R News & Views by WJER President Gary Petricola

Welcome to R News and Views for this second weekend of June. Before I get into some of the things I want to share with you about this weekend, I want to rewind to last weekend and send some acknowledgements to the Red Cross and the American Cancer Society.

Last week I told you about the 9th Annual Red Cross Duck Race at Dover City Park, and I am happy to tell you that the event was another big success. Chad Conrad reported to WJER earlier this week that well over $10,000 had been raised, and that will go a long way to help them with the programs they offer and provide assistance to families in need as a result of some tragedy.

I also want to acknowledge all those who worked on the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life and the 54 teams that walked the Dover stadium track for about 16 hours. This event has been going on for 14 years, and over the years I have had the honor to do our live broadcast at the beginning of the program. As many of you know, I lost my wife to cancer. So to be there to watch the over 133 cancer survivors that came out for the reception and then to take the first lap around the track as part of the Opening Ceremonies is an emotional moment, but also one of hope and encouragement. Congratulations to Amy Burrier for her dedication to the Dover Relay. Tammie Mills will be the 2009 Chair for Relay for Life, and if you want to get involved by forming a team, stay tuned to WJER, and we'll let you know when the meetings will take place. We all need to work together to help eliminate cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service.

Speaking of health and health care, this week Chris Beck, manager of Union Hospital's Vascular Laboratory and Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Department, was recognized by the Ohio Hospital Association as one of the four finalists for the honor of Health Care Worker of the Year. Beck was selected by Union Hospital to be its representative for the award, one of 75 health care workers around Ohio nominated for the honor. William Harding, Union Hospital’s president and CEO, said Beck represents the ideals of so many of the hospital employees, is a great representative for them and very deserving of the honor. Chris is a resident of Strasburg, on the Strasburg School Board and one of the founders of the Save Our Homes Task Force. He and his wife Heather have one son. Congratulations Chris, keep up the great work at Union Hospital and in our community. By the way, his wife Heather will be taking over as the new executive director of Leadership Tuscarawas the end of this month. Heather will replace Karen Williams who has been the executive director, and we want to thank Karen for the great job she has done with Leadership Tuscarawas for these past two years. We wish her the best, as she will be moving with her family to Georgia. Leadership Tuscarawas just graduated 16 people last month from the ten- month program course. If you would like to know more about Leadership Tuscarawas and find out about the next class that starts in August, check out their website at leadershiptusc.org, or contact Heather Beck at information@leadershiptusc.org.

Best wishes to cast and crew of Trumpet In the Land, as Friday night they opened their 39th Season of the exciting production of the founding of Ohio's first settlement, Schoenbrunn. The production will run through August 23rd. If you want to know more about performances and other productions they will present this summer, check out their website www.trumpetintheland.com.

And Sunday is an important day for fathers and their children. We wish the best to all the dads this Father’s Day, and we thank you for all you do. There’s simply no job more important than that of being a good parent.

Well, those are my views, if you want to see these comments and more, check out the WJER website at wjer.com and click on R News and Views.