HAPCAP announces openings for its food programs

LAWRENCE COUNTY — Hocking Athens Perry Community Action Regional Food Center has immediate openings in its Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) in Lawrence County.

According to Dick Stevens, HAPCAP food and nutrition division director, CSFP is a federally-funded USDA food and nutrition program for nutritionally at-risk, income-eligible participants 60 and older administrated by Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Each month, more than 4,250 seniors who are 60 and older in a 10-county region receive a food box of USDA products. The monthly food box includes canned fruits, vegetables, juices, meats, dairy and cereal. Boxes are prepackaged at the Regional Food Center in Logan.

To qualify for the program, participants must be:

A resident of Lawrence County.

60 years or older.

Meet federal income eligibility guidelines.

Eligibility is based on 130 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. All income eligible households 60 and older must be able to provide proof of age and residence. The income guidelines in annual, monthly and weekly installments follow:

One-person household: $14,079 income per year $1,174 income per month, or $271 income per week;

Two-person household: $18,941 per year, $1,579 per month, or $365 per week;

Three-person household: $23,803 per year, $1,984 per month, or $458 per week;

Four-person household: $28,665 per year, $2,389 per month, or $552 per week;

For each additional family member over four add the following: $4,862 per year, $405 per month, or $94 per week.

Applications are available by calling Carla Saum at 800-385-6813, ext. 2221.

State Route 7 set for resurfacing to start this week

LAWRENCE COUNTY — Operations for a two-lane resurfacing project are set to begin next week on State Route 7 in Lawrence County.

Beginning the week of July 26, crews from the Shelly Company will begin grinding and paving operations on State Route 7 between Township Road 1147 (Jewell Drive) in Rome Township and the Lawrence-Gallia County line. The resurfacing project also extends from the route’s junction with state Route 527 (Third Avenue) at Chesapeake to the western corporation limit of Proctorville.

Throughout construction, traffic will be maintained in one lane with the use of flaggers, and motorists are advised of intermittent periods of delay during hours of operation. They are also urged to use additional caution when traveling through the work zone.

The Shelly Company of Thornville, Ohio, was awarded a contract in May for approximately $2,334,320, and the scheduled completion date for all work is Oct. 31.

River Cities Harvest hosting food drive for Pike County

ASHLAND, Ky. — River Cities Harvest will be collecting food and water donations from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday that will be delivered to the Pike County, Ky., flood victims.

Hope Incorporated in Pike County will provide a truck to transport and distribute the relief supplies in areas desperate for safe drinking water and food.

Hope Incorporated supplies relief to 1,300 families in Pikeville and surrounding areas.

This effort is in response to the disastrous flooding which occurred during the last two weeks.

These flash floods swept away 300 homes in Pikeville and Pike County. River Cities Harvest will facilitate the food and water drive at the Neighbors Helping Neighbors warehouse, 2516 Carter Ave. in Ashland, Ky. Donors are invited to drive up and drop off their donations in the alley behind The Neighborhood for quick and convenient access.

Volunteers from River Cities Harvest will be on hand to collect the donations and put them on the truck.

WTCR will be broadcasting live from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help increase donations.

Donations can also be dropped off at the Ashland Main Street office at 1536 Winchester Ave.

Allegiant Air honored by industry magazine

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Allegiant Air, a subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Company has been named the top-performing airline in the low-cost/niche category by “Aviation Week.”

The annual award recognizes the company’s ability to capitalize on opportunities and thrive despite the global economic crisis.

“Airlines with the leadership ability to maintain strong liquidity, good financial health, cost discipline and a focus on efficiency are those in the best position to take advantage of demand,” said Michael Lowry, Top-Performing Airlines project manager.  “Allegiant’s business model is unique and has resulted in the airline having stronger financial health than any other airline, including legacy carriers.”

In addition to its high financial health score, Allegiant was selected because of its ability to steadily increase its net profit and for capitalizing on ancillary revenue.

“We owe this distinction to the hard work of our staff,” said Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., Allegiant Chairman and CEO. “Our continued growth and excellent financial performance is a result of their innovation and dedication.”

Allegiant previously appeared on this list, but 2010 marks the first year the company has taken the top spot.

“We’re pleased to be recognized as the Top-Performing Airline in the low-cost/niche category,” Andrew C. Levy, Allegiant President, said. “It is a testament to our success as a strong, profitable and low-fare company.”

Launched in 1996, “Aviation Week’s” highly regarded Top-Performing Companies studies identify strong and weak performers in the aerospace, defense and airline industries.

Proprietary metrics have been refined over the past 14 years with input from industry leaders to include scores in five categories: liquidity, financial health, fuel cost management, earnings performance, and asset utilization.

The data and rankings are a frequently cited industry baseline for determining which carriers are likely to flourish and those that are still vulnerable based on business models, geographic regions, and the industry landscape overall.

New BCPL card designs available

ASHLAND, Ky. — Ashland Boyd County Public Library is giving patrons three more choices when it comes to their library card. There are still seven designs from which to choose.

There’s a card design for every age – from the very young (that says “my first library card) to older kids, teens and adults. One of the cards has an environmentally-friendly “green message,” another a baseball theme and another just the library’s logo.

Cards are free for new library patrons. Replacement cards are $2.

The cards come in a pack of two – one wallet-size and one to attach to a key ring. Both incorporate the chosen design.

For more information, call Betty Malcolm at (606) 329-0518, ext. 1210, or visit www.thebookplace.org.

Heart at Work program raises awareness at work

ASHLAND, Ky. – In any given week, you probably spend more time with your co-workers than with your spouse or family. Those co-workers know a lot about you, and, believe it or not, their knowledge could save your life someday.

“We hear it all the time – people start to experience heart attack signs and symptoms at work, but put off doing anything about it for hours, or sometimes days,” said Heidi Moore, R.N., director of heart and vascular services at King’s Daughters Medical Center.

When employees know the signs and symptoms of heart attack and what to do about them, they become advocates for early heart attack care, not just at work but in every part of their lives, Moore said.

King’s Daughters Heart at Work program provides that knowledge. It is offered free, without obligation, to employers throughout King’s Daughters service area. It is ideal for safety and department meetings as well as companywide gatherings.

“The fact that nearly half of all sudden cardiac deaths occur outside the hospital tells us people are ignoring symptoms until it’s too late,” Moore said. The sooner a person recognizes a heart attack and gets treatment, the better their chances are for full recovery and return to work.

That’s important because most heart attacks strike in the prime of life – ages 50 to 65. The economic impact for employees and employers is incredible. For an individual who has a severe heart attack, the lifetime cost is estimated at $1 million, including healthcare expenses, lost wages, time away from work and disability.

The bill is even higher for employers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the 2010 direct and indirect costs of cardiovascular disease at $316.4 billion.

The fast-paced, informative talk is delivered by experienced cardiac nurses from King’s Daughters Heart and Vascular Center. They dispel the myths of heart attack, while teaching attendees what to look for — and what to do — when someone shows heart attack signs and symptoms.

“We’re not there to lecture them about diet and exercise,” Moore said, although the nurses do touch on those topics. “What’s most important is they understand that heart attacks are a lot more subtle than those you see on TV… and early action really can save a life.”

Heart at Work teams are available to speak to groups of any size and will schedule multiple presentations on various shifts to accommodate the needs of the employer.

For more information about the Heart at Work program, or if you’d like to schedule a team to talk at an upcoming meeting, call 1.866.HEART.KY (1-866-432-7859) or by email: heartatwork@kdmc.net.