News briefs – April 11

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Safe digging

contest promoted

Almost every day, Ohioans put their lives and communities at risk when they fail to have underground utilities located before beginning projects that involve digging. But this month, anyone who calls 811 two business days before digging can enter for a chance to win $811 simply by sharing pictures of their digging projects and using the hashtag #ICalled811 on social media. Best of all, the winner will have the opportunity to select a local emergency responder to receive $811 as well.

“We want to create fun and engaging ways to spread an important safety message,” said Dan Creekmur, president of Columbia Gas of Ohio. “Anyone who digs is responsible for calling 811, so we’re launching #ICalled811 to educate everyone that calling 811 is easy, free and it’s the law.”

In 2015 alone, unsafe digging resulted in more than 1,200 safety incidents in the Columbia Gas of Ohio service area. These incidents occurred because those digging either did not call 811 beforehand or practiced unsafe digging methods. When someone calls 811, utilities mark their lines so digging can be done safely.

Throughout the month of April, nationally recognized as Safe Digging Month, contestants can post a photo of their digging projects on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #ICalled811. The photo must show evidence that they called 811 with visuals such as: locator flags, paint-marked grass, the OUPS app or any other mark of a safe digging project. Photos including the hashtag #ICalled811 may be shared on Columbia Gas of Ohio’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Columbia Gas of Ohio will select one entry to win an $811 Visa gift card for themselves and a second $811 gift card for emergency responders in their community.

Marijuana initiative

forms campaign team

COLUMBUS— Ohioans for Medical Marijuana announced Monday that it has formed a campaign team to support its initiative to establish a comprehensive medical marijuana program in Ohio.

Brandon Lynaugh, a veteran of more than a dozen statewide ballot issue campaigns, will serve as campaign manager. Lynaugh most recently served as campaign manager for No on 3, which led the effort to defeat the Responsible Ohio initiative last year.

“We’re excited to have Brandon at the helm of our Ohio campaign,” said Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, which is supporting Ohioans for Medical Marijuana. “His extensive experience with ballot issues and his history of standing up for Ohioans make him the right person to lead our team. He is committed to establishing a sensible, fair, and compassionate medical marijuana program that will benefit countless seriously ill Ohio residents.”

Lynaugh’s support for establishing legal access to medical marijuana stems from his experience with a close family member who suffers from epilepsy.

“I know that helpless feeling that families have when they watch someone they love have an epileptic seizure,” said Lynaugh. “Passage of this amendment will help bring relief to the suffering of thousands of patients and their families. It’s a personal issue for me and I would not turn down the opportunity to be a part of it.”

Radiologist offers less

invasive treatment options

After completing a $4 million investment in remodeled OR space and new equipment, Akron Children’s pediatric interventional radiology program is now fully operational.

Dr. Janice McDaniel, who heads up the program, is the only pediatric-trained interventional radiologist in northeast Ohio.

“Dr. McDaniel’s training, coupled with the advanced technology of our new interventional radiology suite, allows us to offer our patients a wide range of new treatment options that are less invasive,” said Dr. Michael Rubin, chairman of Radiology at Akron Children’s.

Interventional radiology is a minimally invasive way of assessing disease and delivering targeted treatments. It’s routinely used to perform needle biopsies, radiofrequency ablations, and to place shunts, feeding and drainage tubes, as well as peripherally-inserted central catheters.

Staff report

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