Page 1 - 10-11-21

The Rural-Urban Record

“Your FREE Community Newspaper”
“Celebrating 66 Years of Community Service!”

www.rural-urbanrecord.com

Volume 67 No. 8 Columbia Station, Ohio October 11, 2021

Eagle Riders raise funds for special training

Brian Slack, a well-respected Firefighter and Fire Officer
in Lorain County, took his own life on September 26, 2020.
A 27-year veteran in the fire service, Brian began his safety
service career as a Firefighter for the Eaton Township Fire
Department in 1985. In 2000, Brian moved to the Welling-
ton area and joined the Wellington Fire District, before once
again serving on his home department in Eaton Township.
Throughout Brian’s career, he was a trusted Firefighter, Of-
ficer, Emergency Medical Technician and Fire Instructor.
Brian had many passions, two of which could not be de-
nied, was his love of the fire service and his love for riding
his motorcycle. Many who knew Brian came to know him
through these two passions, and for this reason he knew
and was known by many. It was those close to Brian who
knew that, although a person who loved life, Brian also
experienced internal struggles. Was it these struggles that
ultimately led him to choose the tragic decision of suicide?
Were the signs there and went unnoticed, or perhaps, no-
ticed and dismissed? Brian’s death brings to light the rapidly
increasing awareness of the mental health issues, including
depression, PTSD, suicide and suicide ideation, that plague
our nation’s safety service professionals.
The Columbia Station Eagle Riders recently hosted a
poker run in Brian’s memory. More than forty motorcycles
roared from each stop to the next, raising $1,400 in the pro- Members of the Columbia Station Eagle Riders presenting a check to Chief Mike Wetherbee (Wellington Fire District), Chief
cess. On September 19, members of the Eagle Riders gener- Glen Thompson (Grafton Village Fire & Rescue) and Brian’s father Phil Slack.
ously presented these proceeds to Representatives of the Lo- County’s fire personnel on the recognition and treatment of recognizes this problem, agreeing that awareness, education
rain County Fire Chief’s Association, asking that the funds mental health issues. The Lorain County Fire Chief’s Asso- and recognition is the key to combating it.
be placed in a training account to help better educate Lorain ciation thanks the Columbia Station Eagle Riders, and fully Article by Chief Mike Wetherbee, President LCFCA

Wellington Homecoming Southwest General receives significant donation from local residents

King & Queen Patients who use Southwest General for their behavioral
health care needs are now benefitting from a $265,000 dona-
tion made by Columbia Station residents, Wayne and Debbie
Brassell.
“Mental health and addiction is a serious health crisis
in our communities right now,” said William A. Young, Jr.,
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Southwest
General. “We’re very fortunate to have a strong continuum
of care through our behavioral health services and to have the
support of community members, such as Wayne and Debbie,
who understand the deep need to expand and grow this ser-
vice.”
In early 2019, Southwest General embarked on a $7 mil-
lion capital improvement project to expand the hospital’s
Oakview Behavioral Health Services Adult Inpatient Facil-
ity. The project addressed the growing need for behavioral
health services by:
• Enlarging the facility by 5,000-square-feet
• Increasing the facility from 18 to 20 beds
• Adding office space for providers in Southwest General
Medical Group’s Behavioral Health practice, bringing clini-
cal staff and patients closer together to enhance care
• Renovating the current infrastructure (HVAC, plumbing,
mechanical, a new nursing station and staff lounge, etc.) to
support an optimal patient experience
Construction and renovation for Oakview’s expansion
project concluded in mid-2020.
Wellington High School’s Homecoming King and Queen “We are very grateful to Wayne and Debbie for their sup-
are King Cody Soboslai and Queen Melanie Solkiewicz. port and advocacy of the hospital and its services,” explains Debbie and Wayne Brassell.
Both are seniors. Congratulations! Mike Waggoner, MSN, RN, Director, Oakview Behavioral
Health Services. “In addition to supporting the growth and themselves to and from appointments. Through Wayne and
Debbie’s gift, Southwest General is now able to offer our be-
expansion of our facility, Wayne and Debbie’s gift has helped
Happy Sweetest Day to support enhanced services for our patients. Many times, havioral health patients free transportation to their appoint-
ments.”
individuals dealing with mental health and/or addiction ei-
ther don’t have a driver’s license, a car or the means to get
October 16 th Pg. 9 SEE DONATION ON PAGE 2

Community Carlisle 7 Grafton Twp. 12 Shop Local 5 Fall Home & Garden Guide
Columbia
21
8
Profile Page
LaGrange
2
Directory Eaton 18 Wellington 20 Classifieds 26
Grafton 10 Churches 6 SENIOR LIVING 22-23 pgs. 13-17
THE DISTINCTIVE
CLUSTER HOMES OF
FOX RUN Now Selling! Building Co.
Phase 7

LOCATED OFF RT. 57 IN GRAFTON Call T.J. at 440-926-3950
New interior layout options and color choices! for more information or

Maintenance Free Living. Model Available Soon! to reserve your lot!