Most of our lives are touched by Allen County Probate and Juvenile Court.
Judge Todd Kohlrieser manages both Allen County Probate Court and Juvenile Court. He told us that his courts touch most of our lives. "I, good or bad, have the opportunity to handle a case from the time a child is born until the time a person apsses away, even after, dealing with the estate. We have that opportunity to touch the lives of so many people and families and deal with so many difficult situations on a daily basis." Probate court handles estates, marriage licenses, name changes, birth certificate corrections, adoptions, guardianships, mental health and civil commitments, minor settlements, wrongful death cases, and much more. He also oversees the new Guardianship Services Board which handles guardianship cases. Cases which come before Juvenile Court include everything to do with youth, from traffic tickets to murder and rape cases, and neglect and abuse cases that come through Children Services. "We handle murders, we handle rapists, abuse of children. Some days you just go home and hug your family members, hug your kids and you're thankful for what God's blessed you with. Those are difficult days. Our goal at Juvenile Court is to hold children accountable, hold parents accountable, provide services to rehabilitate and then to return those kids back into the community as productive members of society."
Judge Kohlrieser oversees more than 80 employees, the Community Control/Probation Department, and Juvenile Detention and Treatment Center, and oversees a $2 million budget. Judge Kohlrieser says Community Control/Probation is going to be moving to Market Street to the former sleep clinic which will enable it to provide more services to families. Juvenile Court handles approximately 2,500 cases a year and Probate Court handles 700 cases a year.
Also at Monday's meeting, we met the new leadership of the Bath High School Interact Club: Kendal Doyle - Secretary, Kalie Kitchen - President, Samantha Klinger - Treasurer, Andrew Stahr - Vice President and Chief Joe Kitchen - Lima Rotary Liaison.
We also welcomed three new members to the club: Douglas Wise - Managing Director of Hanneman-Siferd Funeral Home, Ronda Lehman - President of Mercy Health - St. Rita's Medical Center, and Kevan Unverferth - Administrator at Shawnee Manor. Welcome! It's great to have you join us.
Three Rotarians exchanged their red badges for blue badges at Monday's meeting: Andy Lotz, Cindy Endsley and Sarah Newland. Congratulations!
And Elizabeth Brown-Ellis received her Paul Harris +3 pin. Thank you for your generosity!