Tag: David Miller

Families weigh the risks of sending a loved one to a nursing home during the coronavirus pandemic

By Ginger Christ and Rachel Dissell

Data analysis and Graphics by Cid Standifer

This article provided to Loveland Magazine was edited by David Miller and is by by Eye on Ohio, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Ohio Center for Journalism. Please join their free mailing list as this helps us provide more public service reporting.

In early March, just as Ohioans were learning about the first cases of novel coronavirus in the state, Anna Bondar’s grandfather fell at his Cleveland home.

Luckily, the 92-year old, who lives with dementia, wasn’t injured badly.

The tight-knit family started to discuss the possibility of a nursing home, though they had serious reservations.

Their tough choice was made even more difficult by mounting fears about the coronavirus. In nearly four months, COVID-19 has infected more than 31,191 people statewide and has proven particularly deadly for residents of long-term care facilities in Ohio.

Seventy percent of the reported deaths in Ohio due to COVID-19 complications have been in long-term care facilities, which is among the highest in the country.

Nationally the portion of COVID-19-related deaths in long-term care facilities has hovered just over 40%, though the amount of testing done in nursing homes varies significantly by state.

Every day, families like Bondar’s are making what can feel like an impossible choice – whether to send a loved one to a nursing home where they will receive around-the-clock specialized care but face a greater risk of contracting COVID-19, or to care for that person at home where risk of transmission is lower but providing care can be more challenging.

Even before the pandemic, sorting through the myriad of quality ratings and measures was daunting enough. Then, COVID-19 deaths started to soar.

Now, families and seniors agonize over what could be life or death choice using confusing numbers on infection “hotspots” and without the ability to visit nursing homes to observe how the staff cares for residents – which is the number one recommendation of most advocates.

Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Department of Health

State officials, including Dr. Amy Acton, the former director of the Department of Health, have emphasized that “congregate” settings like nursing homes are at highest risk of infection. Staff, who often travel between facilities, need to be in close contact with residents to provide care. And residents, who are primarily older and have multiple medical conditions, are more susceptible to COVID-19-related complications.

“All of this makes it high risk. At the same time, it’s really necessary for many patients to be there,” said Dr. Steven Schwartz, a geriatric physician at the Cleveland Clinic who travels to nursing homes as part of the Clinic’s Center for Connected Care.

Ohio National Guardmembers will begin testing all staff members and any residents who likely were exposed to COVID-19 in the state’s nursing homes, Gov. Mike DeWine announced May 27. What are being called Congregate Care Unified Response Teams will focus on facilities where confirmed or assumed positive cases are reported in hopes of reducing the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Ohio’s nursing homes, which as of May 27 was 5,324 resident cases and more than 1,442 deaths.

Infection rates in Ohio Nursing Homes

Making an educated decision

Last month, state officials began to release the numbers of reported infections and deaths in long-term care facilities, which include nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and assisted living centers.

But it’s unclear how much the numbers – which are reported weekly and are also tracked cumulatively – matter for families currently trying to choose a facility.

The state, on its coronavirus website, says the infection and death numbers shouldn’t replace a thoughtful conversation with a nursing facility about infection control practices and that “residents and family members should understand that the presence of COVID-19 at a facility is [in] no way an indicator of a facility that isn’t following proper procedures.”

Yet many in the health care industry say infection information should be considered, along with other factors, when deciding which site to choose.

“If you see a nursing home with a large outbreak, that’s something to worry about. If you see a nursing home with a small outbreak, I’m not sure it means anything but bad luck.”

“If you see a nursing home with a large outbreak, that’s something to worry about. If you see a nursing home with a small outbreak, I’m not sure it means anything but bad luck,” said Dr. James Campbell, department chair of geriatric medicine at MetroHealth.

The infection information provided by the state can be useful, for instance, if a family is choosing between two similar facilities, said Nate Cyrill, a Long Term Care Ombudsman for Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties.

Since information on the virus changes rapidly, most families still rely on the quality measures that were available before COVID-19, including existing state and federal online guides Cyril said.

One of the commonly-used ranking systems, maintained by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, assigns ratings – from 1 to 5 “stars” – to facilities based on performance on quality measures, staffing and inspections.

The number of “stars” Ohio’s nursing homes received, however, does not appear to have a correlation to the number of infections reported to the state, based on a comparison of the publicly available information. The analysis did not include assisted living facilities.

Cases vs. Star rating

“You want to look for a nursing home that’s four of five stars preferably but even that doesn’t tell you the whole story,” Steven Schwartz said.

There are numerous 1-star rated facilities that have reported few infections, like Whetstone Gardens and Care Center in Columbus, which has reported 9 cases or 8 per 100 residents.

Salem North Healthcare Center in northern Columbiana County had 51 patients test positive for the virus as of May 20, as well as five staff, according to the state. It is rated a 5-star facility, the highest rating from CMS.

It’s one of four 5-star facilities with an infection rate over 50 cases per 100 residents, based on Medicare’s calculation of each facility’s average number of residents. (The rate does not include infections among staff because the number of staff in each facility was not available.)

Since April, the focus on high numbers of reported infections, often referred to as clusters, in long-term care facilities has intensified. In some cases, those numbers are a reflection of the level of testing, said Fred Stratmann, general counsel and chief compliance officer for CommuniCare Health Services. It doesn’t mean all of the residents with a positive test had symptoms of COVID-19. The state infection numbers also don’t show the residents who have recovered from the virus, he said.

CommuniCare, which operates close to 90 health care facilities in seven states has been proactive about testing, Stratmann said. When COVID-19 cases started to appear at the North Salem facility, the company enlisted the state’s “strike team” to proactively test all of the residents. It has since re-tested all of the residents who were initially negative and purchased 3,000 testing kits to supplement what the state could provide.

“We wanted to be certain of the extent of COVID in this center in order to be able to properly treat it and to fight back against it,” Stratmann said. The facility does that by isolating any COVID-19-postive patients in a separate unit with its own dedicated staff and by admitting new residents to an observation unit for 14 days to make sure they have no symptoms of infection, he said.

Restrictions on visits make choices harder

The most effective way to scout out a facility typically is to visit it, preferably unannounced, said Dr. James Campbell, department chair of geriatric medicine at MetroHealth. However, because visitors aren’t permitted in nursing homes right now, the next best thing is to ask detailed questions about care, any COVID-19 cases and infection control measures, he said.

Campbell also suggested turning to hospital staff, who work with nursing homes regularly, for advice. Social workers can place five people in a week, while most individuals face that decision, at most, only a few times in their lives, he said.

Cyrill said his agency can also provide information that can’t be found online for families trying to choose between facilities.

Cyrill said his agency can also provide information that can’t be found online for families trying to choose between facilities.

The agency, along with other similar independent agencies across the state, investigates complaints in long-term care, skilled nursing, group homes and rehabilitation facilities and can share what are called “verified complaints” that aren’t otherwise available publicly.

Most of the complaints investigated in relation to COVID-19, Cyrill said, have been related to visitation or the ability of families to get information on a loved one’s condition.

It’s been harder, though, for Cyrill and his colleagues to investigate complaints with COVID-19 restrictions in place.

It’s been harder, though, for Cyrill and his colleagues to investigate complaints with COVID-19 restrictions in place.

Under normal circumstances, an ombudsperson would go to the facility and talk to patients and could do so without announcing the visit in advance. Since visits are restricted for infection control reasons, they have to work through staff to speak to residents or to ask questions, which isn’t optimal. And they aren’t able to make direct observations.

“It makes our job much more challenging,” Cyrill said.

At the North Salem facility, which has had about a dozen new residents admitted or transfered from other facilities, the staff has given “virtual tours” over the phone to family members or prospective residents who were in the hospital, Stratmann said. The company also invested in technology that won’t replace face-to-face visits but enables more family contact and the ability and for staff to help keep residents’ spirits up by making videos of activities, like dancing and singing, to keep them connected with the local community.

In addition, Stratmann said they walk families through the infection control procedures and share techniques they have implemented to improve health outcomes for patients with COVID-19 including, when appropriate:

Treating residents with anticoagulant medications to reduce the risk of blood clots and strokes, which has been a factor in some COVID-19-related fatalities.
Using Amino Acid supplements, which emerging studies show may inhibit virus replication.
Practicing “proning” or positioning residents, while awake, flat on their belly and chest to reduce the buildup of fluid in lung tissue and reduce the risk of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, which has been associated with many COVID-19 fatalities.

The idea of putting their beloved grandfather in a nursing home was gut-wrenching

Choosing home

For Bondar’s family, the idea of putting their beloved grandfather in a nursing home was gut-wrenching, especially as visitation was curtailed to limit the virus’ spread. He speaks Russian, his native language, and would not have been able to communicate well with the staff caring for him.

Medicare Nursing Home Compare Search

“It felt like admitting him [to a facility] would be like saying goodbye,” Bondar said. “Like leaving him to die.”

Bondar’s family ultimately decided to care for her grandfather at home, in his Mayfield Heights senior highrise, where they could limit his exposure to the virus.

Before his fall, an aide visited for about eight hours a week. After the Ohio’s “stay at home” order was put in place March 23, Bondar and her mother were able to work from home and pitch in with care.

The advice of the Clinic’s Steven Schwartz led them to a hospice program, which helped the family find additional aides, including one who speaks Russian, as well as a hospital bed for safer sleeping and a wheelchair.

The home care route isn’t the easiest but Bondar said the family feels like they have more contact and control over the quality of care.

The home care route isn’t the easiest but Bondar said the family feels like they have more contact and control over the quality of care.

“We’ll do this as long as we can manage it,” Bondar said.

Anecdotally, it is a choice more families are making: the decision to use home care or even pull family members out of nursing homes out of fear or because they miss them and can’t visit, Steven Schwartz said.

“Sometimes it’s appropriate. But sometimes, even given everything, it may be safer to have your family member there to get stronger and get the necessary care,” said Steven Schwartz. “I would really try to balance the benefit of going to a nursing home versus the risk.”

Patients with dementia or Alzehimer’s may be unsafe going back home.

Patients with dementia or Alzehimer’s may be unsafe going back home, he said, and families may need to decide if a nursing home really is the safer place.

One of the first orders Ohio put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 was to halt in-person visitation in more than 900 nursing and long-term care facilities. The state is not yet ready to lift those restrictions and resume visits in those settings, Gov. Mike DeWine said, but on June 8 will start allowing outdoor visits at assisted living facilities care centers for individuals with disabilities.

“We are not to nursing homes yet and I know that causes anguish for a lot of people who are watching this but we’re trying to do this so that we don’t increase the COVID inside the nursing homes or the assisted living or the immediate care facilities,” DeWine said during a May 28 briefing.

Decisions made harder

Figuring out what kind of care might be best for a patient has become more challenging, too.

Previously, nurses and social workers would visit clients in their homes to assess how they functioned – whether they could independently bathe, cook and grocery shop, said Theresa Foster, a nurse and licensed social worker at Western Reserve Area Office on Aging.

They relied on conversations with clients and family and also observations of the environment in the home and possible risks, said Foster, who runs the agency’s resource center.

Those assessments were used to determine whether a person could safely remain at home with community support or whether they needed facility-level care and what resources, whether subsidized or private, existed to pay for the services.

Now, those assessments are done by phone and can be done successfully, but it is more difficult, Foster said.

At UH’s hospitals, medical staff use a scoring system to determine the best place for a patient being discharged, said Dr. Sean Cannone, UH’s medical director for population health.

Patients are assessed on their ability to perform daily tasks and on their cognitive abilities.

“We’re trying as much as we can to get patients home if at all possible,” he said. The goal is to provide patients with resources so they can receive care in whichever setting they prefer.

**The goal is to provide patients with resources so they can receive care in whichever setting they prefer.**

“We want to respond to what people really want for their own care,” Cannone said.

The shift started before COVID-19 cases surfaced but has accelerated as more families worry about potential exposure to the virus in congregate living situations.

As technology has advanced, the capabilities of what can be done in a patient’s home has also increased. In March, UH introduced a new patient management system, Massimo SafetyNet, for remote monitoring.

When patients are released from the emergency room or from a COVID-19 floor, providers now put a bluetooth sensor on their wrist — it looks like an Apple Watch — that streams data about a patient’s vitals to a central monitoring center, said Jonathan Sague, UH’s vice president of clinical operations. That way, providers can make sure a patient is safe at home.

Douglas Beach is the chief executive officer at Western Reserve Area Office on Aging

Douglas Beach, chief executive officer at Western Reserve Area Office on Aging, has had firsthand experience weighing care decisions amid COVID-19 worries. His mother is rehabilitating in a nursing home after a six-week hospital stay related to a heart condition.

Not being able to visit her in the hospital or the facility has been hard, Beach said. He and his brother, who is a doctor, had to make all of the arrangements by phone, including figuring the best way to transport her that would have the lowest risk of exposure to the virus.

“Home and community-based services is what I do,” Beach said. Part of his mission is to advocate for the setting that allows for any person, whether they are older adults or live with a disability, to be as independent as possible .

But for his mother, a nursing facility was the right choice because she needed 24-hour care that her family could not provide at home.

Beach said nursing homes have had to deal with an unprecedented set of circumstances: a new virus, initial unknowns about transmission and populations at extremely high risk for complications.

Nursing homes will continue to play a vital role and will remain the best option for people who need more care than can be safely provided at home, Beach said.

For the more than 9,500 clients his agency serves in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties, delivering care at home, with health aides, nurses and community and family supports, has proven a low risk. As of mid-May only 35 clients had tested positive for the virus, he said. That is roughly 0.3% of clients, though not all clients are tested.

Managing COVID-19

Cuyahoga County nursing homes have been paired with one of the area’s three largest hospital systems during the pandemic, Campbell said. The hospitals help the facilities both prepare for and respond to COVID-19 cases.

“The goal is when you have one patient in a nursing home with COVID is to make sure you don’t end up with 30 patients with COVID,” Campbell said.

UH developed what is being called a playbook for local nursing homes. The playbook gives facilities a plan for how to respond if there’s a COVID-19 outbreak on-site, said Sague, who works as a firefighter and medic on the weekends.

“It can be pretty startling and pretty alarming if they’re not ready for it,” Sague said.

The playbook gives guidelines on screening, triaging, determining exposure, testing and isolating those who test positive, as well as how to get personal protective equipment, increase staffing and to eventually reopen safely, Sague said.

Once a case is identified at a facility, what is known as an intercept team is dispatched — either virtually or in person — to help a nursing home handle it, he said.

Patrick Schwartz, director of strategic communications for LeadingAge Ohio, a long-term care trade association, said access to testing and safety equipment has been a consistent problem for Ohio’s nursing homes.

But in the past month or so, the state has made “a definite shift” and started prioritizing testing at nursing homes, which is helping, he said.

Patrick Schwartz said he hoped the expanded testing would enable facilities to test their entire population— of residents and staff — so they can better limit the spread of the virus.

Throughout Ohio, populations that have received mass testing — health care workers, first responders, those incarcerated and those in nursing homes — have had higher numbers of positive cases. Many people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic, so it is unknown if they have the virus until they are tested.

“Since this pandemic first reared its head, it was clear to long-term care providers that the front lines would be in long-term care,” Patrick Schwartz said. The populations at those congregate living facilities, many of whom are older and have multiple medical conditions, are among the most vulnerable for complications from COVID-19, he said.

In Cuyahoga County, and elsewhere, local health departments have deployed limited testing resources to nursing homes quickly in hopes of limiting spread in and between facilities and given guidance to homes about how to isolate patients and trace exposures between facilities to limit the spread of infection.

Cuyahoga County Health Commissioner Terry Allan said nursing homes try to guard against outbreaks but have varying degrees of resources. The assistance from the National Guard will allow more residents and staff at facilities in Northeast Ohio to be tested, he said.

Support for this project was provided by the Center for Community Solutions.

Questions to ask:

How can family members stay in touch with residents while visiting is restricted?
Does staff facilitate video visits? Is window visiting allowed?
How often will the facility provide updates on a resident’s condition?
How much COVID-19 testing is being done? Is the facility proactively testing patients or only those with symptoms?
Are private rooms available?
Do staffing ratios allow for residents to be taken outside?
Are residents currently restricted to rooms?
Are separate units and staffs used for COVID-19-positive patients and COVID-19-negative patients?
How does the facility work to limit COVID-19 complications?

Results List Table for (25 miles) 45140

Nursing home information	Overall RatingSelect to sort Ascending or Descending	Health inspectionsSelect to sort Ascending and Descending	StaffingSelect to sort Ascending and Descending	Quality measuresSelect to sort Ascending and Descending	DistanceSorted ascending, Select to sort descending
OTTERBEIN LOVELAND 6405 SMALL HOUSE CIRCLE LOVELAND, OH 45122 (513) 833-0472	2 out of 5 stars^footnote Below Average	2 out of 5 stars^footnote Below Average	4 out of 5 stars^footnote Above Average	1 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Below Average	1.4 Miles
LOVELAND HEALTH CARE CENTER 501 NORTH SECOND STREET LOVELAND, OH 45140 (513) 605-6000	4 out of 5 stars^footnote Above Average	4 out of 5 stars^footnote Above Average	1 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Below Average	5 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Above Average	2.6 Miles
FLORENTINE GARDENS 409 WARDS CORNER ROAD LOVELAND, OH 45140 (513) 630-1140	5 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Above Average	4 out of 5 stars^footnote Above Average	2 out of 5 stars^footnote Below Average	5 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Above Average	3.4 Miles
ARBORS AT MILFORD 5900 MEADOWCREEK DRIVE MILFORD, OH 45150 (513) 248-1655	1 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Below Average	1 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Below Average	2 out of 5 stars^footnote Below Average	1 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Below Average	4.2 Miles
THE LAURELS OF MILFORD 934 STATE ROUTE 28 MILFORD, OH 45150 (513) 831-1770	2 out of 5 stars^footnote Below Average	2 out of 5 stars^footnote Below Average	2 out of 5 stars^footnote Below Average	4 out of 5 stars^footnote Above Average	4.2 Miles
VENETIAN GARDENS 1650 STATE ROUTE 28 LOVELAND, OH 45140 (513) 722-0700	4 out of 5 stars^footnote Above Average	4 out of 5 stars^footnote Above Average	1 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Below Average	5 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Above Average	4.4 Miles
LODGE CARE CENTER INC THE 9370 UNION CEMETERY ROAD LOVELAND, OH 45140 (513) 677-4900	4 out of 5 stars^footnote Above Average	4 out of 5 stars^footnote Above Average	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average	4 out of 5 stars^footnote Above Average	5.2 Miles
MEADOWBROOK CARE CENTER 8211 WELLER ROAD CINCINNATI, OH 45242 (513) 489-2444	4 out of 5 stars^footnote Above Average	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average	2 out of 5 stars^footnote Below Average	5 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Above Average	6.3 Miles
OTTERBEIN AT MAINEVILLE 201 MARGE SCHOTT WAY MAINEVILLE, OH 45039 (513) 309-5650	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average	2 out of 5 stars^footnote Below Average	4 out of 5 stars^footnote Above Average	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average	6.7 Miles
TWIN LAKES 9840 MONTGOMERY ROAD CINCINNATI, OH 45242 (513) 247-1301	5 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Above Average	5 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Above Average	5 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Above Average	5 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Above Average	6.8 Miles
S.E.M. HAVEN HEALTH CARE CENTER 225 CLEVELAND AVENUE MILFORD, OH 45150 (513) 248-1270	5 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Above Average	5 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Above Average	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average	5 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Above Average	7.0 Miles
KENWOOD TERRACE CARE CENTER 7450 KELLER ROAD CINCINNATI, OH 45243 (513) 793-2255	2 out of 5 stars^footnote Below Average	2 out of 5 stars^footnote Below Average	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average	7.5 Miles
BLUE ASH CARE CENTER 4900 COOPER ROAD CINCINNATI, OH 45242 (513) 793-3362	1 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Below Average	1 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Below Average	1 out of 5 stars^12footnote Much Below Average	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average	7.7 Miles
MONTGOMERY CARE CENTER 7777 COOPER ROAD CINCINNATI, OH 45242 (513) 793-5092	1 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Below Average	1 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Below Average	1 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Below Average	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average	7.7 Miles
SANCTUARY POINTE NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER 11501 HAMILTON AVENUE CINCINNATI, OH 45231 (513) 648-7000	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average	2 out of 5 stars^footnote Below Average	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average	5 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Above Average	7.7 Miles
COURTYARD AT SEASONS 7100 DEARWESTER DRIVE CINCINNATI, OH 45236 (513) 984-7274	5 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Above Average	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average	4 out of 5 stars^footnote Above Average	5 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Above Average	8.1 Miles
MADEIRA HEALTH CARE CENTER 6940 STIEGLER LANE CINCINNATI, OH 45243 (513) 561-6400	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average	4 out of 5 stars^footnote Above Average	8.5 Miles
WEXFORD PLACE INC. 3889 EAST GALBRAITH ROAD CINCINNATI, OH 45236 (513) 793-5222	2 out of 5 stars^footnote Below Average	1 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Below Average	1 out of 5 stars^12footnote Much Below Average	5 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Above Average	8.6 Miles
WEXFORD CARE CENTER 3875 EAST GALBRAITH ROAD CINCINNATI, OH 45236 (513) 793-5222	1 out of 5 stars^footnote Much Below Average	2 out of 5 stars^footnote Below Average	1 out of 5 stars^12footnote Much Below Average	4 out of 5 stars^footnote Above Average	8.6 Miles
CEDAR VILLAGE SENIOR LIVING 5467 CEDAR VILLAGE DRIVE MASON, OH 45040 (513) 754-3100	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average	3 out of 5 stars^footnote Average

Jun 14, 2020

BOE adopts two new meeting policies

Loveland, Ohio – During the COVID-19 pandemic, Loveland City School District (LCSD) Board of Education meetings have been live-streamed to provide public viewing. The Board is not meeting in person, instead, they are using the “Zoom” App and putting their meetings on YouTube. At their

Meet the 2 New School Board Members Dougherty and Schwetschenau

last meeting on June 2, a decision was made to leave the videos on-line, instead of deleting them from further public viewing when the meeting is over.

Also, at the meeting, they discussed how the public could again participate in their “Business” meetings and restoring the public participation portion of the meeting that is usually on the agenda.

In a press release issued by the District on June 12, it stated, “The Board is committed to hearing from the public and continues to welcome input through email.”

While meetings are not open for the public to attend, the Board requests that you email your input to the Board of Education at board@lovelandschools.org.

The Board must have received your email by 4 PM on the date of the meeting if you wish to have it read at the beginning of the meeting, and you must indicate that you wish to have the statement read aloud.

Guidelines

Your statement should not be longer than three minutes, should not reference names of employees or students of the district, and should not include any offensive comments or language.

Statements will be read in the order in which they are received, for a total of no more than 30 minutes. All statements will be available to all Board of Education members and those not fitting within the 30-minute limitation will be noted as having been received. All members of the public submitting statements will have their names recorded in the public participation section of the minutes of the meeting.

The next business meeting of the Board of Education is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23.

A link to the live stream of the meeting, along with the agenda will be published at https://go.boarddocs.com/oh/love/Board.nsf/Public ahead of the meeting. The agenda has not yet been published.

Jun 13, 2020
[BREAKING] Warren County Health Director sees rapid increase in community spread of COVID-19 cases
Warren County, Ohio – A press release just issued by the Warren County Health District:

As Warren County continues to reopen from the COVID-19 pandemic closures, the Warren County Health District wants the residents of our county to know that we are seeing a rapid increase in community spread of COVID-19 cases.

If you have attended family gatherings, church services, funerals, or live in an apartment building or other multi-family dwelling, we encourage you to monitor yourself closely for any symptoms and consult your doctor if necessary. Many times the symptoms are similar to mild seasonal allergies and may include, but are not limited to: fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, runny nose, congestion and loss of taste or smell.

As the county has continued to reopen, the Health District wants to encourage you to take precautions to protect yourself and to stay healthy, by reducing the spread of COVID-19, as you are out in the community.

If you are sick, stay home.

Wear a face covering over your nose and mouth when around others, to protect others and yourself.

Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and other people.

Avoid large gatherings and confined spaces, whenever possible.

Use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol when out in public or you cannot wash your hands.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer after cough or sneezing.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth as much as possible. The Health District is continuing to work to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of all Warren County residents. For the latest information and updates about the current situation visit www.coronavirus.ohio.gov. If you have questions or concerns call (513) 695-2475.
OHIO
Jun 12, 2020
Coney Island opening day is june 12

Coney Island advance reservations required

In order to align with social distancing best practices, Coney Island is limiting its daily attendance this season. Accordingly, all guests must make an advance reservation in the form of a daily ticket or a season pass reservation. Daily tickets are available online and can NOT be purchased at the park. Season passholders may make reservations via a new system that will be launching shortly. Additional information will be shared with season passholders via email soon. Thank you for your understanding.

Read the 2020 Guest Policies

Jun 11, 2020
How Bout’ a Summer Salad?!
by Cassie Mattia

Loveland, Ohio – Summer is finally here! As the temperatures start to rise, Loveland’s local businesses are preparing by offering fresh Summer specials, releasing new products, supporting new local causes, hosting fun community events, and creating fitness challenges.

Here at Loveland Magazine, we thought it would be fun to share with you, our loyal readers, the “Summer Salad!” This segment will include everything you need to know about the community of Loveland and its local businesses so that you can live out your Summer to the fullest! So what are you waiting for Loveland?! Read below to see how you can support Loveland and have fun while doing it this Summer!

Looking for a job?

Community of Loveland, Ohio are you looking for a job and you have previous gutter installing experience? All American Gutter Protection is hiring! Visit All American Gutter Protection’s Facebook Page for more details: https://www.facebook.com/EndGutterCleaningForever/

Want to help a local cause?

Loveland Interfaith Effort LIFE is asking students to donate both backpacks and school supplies that they will no longer be using! Read below to see how you and your children can get involved now!

“Now that your kids have finished their school year (albeit most unusual!), you’re likely cleaning out papers, book bags, etc. If you have gently used required reading books that are not likely to be read again, please consider donating them to LIFE for our August Student LIFE Shop event–they’ll be added to the age-appropriate backpacks and supplies. Donations can be dropped at any time to the bins inside the glass doors at the side entrance of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, or to the donation entrance at the Pantry (back of the church by the preschool ramp) during open hours (Th: 3-6:30, Sat. 9-12:30). Thanks for sharing the love of reading with our kids!”

THIS WEEK’S PRIMARY NEEDS
Beans of any kind Mixed vegetables Jelly Peanut butter Oatmeal Cereal Rice or rice dishes Fresh potatoes Fresh onions Apples or oranges
Symmetry Women’s Virtual Event

The time is almost here for the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance’s Symmetry Women’s Virtual Event! Visit this link: http://business.lovelandchamber.org/events/details/symmetry-2020-women-s-executive-virtual-event-6801 to see how you can join the event and receive your own SWAG BAG!

The Loveland Museum Center Asks…

Loveland, Ohio can you guess what this picture is of? Loveland Museum Center will be doing more fun picture challenges for the community throughout the Summer! Check https://www.facebook.com/LovelandHistoricalMuseum/ for the photo challenge results!

LAST WEEK MANY OF YOU CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED THE JACK FOR AN AUTOMOBILE. HOW MANY OF YOU WILL IDENTIFY THIS WEEK’S “WHAT IS THIS” CORRECTLY?

Go to the Museum’s FaceBook page to submit you guess.

The museum will be closed on weekends until further notice. Scheduled events are postponed indefinitely. Check here and Museum Center Web page for updates. The office will remain open part-time and phone messages and emails will be answered in a timely manner.

Loveland, Ohio if you have been following or are a part of Vibe Fitness Loveland’s Fitness Challenge the winners are being announced shortly! Stay tuned to their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/vibefitloveland/ for the fitness challenge winners!

Wow, check out these SUMMER flavors at Vibe Nutrition! Grab your favorite flavor today to cool down on the hottest day of the year!

Vibe Nutrition

@vibenutritionclub Smoothie & Juice Bar

Steve and Julie Plitt, a local couple with strong ties to Loveland, Ohio are selling Pf5 Liquid Formula Hand Sanitizer in bulk!

The Plitts offer Bulk, Totes, Cases, Individual Gallons, and Free Delivery to Southwest Ohio to combat viruses, germs, and bacteria!

Kings Island announces 2020 Season opening dates

An opening date for Soak City water park is to be determined…

Kings Island announces 2020 Season opening dates

“Kings Island Park will open first to Season Passholders only, and will operate with stringent hygiene protocols, procedures to manage capacity and enable social distancing.” Read on…

New tees at RP Diamond

As stores, restaurants, and boutiques begin to reopen, we want to remind everyone to support local businesses in any way you can! RP DIAMOND is offering “Support Local 45140” shirts online now! Show everyone how you support local business by rocking one of these awesome shirts around town!

https://rpdiamond.com/products/ols/categories/support-local-45140

If you enjoyed reading the “Summer Salad” stay tuned for more Loveland local Summer fun updates and information!
Jun 11, 2020
To the class with 2020 vision… we made it!

Mihaela Manova is now a Loveland High School Graduate. She joined Loveland Magazine as an Intern in September of 2019 and was soon promoted to be the Editor for our “Covering Climate Now” series. She will study journalism at Miami University.

Here is Loveland High School’s 2020 Graduation (my graduation) in photos and videos – you can experience the whole 11-hour day!

By: Mihaela Manova

Loveland, Ohio – In the year where all schools have closed and many are awaiting a graduation of some sort, Loveland High School has managed to show to its seniors and their respective family members that Covid-19 will not dictate the end to their academic careers. Here is a piece through the point of view of a 2020 graduate.

Where to begin… this year has proved to us, the student body, our limits and our achievements, the mostly good and the mostly bad. Say you were an athlete competing in the beginning of the year or a straight-A student who dedicated their time to their studies, or you could be even both for all we know. You possess qualities that make you stand out and even though you may not know most of the time, many people see that about you. To the class of 2020, don’t fret, the best years are coming ahead.

Before graduation in May of 2020

In the last few days before graduation, I would assume we had the same thoughts crossing our minds. What would these days have looked like if we were in school? Would I be as happy as I am now? Will I be satisfied when I receive my diploma, even when it is placed into my hands gently and in a sterile manner?

Many, (from what I have observed), do not see our current situation as a stop to their plans. While following protocol, these people have decided to make the best of it, even with the distance that comes between them.

With gratitude towards the health care workers that are around us (and around the world), who are parents, aunts, uncles, and more, it was a sight to see the families coming together in our school, to see a personal milestone be achieved.

(Click on any photo to see it enlarged)

Ella Kiley

Carson Sarver

Mitchell McManis

Allison Rountree

(left to right) Joey Jeffcott, Jack Jeffcott, and Brady Jeffcott

Erin Dickman

So how did our day proceed? Here is a type of journal entry that may suffice, with, of course, 2020 vision.

For starters – graduating Senior students were categorized into time slots for each family to have a personal experience (at a distance) with usually the time being around 30 min – 1 hour depending on the traffic.

The high school itself showcased a labyrinth for the cars that would soon lineup, tape making borders for each car to snake around until it found itself ready to go into the school. While waiting you can see a range of cars decorated with festive balloons and markings often saying “Go Tigers!” or “Graduate 2020” in colors of orange and black. Others would have cars following one another with family members anxiously awaiting their turn.

While the wait was long, it gave time to observe the atmosphere as it is a (hopefully) once in a lifetime spectacle of following strict protocol. You could look out the car window and see the people who were soon going to come in, properly dressed in their orange and black togas with facial masks to match.

When it was our turn to park in the parking lot, kind men with masks spoke of the directions in parking, getting out, and entry to the building. The entrance to our high school included a blown up tiger head that engulfed every individual that walked in, making our last walk inside be memorable.

Staff by the entrance were ready to take pictures of the graduate and their family, and once walking into the building you would hear “Hello!” followed by an excited “Congratulations!”

There was no lack of positivity or hints of melancholy anywhere. Once inside the building, each family would wait for another to finish going through all of the stations. The first station was a table with a quick spell-check of the name of the graduate alongside an award for academic excellence this semester if you were excellent.

More greetings ensued as we moved on to the final moment that we were waiting for. With smiles underneath the masks but highlights in all the eyes, it was finally time to hand it off to a family member and walk solitary to the podium leading to the auditorium.

In front of you, principal Peggy Johnson would lead you to the hidden entrance of the podium while behind you, was your family recording every step of the way. In the auditorium, massive posters and lighting donned a dramatic feel to this ceremony, as there were two types of cameras ready for you. One was the video recording of you walking across, and another was for a professional photo when you “turn” the tassel.

Rosa Karl

William Gibbs-Heard

Claire Wallace (2020)

Claire Wallace (young)

Samantha James and Emily Zirkelbach

(left to right) Calloway Hefner, Ben Russ, Lexi Duff, Greyson Hensley, Christian Morckel

Natalie Drury and Kirstin Thomas

With the moment upon you, you hear your full name announced, so you walk across to the far end of the stage, noticing that every seat wore printed pictures of the staff and teachers. This gesture brings a smile to your face when you know how much these people wanted to be there and how long it took for each portrait to get designed, printed, and taped on the seats.

After stepping off and a rush of pride and adrenaline is expected as you have finally done it! You would now put on your “2020 Mask” again and wait for further instruction and clearing of the cafeteria. With your family, you would go to the cafeteria hearing more “Congratulations” and the dreadful returning of the toga (which you secretly want to keep).

Returning the toga, you immediately get a packet of your diploma and a booklet of all the student names and achievements.

Lastly, you break through the doors of the cafeteria, with more felicitations from a staff member that follows the question, “So what are you doing after this?” as you wait. I wasn’t sure if it was meant to be answered for now or for later but I was happy knowing that good things await…

A note:

Speaking for the class of 2020 and myself we would like to say big, big thank you’s to our school, the organizers, the staff, the people outside helping, and the teachers and volunteers. Without your efforts we would have never had a great graduation like this, so we thank you for adapting to these measures and staying positive for our day!

And we also cannot forget to thank the people working on the front lines and in hospitals at the moment, your efforts will not be forgotten in battling this epidemic. BIG THANK YOU TO ALL!

Sincerely,

Mihaela

Watch these videos of the 2020 Commencement Ceremony that were produced by Loveland High School ( (videography and digital production); Shawn Miller (lighting and sound production); Lane Aylor, Hayden Floyd, David Knapp and John Lape (technical assistants)

As we entered the School

Welcome by Olivia VonDeylen

Carson Sarver Class President

Senior Choir members perform Irish Blessing

Sophia Dillhoff Salutatorian

Ashley George Valedictory Address

National Anthem Tribute by Chamber Orchestra and Show Choirs

Principal Peggy Johnson

Superintendent Dr. Amy Crouse and School Board President Kathy Lorenz

Each student receiving their diploma

Below is the entire video of the LHS Graduation that was produced by the school.

To see each graduate cross the stage drag the slider to the 28:52 minute mark.

The entire video of the Commencement exercise

Also read these stories about the Class with 2020 Vision…

[Video] LHS’s Class of 2020 Celebrated in a Moving Assembly Through…

The awards, honors, and scholarships for the LHS Class of 2020

Aerial video greeting from Loveland Schools bus drivers to Class of…

Introducing the honors awarded the LHS Class of 2020

LHS Principal Peggy Johnson to Class of 2020: You are the…

A video message from LHS Senior William Heard about his $socks4homeless2020…

Jun 9, 2020
SNAP online food purchasing now available in Ohio
Ohioans who are eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can now use their Ohio Direction cards to purchase food online through Walmart and Amazon, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) has announced.

“We know many Ohioans are struggling and that food purchasing has been a challenge for many, especially older Ohioans and those with limited access to transportation,” said ODJFS Director Kimberly Hall. “We hope online purchasing gives individuals more options and makes it easier for them to both stay safe and eat nutritiously.”

Previously, Ohio SNAP recipients could order groceries online at Giant Eagle, Walmart and some Kroger stores, but they had to pay inside the stores or at curbside. After receiving federal approval, ODJFS successfully tested online purchasing with Walmart and Amazon. While Ohio SNAP recipients can order food online from a variety of retailers, only Walmart and Amazon allow online purchasing with EBT cards. Individuals may choose to have groceries delivered, but federal rules still prohibit using SNAP benefits to pay for any delivery charges.

Qualify for SNAP

Individuals may qualify for SNAP if their household’s gross monthly income is at or under 130% of the federal poverty guidelines. Ohioans can apply at benefits.ohio.gov. Benefits can be used to buy most food products, with the exception of alcoholic beverages, vitamins and/or medicines, and hot food
made to be eaten immediately, including prepared food from grocery stores and restaurants.

ODJFS has provided additional assistance to SNAP recipients during the pandemic:

Began issuing Pandemic EBT benefits for children who normally receive free or reduced price meals at school.

Issued supplemental SNAP payments to qualifying households in March, April and May and is preparing to issue them again in June.

Waived administrative verifications normally required at food banks, to streamline the process and limit person-to-person contact.

Extended SNAP recertification periods for March, April, May and June by six months.
Jun 9, 2020
Kings Island announces 2020 Season opening dates
“Kings Island Park will open first to Season Passholders only, and will operate with stringent hygiene protocols, procedures to manage capacity and enable social distancing.”

Mason, Ohio – Kings Island has announced this morning that they will be open initially for Season Passholders only and shortly thereafter for daily ticketholders.

Key Park Opening Dates:
- Park Open to Season Passholders: July 2 – 11
- Park Open to Season Passholders and Daily Ticketholders: Beginning Sunday, July 12
“We are ready to welcome our guests back to Kings Island for some long-overdue fun,” said Mike Koontz, General Manager of Kings Island in a news release. “The safety of our guests and associates has always been and will always be our top priority. The park’s new health and safety protocols align with CDC recommendations, and have been shaped by information from company and industry health and safety experts, along with our state and local government officials.”

The Park says there are new protocols to create a safe and clean environment and include:
- A new online reservation system; each guest is required to have a reservation prior to their visit to enable capacity management;
- A requirement to complete a pre-visit health screening declaration 24 hours prior to admission;
- A touchless temperature screening prior to entering the facility for both guests and associates;
- Requirements for all guests, associates and vendors to wear masks as directed by the protocols
- Social distancing markers throughout the park, including ride queue lines;
- Limited guest/associate contact;
- Enhanced cleaning procedures, including additional deep cleaning and sanitization of restrooms, dining facilities and other busy areas;
- Additional hand sanitization stations; and
- Capacity management throughout the park.
The park will initially open to Season Passholders with limited capacity and hours. Kings Island will be sending emails to passholders, inviting them to begin making reservations. Only passholders will be able to make reservations for at least the first week; daily ticket reservations will open within the next two weeks.

An opening date for Soak City Water Park is to be determined.

All guests are asked to download Kings Island’s free mobile app to make a reservation and facilitate their park visit. 2020 Season Passes have been extended to through 2021.

Employment opportunities are currently available throughout the park, and a virtual hiring process has been deployed so applicants can apply and interview remotely. Openings can be found at www.visitkingsisland.com/jobs.
Jun 9, 2020
Have you been social distancing from Black Americans?

by Eric Armstrong

Hello Loveland friends – I really hope if you read this first sentence and find the time to read these next several paragraphs. It’s lengthy but I think it’s important.

Since graduating from Loveland High School in 1998, Eric Armstrong obtained degrees in Chemical Engineering and Spanish from Purdue University. When not working in technical sales; he enjoys traveling the world in his free time.

Systemic racial inequality, prejudice, ‘White Privilege’, are tough topics, powerful words. I imagine white people; are uncomfortable when they hear them, feel defensive when directed towards them, and I think most importantly are confused about what to do about them.

You see racists are easy to identify and label, they wear hoods, yell slurs, and burn crosses. Racists don’t hide their disdain, they’re proud of it, and most importantly I imagine 90% of White Americans can say unequivocally “I’m not a racist, that’s not me!” “My family raised us to…”, “I have very close ____ friends.” etc…

Other words, however, are harder to define

The other words however are harder to define; they are subtle, woven into our nation’s very fabric, everyday behavior, and actions. Unfortunately, our country was built and founded on them. In their most basic forms, even Black Americans can struggle to explain them, it’s often an uneasy feeling or a story, the way you were treated. It’s some simple task that Black Americans worry about that would never cross the mind of a white person.

A profound ignorance exists in education

Moreover, IF you as a White American can comprehend the definitions and give examples of these words, then you’d realize 100% of White Americans have existed/participated/enabled them. That’s honestly what is at the core of everything happening today. A profound ignorance exists and the cure is education, open dialogue, and a paradigm shift in how we respond.

I personally haven’t said much about what’s happened recently about the rash of killings locally here in Indianapolis or across the country. I’ve admittedly deflected and given short PC answers. There are two reasons and they are shared by many Black Americans;

1) It reopens painful feelings and emotional wounds, and if you’re a Black American who has existed as I have (fairly comfortably) it’s a jarring reminder of what could happen to you and your friends, family, and colleagues.

2) It’s exhausting. If you know me, I enjoy talking and pushing the boundaries of comfort on many topics. I don’t shy away from talking about race if engaged and I try to keep the conversation light so I’m approachable and those who truly want to understand, learn and change have a safe place to do so. However, for every one of those interactions, there are 20 other conversations, comments, posts, when White American dismiss Black Americans’ experiences as “one-off occurrences” or say “why do you make everything about race. It isn’t always about race.” Or “Well if “______Black American” wasn’t doing _____, _____ wouldn’t have happened.”

Something different is happening now

So admittedly, lazily, embarrassingly, I felt like this latest response was going to be the US status quo. People get fake mad, they post “Black Lives Matter” and are upset for a while, some Black Americans protest and march, then in a couple months things/people go back to ‘normal’.

But I decided to write this because something different is happening. White Americans are out marching too, they’re verbalizing the issues and not just repeating buzz words. Most importantly they’re engaging us. They’re messaging me, texting me and asking me to have conversations. They’re asking me what those confusing words mean to ME, asking what my experience has been.

A business colleague who I consider a friend sent me this;

“Weird non-work related question. Would you be interested in coming to our house for dinner in the next two weeks? No need to answer tonight. The bigger human conversation is that our kids need to meet people who don’t look like them.”

WOW.

Maybe it WILL be different this time…

Because if everyone wants to know how we “fix things” how we “make it better”. That’s it in a nutshell. White Americans must willingly have a lot of introspection, ask questions of themselves and Black Americans, and state the following:

“I acknowledge that though I’m not a racist; I’m ignorant, uninformed, and contributing to prejudice, systemic racism, and white privilege with my inactivity. My posts and words are NOT enough.”

How do you know you are contributing to this climate?

What are the questions? How do you know you are contributing to this climate?

If as a White American you’ve ever posted or said, “Skin color doesn’t matter to me.” or “I don’t see race.” Unless you are actually visually impaired; you’re saying (whether you intend to) I’m not recognizing that because your skin is brown, your experience in this world has been markedly different than mine.

It must be acknowledged that race is a factor, a variable in a human’s life experience and reactions, questions, interactions, must be adjusted.

Change your language to take that into account, instead say, “I actively try not to let my inherent biases and ignorances negatively impact how I interact with Black Americans.” SEE COLOR, VALUE DIFFERENCES.

If as a White American you’ve called something ‘ghetto’ or used the word as an adjective to associate things with Black Americans. I compare it with how people use the word ‘gay’ to describe something they dislike.

Or you’ve said “_____ doesn’t act black” or “_____ isn’t really even black.” Your words mean you believe they exhibit positive characteristics ascribed to White Americans.

Other behavior

How about these? You have many black friends and co-workers… right? Have you been to their homes or invited them to yours? Do you vacation with them? Have these conversations with them?

It may not be how you treat those Black American friends and colleagues. How do you interact with the Black Americans who are strangers? Do you strike up conversations? Do you avoid sitting by them, cross the street, wait for the next elevator…?

I have seen a lot of this world and our country and I’ve been invited into the homes of strangers internationally and never to the homes of some of my ‘friends’ here in the US.

My Christian friends; do you attend diverse church services? What does your congregation look like? God valued/preaches inclusion and diversity but why is the church segregated?

How about the neighborhood where you live? Any Black neighbors? Do your kids have Black American classmates? Do Black American kids play with your kids at your home and vice versa? If you say “No, there just aren’t Black Americans where I live. I live there because it’s safe and has good schools.” Well if there are no Black Americans there; are they in the underperforming schools and unsafe neighborhoods? The separate but equal ones?

You have to ask why is that?

If you asked your kids who are three Black Americans they know? Are they all celebrities/athletes? Do you go to businesses, concerts, read books, and see movies by Black Americans? You have to ask why is that? Who/what experiences are you exposing yourself and family to or limiting them from becoming educated about?

Racist people are not the problem – I call it arms length prejudice

Again, the racist people are not the problem. We know where they stand and what they believe. It’s the tolerant White Americans, the ones that have casually existed with Black Americans. I call it arms length prejudice. You have been fine with Black people having equal rights as long as it doesn’t change your world, come into your neighborhood, school, or church. As long as it doesn’t date your sons and daughters.

Have you been social distancing from Black Americans?

Have you been social distancing from Black Americans? You have to ask yourself have you been perpetuating that arm’s length distance whether subconsciously or consciously? Do you want things to change? Do you really care about the Black friend(s) or those Black strangers that you post black squares and Black lives matter hashtags about? It’s going to take more than posts and rhetoric. If you care about Black Americans but stand by while prejudiced comments are being spoken or ‘posted’ then it won’t change.

If it’s tolerated by our leaders and business owners as them just “speaking their mind” or “telling it how it is” then you are supporting their harmful rhetoric.

Our young humans

Many of you are currently raising the young humans who will determine how Black Americans are treated in the next 20 to 40 years and beyond. If you change their experiences and relationships with Black Americans you will change the behaviors and outcomes. Posts, black squares, and words are fantastic; education, action, and follow up are better.

It’s time for conversations

Marching and demonstrating serves only to keep the issue in front of people’s minds. The actual work is done right here with us having the conversations and listening. Calling people out, calling yourself out. A lot of people want to be healthy, but don’t want to exercise. I see the same behavior with race. A lot of White Americans want the conversations about race to stop, for the problems to go away, but they don’t want to do the hard work to get us there.

A lot of people want to be healthy, but don’t want to exercise.

It’s time for these conversations. For White Americans to ask your friends of color about the first time they were called the n-word or were pulled over/followed for no reason?

These conversations that must be had between Blacks and Whites are going to be uncomfortable they’re going bring upon Whites feelings of guilt and shame and often times Blacks may be embarrassed or angry, not at you, about their struggle; but it’s an important step in healing and understanding.

Conversations can start today

Lastly, both Blacks and Whites must understand that changing a behavior takes a long time. Some people estimate it takes 10,000 hours of doing a task to master it. How many hours have you and your children spent discussing, interacting, and educating yourself about Black Americans? Black Americans, how many conversations have you opened yourself up to with White Americans? This is not going to happen overnight…but the conversations can start today.

I LOVE YOU ALL & GOD BLESS

Eric Armstrong graduated from Loveland High School in 1998

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Jun 8, 2020
Kristy McNally interview about George Floyd and racial equality

Loveland, Ohio – This is an interview with Kristy McNally just after she came back from one of the Prayer Peace Walks that have been organized by Desmon Gault all last week.

The walks through Loveland neighborhoods were in response to the death of George Floyd who died in police custody on May 25 in the Powderhorn community of Minneapolis, Minnesota. While Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down on a city street during an arrest, Derek Chauvin, a white American Minneapolis police officer, kept his knee on the right side of Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds; according to the criminal complaint against Chauvin, 2 minutes and 53 seconds of that time occurred after Floyd became unresponsive.

McNally lives in the West Loveland Historic District with her husband Mike and their children.

FRONT PAGE STORIES

Say their names: voices from the George Floyd protest

Sam Smith – Jun 5, 2020 Dispatch from a Cincinnati protest rally

Inwood Park, Cincinnati OH – Sunday, March 31st, 2020 After a handful of changes in location, the Facebook-organized rally labeled as “Be Heard, Be Safe;…

Jun 8, 2020