh's unexpired term.
A story about Haugh's death and the health board opening had been published in this newspaper.
Weigle said the DAC will have a chance to see how she performs as a board member before a full term comes up for appointment.
The DAC's next meeting is tentatively set for 6 p.m. March 4 at the health department.
County Health Commissioner Dr. Wes Vins updated DAC members on the East Palestine train derailment efforts dealing with the health clinic and water well testing and also addressed a rise in COVID cases.
Vins said the health department is not seeing the severity of cases like before, with 127 cases so far this year and one hospitalization. There's one hospitalization for flu in the district so far, also.
"If you're sick, stay home," Vins said.
Free COVID at-home test kits are available at the health department.
He also announced the new COVID vaccine gained approval and the health department has an order in for vaccine for adults and children which has not been received yet. He said the goal is for the health department to host a drive-thru clinic for flu and COVID vaccines at the fairgrounds in mid-October. Dates will be announced when they're finalized.
Weigle said there's going to be a household hazardous waste drop-off event sometime at the end of the month or beginning of October at the fairgrounds. The times and dates will be announced. He wanted to make sure the two events don't interfere with each other.
Regarding the water well testing in the East Palestine/Negley area, Vins said ground water samples have been collected from 790 wells, some multiple times, but with no contamination related to the derailment to date.
Vins praised the staff of the health district in dealing with COVID when it hit in 2020 and then the train derailment this year, saying they've kept up with state and federal partners in East Palestine.
"Everybody pitched in," he said.
mgreier@mojonews.com