STATE PATROL



STATE PATROL
Awards at Warren post
Trooper Lindsey S. Woodward of the Warren Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol has been selected as the 2005 Warren Post Trooper of the Year, and Dispatcher Michelle D. Higgins was selected as the post's Dispatcher of the Year.
They now are in the running for Northeast Ohio's district trooper and dispatcher of the year awards.
Woodward was selected by his post peers and supervisors. The selection criteria were technical knowledge, morale, communications, resourcefulness, attitude, physical fitness professionalism and leadership.
Woodward has been a member of the patrol for 12 years since graduating from the patrol academy in 1994. He has served at the Mansfield, Ravenna and Warren posts during that time.
He has received the patrol's safe driving award and is a field training officer for new troopers. He also has received a certificate of recognition for his efforts in pulling a person from a burning car after a traffic crash.
Before joining the patrol, Woodward was in the Army for three years.
He and his wife, Antoinette, have four children, Elizabeth, Lindsey, Lawrence and Harrison. Woodward is originally from Campbell and now lives in Newton Falls with his family.
Higgins was selected by her peers, troopers and supervisors for her technical knowledge and ability, work attitude and personal attributes.
Higgins has been a patrol member for two years. She also works as an EMT with the Vienna Township Fire Department.
She has two children, Abbagail, 8 and Kaitlyn, 10. Higgins and her daughters live in Mecca. She also is active with the Girls Scouts of America with her daughters.
APPOINTMENT
Environmental director
Gov. Bob Taft has announced the appointment of Richard Setty, director of environmental health for the Mahoning County District Board of Health, to the State Board of Sanitarian Registration.
The governor appointed Setty for a term to expire Aug. 14, 2007. He replaces Janet Rickenbaugh, Ph.D., former health commissioner of Clermont County, who retired.
Setty has a bachelor's degree in environmental health from Wright State University, has practiced environmental health since 1976, and became a registered sanitarian a year later.
Employed by the district health board since 1990, he has served as director of environmental health since 1999.
He lives in Austintown with his wife, Joan.
The State Board of Sanitarian Registration protects the public health by ensuring registered sanitarians possess and maintain specialized knowledge and skills in the field of environmental health.
HONORS
Inaugural award received
State Sen. Bob Robbins of Greenville, Pa., R-50th, received the Virgil F. Puskarich Award from the Pennsylvania State Association of Elected Officials through a unanimous vote.
Robbins was presented with the inaugural award in honor of his dedication, knowledge and problem-solving abilities, attributes reflecting the late Puskarich.
Puskarich was the director of the Local Government Commission, a bipartisan legislative agency that assists all levels of government, for 20 years.
Robbins is a member of the commission and former chairman of the Senate Local Government Committee.
XMilestones is a regular Sunday feature in The Vindicator. Articles must be submitted within 30 days of the Milestone event. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you want a picture returned. Pictures also may be picked up at the paper's Front Street facility at the security guard station. Send items to: Milestones, c/o The Vindicator, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501.