The Independent
MASSILLON – Gina Durst has utilized medical services at the Massillon Health Department for as long as she can remember.
Durst, 52, was among the approximately 130 people who took advantage of a COVID-19 vaccine clinic Wednesday at the health agency, which is located inside the St. James AME Zion Church and not far from her city home. I ve always used it, and my family has, too, said Durst, who on numerous occasions has received medical vaccinations and attained medical records from health professionals at the department.
The days of many municipal health facilities in Ohio including Massillon may be numbered, as the state Legislature considers a proposal to reduce the amount of smaller departments statewide and have them merge with county agencies.
The Independent
MASSILLON – City Council continues to wrangle with the notion of whether to weigh in on the police chief s request to redo the rank structure within his department.
Police Chief Keith Moser wants to rework the numbers of higher-ranking officers in the Police Department through attrition, a proposed alteration that s been brought up multiple times during council sessions with little movement.
On Monday night, council members discussed the matter during a special Police & Fire Committee meeting, which lasted about 30 minutes.
At meeting s end, Councilwoman Linda Litman, D-Ward 6, who chairs the committee, said she was placing the issue on hold until further details are presented.
The Independent
MASSILLON – LaFlavour has been tapped to take center stage downtown to kick off the city s 2021 Summer Concert Series.
Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry said the band is the opening act for the annual Thursday night music fest, which is set to begin June 17 at Duncan Plaza. We re fortunate to have them (LaFlavour) and to bring music back to Massillon, the mayor said. This looks like a great series, and I think people are excited to get back outside. It has been a long year, she added.
Overall, 10 Thursday shows are planned for this summer at the plaza, Catazaro-Perry said. In addition to LaFlavour, some additional bands performing are New Wave Nation; Disco Inferno; The Belairs; Invincible, a Pat Benatar tribute band; and Moving in Stereo.
The Independent
PERRY TWP. – Officials want to pursue criminal charges against the owner of a former billing company employed by the township.
Trustees voted 3-0 Tuesday night to seek charges through the Stark County Prosecutor s Office against Cynthia Abbott, who operated the C&C Medical Billing company and handled emergency medical service (EMS) billing for the Perry Fire Department over multiple years. We believe she didn t fulfill the duties she billed us for, Trustee Doug Haines said on Wednesday. The billing for services was not done.
According to the state auditor s office, the township is owed more than $1.1 million from C&C Medical stemming from faulty EMS billing outlined in a 2019 financial audit that discovered discrepancies in 2016 and 2017 with the company s billing service.