The High Octane Drumline is looking for recruits. They have seen a dramatic decrease in participants since the pandemic. Organizers say that transportation has become an issue for kids getting to the practices. The group has been providing not only a music program but has been mentoring these students.

Allen County has the highest unemployment percentage in our area with 3.4%, but that fell from 3.5% in November. Putnam County was the only one to see an increase last month, jumping from 2.1% to 2.4%. Mercer County had the second-lowest unemployment rate in the state with 2.1%.

Since the corridor was established in 2019, around 90 violations for distracted driving and 2,300 speeding tickets were given out in that area - some promising results for ODOT and the Highway Patrol. But distracted driving is still an issue on Ohio’s roadways, and that affects more than just drivers. According to ODOT, 62 crashes involving road crews have happened throughout the state so far in 2021.

While the "wait-and-see" travel trend continues, AAA says we can expect a decrease in people traveling for thanksgiving this year.

AAA is projecting a 9 percent drop in people traveling, down from the 2.3 million that traveled in 2019. Although a decrease in travel, there still will be many people on the roadway the whole week. A AAA manager says, we can expect a majority to travel by car because it creates a flexible plan and gas prices are lower than they've been in 15 years. The pandemic definitely has a role to play in the travel and we might see even less if more restrictions are in place.

According to the Ohio Board of Pharmacy, 568 million painkiller pills were prescribed to patients in 2017. In 2012, 793 million painkiller pills were dispensed. That is a 30 percent decrease in prescribed pills.