Public Employee Retirees Inc. District 9 held its annual meeting May 15 at the John Abdalla Municipal Building in Stratton. The event was hosted by the Jefferson County Unit. District 9 includes the counties of Jefferson, Belmont, Coshocton, Harrison, Tuscarawas, Guernsey, Carroll and Holmes. District 9 representative Jim Range of New Philadelphia called the meeting to order. Jefferson County member Joyce Summers led the invocation. First Lady Linda Ross Brown of Weirton’s Morning Star Baptist Church, sang “America the Beautiful.” State Rep. Ron Ferguson, R-Wintersville, discussed House Bill 73 and House Bill 116. Speakers included OPERS trustees Tim Steitz and Steve Toth, PERI Executive Director Leslie Garcia and PERI Board Chairman Rich Ross. During the meeting, Range was re-elected for a two-year term for District 9. Prior to lunch, Brown sang Psalm 121. The afternoon’s entertainment was provided by the Hollywood Ukes, a local ukulele group. In keeping with the meeting’s theme, attendees played a Kentucky Derby trivia game. Those members of the Jefferson County Unit who attended the meeting included, from left, front, Susan Hogue, Lola Swanagan, Doris Starr, Joyce Summers and Bernadine Sliva; and back, Don Martin, Arlene Davis, Francesca Veltri, Sharon Wozniak, Judy McDevitt, Joan Dohnal, Patricia Horton, Eileen Warfield and Terry Jennings.

— Contributed