Clay County Board of Supervisors recognized and gave thanks to supervisor Ivan Fintel, whose role ended after 18 years of dedication.
The board showed their appreciation by presenting Fintel with a wood and glass desk clock.
“I don’t think thanks is enough, but thank you for being a great mentor to me,” Board Chair L. Wayne Johnson said. “You’ve always been a great asset to the board.”
Other board members also gave their thanks.
“You’ve been a great board member and leader,” Scott Bitterman said, with other board members echoing Bitterman and Johnson’s sentiments of appreciating the work Fintel has done over the years, and the mentor he’s been to them.
Before honoring Fintel, board members heard an update from South Heartland District Health Department’s Director Michele Bever involving a resolution the Board of Health passed recently.
The resolution is a suggestion, Bever said, not a rule, and focuses on how social media affects mental health in teens and young adults.
Locally, 90 percent of seventh to ninth graders use social media, with 80 percent using it at least once a day. Additionally, one-third of those use social media once every hour or more.
While social media has its good uses, Bever said it has also been connected to mental health issues, bullying, and poor sleep, to name a few.
The health department has resources for schools that want to take the practices of the resolution and put it into play, as well as serve as a basis for parents.
“We also hope adults will learn how to do this to help reduce reliance on social media for youth and young adults,” Bever said.
Board members said they were proud of the Board of Health for taking this stand and appreciated the information.
Weed Superintendent Greg Shuck said he’s applied for two grants to help keep the hazardous materials and electronic recycling events going in the county.
He said they’ll find out if they receive one or both of the grants in February.
