Region briefs

Road closure announced

WOOSTER — Palmer Street will be closed between University Street and Wayne Avenue on Friday, Feb. 22, from approximately 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Flu restricts hospital visitation 

MILLERSBURG — Pomerene has chosen to restrict visitation in response to widespread flu activity. Effective immediately, those younger than 14 years old will not be permitted to visit.

The hospital is following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control, in limiting and restricting visitation to the hospital until further notice.

Pomerene also will be displaying posters at all entries notifying visitors of the restrictions and asking those with flu-like symptoms not to visit.

Sheriff looking for missing teen

DALTON — The Wayne County Sheriff’s office is asking for the public’s help in tracking down 16-year-old Katelyn Sommer.

Sommer reportedly went missing on Wednesday night and her current location is unknown. Anyone with information is directed to call the sheriff’s office at 330-264-3333 and reference case number 20-19-1896.

Sommer is a student at the Wayne County Schools Career Center.

SNAP recipients to receive March benefits in two parts

Beneficiaries of the Ohio Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive their March benefits in two parts.

SNAP households will receive the first 50 percent of their March benefits on Feb. 22 and the remainder on their assigned March issuance date.

The split distribution is due to the partial federal government shutdown that concluded on Jan. 25. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service instructed states to release their February SNAP benefits to recipients by Jan. 20 since it was unknown during the shutdown whether funds would be available in February.

The state of Ohio expects to return to the standard cycle of benefits issuance in April.

At the request of various counties, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services launched a robo call campaign on Feb. 15 notifying SNAP recipients of the split issuance for March benefits. The calls are running 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. until all calls are completed. The department anticipated calls being completed by Feb. 26.

SNAP recipients will receive this message from Ohio JFS:

“This is an important message from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services regarding your SNAP Benefits. As a result of the February SNAP benefit being issued early due to the partial federal shutdown that ended Jan. 25, Ohio is adjusting the March benefit issuance schedule. Eligible families will receive half of their March benefit on Feb. 22, and the rest of the benefits will be issued on the normal March issuance date.”