GOSHEN TOWNSHIP — The Goshen Police District has more than doubled the amount of donations from last year as part of the No Shave November program.

Desk Officer Katie Osberg reported to township trustees the department is participating in the No Shave November program, which promotes awareness of cancer by embracing one’s hair and letting it grow while cancer patients often lose theirs. Officers and community members have donated $30 to not shave for the month.

Osberg also noted the department will continue with Winter Whiskers for December in which officers and community members can donate another $30 to not shave for the month.

According to the department, No Shave November and its funded programs are putting donation dollars to work, investing in groundbreaking cancer research and providing free information and services to cancer patients and their caregivers. This year the department has chosen to raise awareness for epidermotropic cd8+ t-cell lymphoma, particularly for one individual affected by this, Ross Hallman. This is a very rare disease with very little information out there provided. T cell lymphoma is non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. It is a type of skin cancer. The only chance at a long-term remission and even a cure is stem cell transplant which would be a month in the hospital, three months in Cleveland and a year to recover.

Hallman, 31, of the Homeworth/Alliance area is currently in his second year of this battle. He and his wife, Kali, have a 4-year-old daughter. He is preparing for a stem cell transplant in a few months.

Community and outside donations can be made at the Goshen Police District from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning Oct. 19 through Dec. 1. For information call 330-332-1235 during office hours to speak with Osberg.

In other business, trustees accepted the resignation of full-time officer Chris Weingart and move him to part-time; and hired Michael Edgerton of Salem as a full-time officer. Weingart also took a full-time job with the East Palestine force.

Trustees also agreed to pay for unused vacation and holiday time for police officers who cannot use the days due to staffing issues.

Additionally, trustees approved a resolution that permits the use of CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act funds to pay wages for police department employees who interact with the public during the pandemic. Fiscal Officer Tom Knoedler noted the funds can also be used to pay wages for fire departments if the Damascus Fire Department, with which the township contracts for fire protection services, wants to participate.

Knoedler said the township has received $151,000 in CARES Act money. Trustees will hold a work session at 10 a.m. Nov. 16 at the administration building to discuss the budget and CARES Act funds, which have to be spent by Nov. 20.

Additionally, trustee Shawn Mesler reported the drainage portion of the Smith Goshen Road resurfacing project being funded in part by the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) small government grant will not be ready to advertise for bids until middle or late winter. He said the township is waiting on the Mahoning County Engineer’s Office to complete the engineering, which is being slowed by the large number of projects the office is handling, according to Bob Durbin, chief deputy engineer.

Mesler said the trustees knew the resurfacing would have to wait until next year, but had hoped the drainage could be completed as soon as possible to prepare for the resurfacing.

The township received $168,952 for the resurfacing and drainage project between state Route 165 and Middletown Road, with the township responsible for $78,303.

The next trustees meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at the administration building.

khowell@salemnews.net