Ohio

Founding father Gen. Anthony Wayne’s legacy is getting a second look at Ohio’s Wayne National Forest

Published

9 months ago

September 3, 2023

Founding father Gen. Anthony Wayne’s legacy is getting a second look at Ohio’s Wayne National Forest

NELSONVILLE, Ohio (AP) — Some 40 Native American tribes have ancestral ties to Wayne National Forest, a quarter-million acres spread across portions of Appalachian southeastern Ohio. Their citizens have never stopped helping the U.S. Forest Service manage this expanse of forested hills, hollows, streams and lakes — even as the name recalls a violent past.

Now, a vigorous debate is underway over a Forest Service proposal to replace the name of Gen. Anthony Wayne, a founding father who Americans of an earlier era celebrated as an “Indian fighter,” with something more neutral: Buckeye National Forest, after the state tree.

Forest Manager Lee Stewart said tribes had been asking for a name change for decades, but their request was formalized last year as part of a sweeping review of derogatory place names undertaken by the Biden administration.

Since 2021, the names of about 650 places and geographic features across the country have been renamed, with involvement by the same federal board that in earlier eras helped get rid of the N-word and a pejorative word for Japanese.

“In thinking of the offensive nature (of the name) to tribes, it’s the opportunity to begin to heal, to begin to connect our forest deeper than just around a name,” Stewart said. “Ohio has thousands of years of history. The history here is very, very deep — pre-history to historic times, where Wayne occupies his space, to the history once we became a state. So Buckeye, we feel, reflects that.”

The public comment period ends Monday, with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to receive the feedback and make a final decision. It would be the first national forest renaming since 2007.

Proponents see the name change as an act of respect for Indigenous people whose ancestors lived on the land and whose citizens continue to offer their skill and expertise to stewardship of the land, some through treaties with the U.S. government.

The forest’s 381 square miles (987 square kilometers) are used for timber and other natural resources, in addition to featuring campgrounds, a horseback riding network and off-highway vehicle trails.

Before a federal government purchase in 1934, the land was dug, blasted and mined for coal. It was 1951 when the forest was named for Wayne, a Revolutionary War leader whose legacy has been revisited during the nation’s recent racial reckoning.

Wayne commanded Army forces during the Northwest Indian War, a confrontation on the American frontier that ended with the Battle of Fallen Timbers, a key victory over confederated Native forces that allied with the British. The resulting truce, the Treaty of Greenville, largely ceded Native rights to most of the territory that became the future state of Ohio, a result some these days see as “ethnic cleansing.”

Logan York, a representative of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, said in a statement that Anthony Wayne’s actions “ultimately led to the forced removal at gunpoint of our Miami ancestors from our homelands in 1846.”

“Wayne may be a Revolutionary War hero to some, but he is also the main villain in our story of resistance, trying to keep our homes and maintain our lives,” said Logan, the tribal historic preservation officer. “For a National Forest to bear the name of Anthony Wayne is a harmful, and painful reminder and devalues us as Native peoples of Ohio.”

Opposition to the proposed name change, which has an estimated $400,000 price tag, also is vigorous.

Donald Schultz, 89, who has lived in proximity to the forest all his life, dropped by Wayne headquarters this week to register his objections.

“I am concerned about changing the name of everything, just history,” he said. “We need to keep the history this country had. We don’t need to change the names of all the history.”

Schultz said he recognizes the U.S. government “treated the people horribly that were here, but by the same token, those same people treated the people that were coming here horribly.”

“This was border warfare. It was ugly on all sides,” said Toledo-based historian Mary Stockwell, author of “Unlikely General: ‘Mad’ Anthony Wayne and the Battle for America” and a book about the removal of Native Americans from Ohio.

Stockwell opposes removing Wayne’s name from the forest. She believes he has been miscast by history as the “mad” general, when he actually viewed it as his “great misfortune” that President George Washington chose him “to come out to Ohio in 1791, raise an army and face the British-Indian coalition that was stopping the advance of the U.S. across the Ohio River.”

“You take down all the statues and rename everything, that’s not going to change our turbulent, creative, wonderful and often difficult past,” she said. “We’ve got to tell everybody’s story.”

Stewart said the Forest Service appreciates Wayne’s significant legacy, which included building the fort at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and inspiring the screen name of Hollywood icon John Wayne.

“We get it,” he said. “This isn’t about erasing Wayne out of history, it’s about reconciliation. To make (the tribes) say ‘Wayne’ every time they engage, it’s difficult.”

It’s appropriate for societal viewpoints to evolve, York said.

“As we look back on history, today we all have increased knowledge that leads to greater understanding, and an excellent way to reflect that is not to forget the past but to change as we change as a people,” he said in the tribal statement.

“Wayne might have been a hero to some but not to all, and National Forests are for everyone to enjoy equally, and the name should reflect that,” York said.

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Ohio

Northeast Ohio shelter takes in 7 neglected dogs abandoned within in 3 days

Published

2 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Press Room

Northeast Ohio shelter takes in 7 neglected dogs abandoned within in 3 days

WARREN, Ohio (WOIO) – The Healthy Hearts and Paws Project is desperate for help after taking in five malnourished puppies and two dogs with untreated tumors within three days – all neglected and abandoned.

Founder Jason Cooke stated funds are already depleted with 127 animals in their care, on top of the veterinary bills, operating costs, and the construction costs of the new shelter.

Scroll to the bottom of this story to see a list of resources that can help those struggling to care for a pet, and how you can help those in need.

Cooke said the Warren City Health Department called him on May 7 about a dog who was allegedly abandoned at a Palmyra home in Warren.

The dog was spotted through an open window “extremely underweight” with a “had a large, oozing mass on her side with insect activity,” Cooke described.

There was also no food or water in sight, according to Cooke.

Warren City police and Warren City Animal Control helped remove the dog from the residence “which was in deplorable condition,” said Cooke.

Warren police said no arrest has been made at this time.

Cooke said the dog, who rescuers named Beatrice, was immediately brought to Countryside Veterinary Service in Kinsman.

Beatrice was described by Cooke as malnourished and anemic, and suffering from the “extremely large mass on her side that was left untreated and has since become infected.”

Veterinarians had her undergo chest x-rays, blood work tests, take fluids, antibiotics, and pain medications to treat her in an attempt to build up strength and get the infection “under control,” according to Cooke.

Unfortunately, vets saw Beatrice’s health was even worse than they hoped once she underwent surgery, and she crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

Cooke shared the following explanation:

“Beatrice had a very proportionally large mass on her side, at the junction of the chest and abdomen. The mass was extremely painful and infected, even after a course of antibiotics. In an attempt to remove it surgically, it was found that the mass extended all the way through the body wall. This made the option of surgical excision impossible, so it was decided to euthanize her.”

WARNING: The photos of Beatrice’s neglect may be disturbing.

Within hours of first finding Beatrice, Cooke said he was notified that five malnourished puppies were found abandoned in a box in front of a vacant home on Tod Avenue in Warren.

He arrived to find all five puppies were also dehydrated and covered in their own urine and feces.

Cooke said he called police and rushed the puppies to Countryside Veterinary Service in Kinsman to save their lives.

Sadly, the puppy they named Rocky did not survive despite his valiant fight, and crossed the Rainbow Bridge on May 9.

The other four were brought back to the shelter, and three are still up for adoption: Liberty, Skye, and Zuma.

Three days after finding Beatrice and the five puppies, Cooke said a “severely neglected dog” was again found on Tod Avenue in Warren on May 10.

Cooke said she too was immediately rushed to Countryside Veterinary Service in Kinsman where “it was determined that she is extremely malnourished; matted beyond belief; and has a large, painful mass on her mouth that is also infected…”

She was named Emerson, given pain medication and antibiotics, and was groomed by Dog House.

Emerson is scheduled to have surgery to remove a mass on her mouth as soon as next week, depending on how she recovers, Cooke shared.

She is currently in the care of a medical foster, however, she is still available for adoption.

Cooke said the veterinary care the dogs and cats of the Healthy Hearts and Paws Project received last week alone totaled $3,055.

This included exams, testing, medication, antibiotics, spays, neuters, and vaccinations, Cooke listed.

The project typically rescues dogs who test positive for heartworms because the cost of treatment is unfortunately expensive, which is why heartworm-positive dogs are more likely to be euthanized.

“Our mission is to promote animal welfare through education and by providing care and temporary placement for heartworm positive and emergency medical-needs dogs to give each dog a second chance at a positive outcome,” founder Jason Cooke stated.

Once the heartworm-positive dogs are successfully treated and cured, they are put up for adoption.

If you want to open your hearts to the joy of adoption by giving the gift of a “fur-ever” home, here is the link for dogs waiting for you at the shelter.

Click here to view adoptable dogs.

One of which is Nitro, who has spent over 2,000 days – most of his five years of life – without a permanent home to call his own.

[Adopt Nitro: Northeast Ohio dog spends 2,000+ days waiting in shelter ]

If you would like to adopt Emerson, Liberty, Skye, Zuma, Nitro, or any other four-legged best friend, click here to fill out an application.

Even if you aren’t able to adopt at this time, but still have some room in your home and heart, you can click here to learn about fostering.

You can help save a life even if you can’t make make a lifelong commitment.

For those who are unable to adopt or foster at this time but still want to help, you can donate necessities for the shelter and presents for the animals there.

Click here to donate.

If you are unable to donate money or items, consider donating your time by volunteering at The Healthy Hearts and Paws Project.

Click here to learn how to become a volunteer.

The Healthy Hearts and Paws Project is located at 909 Martin Luther King Blvd. SW in Warren.

Call 234-855-5847 with questions.

City Dogs Cleveland listed the below information on pet pantries and programs that may provide free and low-cost pet care in Northeast Ohio.

“There is absolutely no shame in reaching out during times of hardship,” City Dogs encouraged.

Services: Pet food pantry, low-cost pet supplies, low-cost vaccinations and vetting, microchips, and more.
Address: 3711 E 65th St., Cleveland, OH 44105
Phone number: 216-505-5853
Website: https://www.neighborhoodpetscle.org/
Email address: info@neighborhoodpetscle.org

Services: Pet food pantry, pet supplies, help with vet costs
Address: 5376 Ridge Rd., Parma, OH 44129
Phone number: 216-307-7814
Website: www.companionpetsofcleveland.com
Email address: CompanionPetsOfCleveland@gmail.com

Services: Low-cost vet services with financial assistance available
Address: 1729 Willey Ave., Cleveland, OH 44113
Phone number: 216-771-4616
Website: https://clevelandapl.org/community-pet-clinic/
Email address: contact@clevelandapl.org

Services: Pet food pantry open from 10am-12pm on the second and fourth Sundays of the month
Address: 10015 East River Rd., Columbiana Township, OH 44028
Phone number: 440-243-2034
Website: https://www.bereaanimalrescue.com/pet-pantry/

Services: Pet food pantry for residents of Cuyahoga County. Please see the website for the client application for a monthly food pick-up.
Address: 9500 Sweet Valley Dr., Valley View, OH 44125
Phone number: 216-706-9363
Website: https://fccas.org/what-we-do/pet-pantry-program/
Email Address: pantry@fccas.org

Services: Low-cost spay and neuter services. Spaying or neutering your pet is a critical way to help curb the animal shelter overpopulation crisis!
Address: 885 E. 222nd St., Euclid, OH 44123
Phone: 216-732-7040
Website: https://www.petfixnortheastohio.org/
Email: appointments@petfixnortheastohio.org

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Ohio

New law requires all Ohio school districts to create a cell phone policy

Published

10 hours ago

May 17, 2024

Press Room

New law requires all Ohio school districts to create a cell phone policy

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – Cell phones. We see them everywhere we go, we all have them and it’s hard to go without them. But a new law will soon require Ohio school districts to create polices regarding cell phone use in school.

Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 250 into law Wednesday which requires every school district in Ohio to create a cell phone policy.

“They need a place, at least for several hours a day, to go and be students and have social interactions and have academic opportunities that are away from TikTok and Snapchat and all of these things that are distractive and addictive in their lives.” said Lt. Governor Jon Husted.

Locally, several school districts already have policies in place, most of them stating students aren’t allowed to have phones throughout the school day. At Anthony Wayne and Pike Delta York, their policy says phones are only allowed out during the school day when approved by a staff member. Other schools such as Perrysburg and Sylvania have similar policies which state phones can be used before and after school and at after-school activities as long as they don’t cause a distraction.

“It is a device that can be a positive at times to have during the day and students access it, but it also, we know, can be a very negative tool and a distracting tool,” said Tom Hosler, superintendent of Perrysburg Schools. “So trying to thread that needle of what is appropriate, what makes sense for the classroom, what makes sense for families, what makes sense to keep kids safe.”

But some other districts have a “no phones at all” policy.

“It’s just a distraction,” said Leigh Pancoast, principal at Swanton Middle School. “It’s just not needed in the school day. They have chrome books if they need anything to do any research, so we believe that it isn’t necessary for them to have them.”

Both districts 13 Action News spoke with say they will adjust their policies as needed to align with the new law. Schools will be required to adopt their cell phone policies no later than July 2025, ahead of the 2025-2026 school year.

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Ohio

Ohio’s unemployment rate jumps to 4%

Published

17 hours ago

May 17, 2024

Press Room

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s unemployment is back at 4% after many months of being at historic lows.

The state’s unemployment rate was 4% in April, up from 3.8% in March. Ohio’s unemployment rate had been under 4% for 16 straight months and had even dipped as low as 3.3%, a record-low for the state, according to data released Friday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

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