by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

State Police Superintendent Doug Carter, speaking Thursday night at the annual Clay Township Republican chili supper, said the opioid drug crisis is real, it is here and it is the responsibility to citizens to call situations to the attention of officials when addiction is observed or illegal drug use is suspected. Authorities are not going to defeat the epidemic alone, Carter said.

Carter, a local resident and former two-term county sheriff, is now in his sixth year as head of the State Police. He has now been appointed by two governors and has been well received by the press and public alike for his performance and style. A crowd of about 150 was on hand to greet Carter at the John Hensel township government center.

County Coroner John Chalfin, attending Thursday night’s event, said drug overdose deaths in Hamilton County are running nearly one per week since the beginning of the year. He has been working for state legislation to better track the overdose epidemic.

Congresswoman Susan Brooks also attended the function and urged Republican partisans to work hard this election year to help maintain a GOP majority in both houses of Congress. She claimed more legislation has been passed than in recent sessions which will spur the economy and reduce excessive regulations.

Candidates for most major county offices also attended and served chili to the crowd as is tradition at the Carmel Clay GOP Club event which is a partial pitch-in with guests bringing items to supplement the chili.

The organization re-elected Matthew Snyder as president, Tony Green as vice president, Dixie Packard as secretary and Barry Simich as treasurer.

Next month the club will sponsor a candidate forum where those running in the May 8 GOP primary will each speak, then answer questions posed by the audience.