Subscribe

Archives

Get The Shot: Covid Information and Vaccine Stream Saturday, March 5, starting at 10 am.

Beacon Charitable Pharmacy, according to its web site, “provides access for the most vulnerable populations to pharmaceuticals and education.” It also “collaborates with other health care providers and community organizations to maximize resources and provide effective and efficient services.” It is within that context that Beacon Charitable Pharmacy is conducting a vaccine knowledge and shot event at two beauty shops and two barber shops in Stark County, and it is doing it in conjunction with the Greater Stark County Urban League and the Black Nurses’ Association. Pointedly and succinctly called, “GET THE SHOT ”the campaign will involve these shops on Saturday, March 5, starting at 10 am. The event will take place on Saturday, March 5, at these shops: Levels Barber College, Culler’s Barber Shop, Chris’ Talk of the Town and Bootsy’s Hair Salon. Along with the staff of Beacon Pharmacy, the Black Nurses Association and the Greater Stark County Urban League will be able to dispense valuable information and provide shots of the covid vaccine. Beacon collaborates with agencies, clinics, hospitals, volunteers and community organizations to strive to provide professional pharmaceutical services, maximize community resources, educate and advocate for the vulnerable. In addition, each location will be streaming the video directly to the internet. Individuals must have a current prescription and meet the income guidelines. If individuals do not have a physician, please visit our web site. To qualify, individuals must be uninsured / underinsured (with household budget info) and a Stark or Carroll County resident. They also must be at or below 250% of Federal Poverty Guidelines. Folks must bring certain items for an appointment: Income Verification for all household members *At least 2 paystubs for each member & Prior year tax return if filed. Photo Identification & Verification of address if not the same as what is on the Photo ID Social Security Card Bring Prescriptions, medicine bottles, (must have current scripts or refills available.) For an Appointment call (330) 445-1087 The individual events will be streamed live for broadcast on the pharmacy’s facebook page and youtube channel, which will be shared with the individual shops. Social assets below can be used as assets.

On the right path toward better police-community relations.

Back “in the day,” after I had just been elected president of the Stark County NAACP, I received a late-night phone call from city of Canton Public Service. Director Robert Fisher. As service director, Fisher asked me to file a lawsuit against his employer — and his mayor — because of the lack of minorities in the safety forces in Canton. As odd as it appeared, it was always my thinking at that time that Bob and the mayor, Stanley Cmich, had come to the conclusion, as many cities had at that time, that they needed safety forces that mirrored the general population of the city. Their problem, I imagined, was that the police union and others would balk at the prospect of hiring more minorities. Hence, if the city were forced to do so, under the provisions of a court-mandated consent decree, then they would have political justification for doing what they thought was the right thing: Hire more minorities. I was familiar with the huge amount of criticism of the Canton Police Departm.. . Read More

For Secretary of State and Why

The secretary of state position is one of the most important positions in the entire Ohio state governmental system. It is the guardian of one of the most trusted of American rights…voting…and at a time when many Republican office-holders and officials nationwide are actively engaged in trying to deny that right to so many, especially to African-Americans. Whether it’s the State of Pennsylvania, where a state Republican official bragged that the voter suppression shenanigans that his party engaged in will help to get Mitt Romney elected; or in Florida, where the state’s disgraced former GOP chairman says the party had meetings about “keeping blacks from voting”, there is no doubt, even in light of recent federal court decisions, that many in the Republican party are trying to suppress the Black vote. They try to hide behind flimsy voter fraud accusations as they try to whittle away at voting opportunities. But their intent is obvious. As an African-American Republican, a radio talk show host, a former President of the NAACP, former Deputy Mayor of the City of Canton, a veteran of many battles for voters’ rights and as an American, I abhor this tactic from any party, especially the one I happen to belong to. However, voter suppression is just one part of their strategy. The party is engaging in scorched-earth politics and obsessive anti-obama-ism as a political strategy. Being against President Obama is not a policy of governing. And since when do whomever can yell the loudest and say the stupidest things garner the most attention in any party? That is the dismal state of today’s Republican Party. Shutting down the Federal government and defaulting on the country’s debt certainly don’t constitute convincing arguments as to why a party should be given the privilege of governing. Better ideas and philosophies, inclusiveness and respect are much more suitable to do the trick. But it is within this context…this partisan, combative backdrop…that the Ohio Secretary of State’s race is being seen and is being judged. It is plausible to assume that with so many Republicans trying to suppress the vote all around the country, that it’s just got to be happening here in the state of Ohio as well. But there is a difference in what happens here in Ohio and those other states, and that difference resides with the person who is currently the Secretary of State…Jon Husted. Husted is a conservative republican, though I think sometimes too much so. He is honest, extremely bright and he has already proved himself administratively, as he has indeed run an a-political Secretary of State office. He has reduced spending by $13 million as compared to his predecessor and provided more services with fewer staff. Before he was Secretary of State, Husted was Speaker of the House in the Ohio legislature.  While there, in a state legislature that was and is controlled by Republicans, he voted to create early voting in Ohio and he has since opposed a Republican effort to change to new voter I.d requirements. Secretary Husted and Representative Kirk Schuring were the only 2 Republicans to come out against this bill. Husted also tried to forge a bi-partisan agreement on controversial redistricting, which could make districts more uniform and more politically competitive. When he became Secretary of State, he continued his “Arc of Access” to the polls. He mailed out absentee ballots to every eligible voter in the state. He initiated a study that showed how minuscule voter fraud really was in the State, and he followed the bipartisan recommendations of the Ohio Association of Elections Officials…Republicans and Democrats who run local elections…that set uniform hours for boards of elections around the state. He did oppose my beloved NAACP and others when he fought the decision that modified Ohio’s early voting schedule, a law that many Democrats, including his opponent, Senator Nina turner voted in favor of. And while I am quite fond of Senator Turner, she being very intelligent, motivated, and passionate, I am sure she will one day have an even larger impact on policy in Ohio and the around the country. She is that talented. And, absent Husted being the candidate, I would avidly support her. But her candidacy, and this campaign, gives an ideal opportunity to bring attention to the extreme direction of the National  Republican Party, and the foolishness that the likes of Texas Senator Ted Cruz and his ilk bring to America. Our party needs someone who is not an extreme right wing zealot, not  intent on burning down the country to save it from itself. Mr. Husted is not calling for any birth certificates, he did not favor the shutting down of the federal government, he did not support defaulting on the national debt, and he knows that the earth is not flat. He and others like him such as Schuring,  Senator Frank Larose, former Congressman Steve Latourette, and quite possibly Governor John Kasich himself are where the future of the Republican Party should be. And though Husted is no fan of the President nor many of his policies, he speaks of him in respectful terms. Husted wants what’s best for his state and his country and has and will defy his party line (hopefully) to get that if he feels it necessary. He is reasonable, level-headed, eager to actually lead…and fair…not engaging in voter suppression.  But just like false charges of racism, when compared with those that are true, the false charges of Husted engaging in voter suppression only diminishes and cheapens the argument where it really exists. The only changes that I would want to see in the Secretary of State’s office start with a higher percentage of African-Americans employed in the office, online voter registration and someday on-line voting. Right now, America needs an engaged, supportive Republican Party that can add their insight, points of view and possible solutions to the most vexing of America’s problems, not to stand on the sidelines and throw rocks at potential progress…or to try

The RON PONDER Show Monday, February 20th by WHBC

http://ift.tt/2lnpPuc 10:05 CONVERSATION: Kid’s Fest, President’s Day, and MORE! 10:35 Alex Mooney, GOP Representative, West Virginia Topic: The Environment, Job loss, and MORE! 11:05 Lorraine Wilburn Topic: Demonstrations in Stark Co. 11:35 State Rep. Dan Ramos Topic: Immigration Executive Orders

The RON PONDER Show Friday, February 17th by WHBC

http://ift.tt/2kxuTyQ 10:05 Prof. Dave Cohen, Univ. of Akron Topic: Pres. Trump’s Press Conference and MORE! 10:35 DeAnn Covey, Veterans Service Commission Topic: Update & upcoming business 11:15 Kathy L. Snyder Topic: Upcoming stage play & search for role of “Grady” 11:35 Rusty Nails

The RON PONDER Show Thursday, February 16th by WHBC

http://ift.tt/2lT7OUu 10:05 Larry Burgett, Canton Christian Home Topic: Upcoming fundraiser 10:35 Aimee Engelhart & Jared Shive Topic: Stark Co. Park district 50th Anniversary 11:05 Michael J. McEnaney, Cheif Deputy Treasurer Topic: Canton City Council & Local business Income Tax 11:35 Kathy Lindenberger, Canton Chamber of Commerce Topic: 2017 HOF Queen’s pageant

The RON PONDER Show Wednesday, February 15th by WHBC

http://ift.tt/2kybSHR 10:05 Judge Frank Forchione Topic: 3rd Annual Heroin Symposium 10:35 Lisa Sadeghian, Glenmore Events Dir. Topic: Kids fashion show 10:45 Prof. Michael Grossman, Univ. Mt. Union Topic: Trump & Russia 11:05 Eric Mitchell, Dir. Goverment Relations at Bread of the World Topic: African American contributions to ending hunger 11:35 Dr. Herbert Riemenschneider, Urologic Surgeon Topic: Prostrate Cancer

The RON PONDER Show Tuesday, February 14th by WHBC

http://ift.tt/2lH0lLw 10:05 Patrick DeHaan, www.gasbuddy.com Topic: Gas industry, prices, and MORE! 10:35 Jessie Hill Topic: Immigration 10:45 Jessica Vaughn Topic: Immigration 11:05 Chrysta Casteneda Topic: Retail boycott of Ivanka Trump 11:35 Chris Allen, Tax Season

The RON PONDER Show Friday, February 10th by WHBC

http://ift.tt/2kXMteR 10:05 Marty Belski Topic: Appeals court ruling, Travel ban, and MORE! 10:35 Margy Vogt, Massillon Museum Topic: Black History Celebration 11:05 Prof. Dave Cohen, Univ. of Akron Topic: The Trump Administration 11:35 Tricia Ostertag Topic: Update on the Art District