News

After more than a decade at the helm of one of the Northland’s most trusted mental health organizations, a longtime CEO is stepping down with a legacy rooted in compassion, growth and community. Tom Petrizzo has served as CEO of Beacon Mental Health, formerly known as Tri-County Mental Health Services, since January 2014.

For years, the Wood Heights Fire Protection District Auxiliary has joined fire departments across the region in selling pink apparel every October to raise awareness for breast cancer. However, this year, the auxiliary chose to stand out by highlighting a different cause – one that hits closer to home for several of its members and has long remained unspoken. Instead of selling pink shirts for breast cancer awareness in October, the auxiliary is launching a suicide prevention campaign for September, offering apparel that sparks dialogue and fosters hope.

After a long wait for reshaping the steep embankment in front of Elmira Baptist Church, the group may be a step closer to resolution after appealing to the Ray County Commissioners. During a recent meeting, church member David Robinson told commissioners the congregation had been trying for two years to get assistance reshaping the roadside slope so it could be safely rocked and mowed.

MIRANDA JAMISON A conditional use request for Crooked River Farm Weddings received a recommendation for approval, with zoning officials emphasizing the need for compliance and consistency in rural event operations. “We just got a notice they wanted us to zone for venue,” explained applicant Susan Hanson with the wedding venue.