Judy Kelble sent me this which might be of interest. >Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2003 09:10:42 -0400 >From: jkelble@accnorwalk.com (Judy Kelble) >X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.73 [en]C-CCK-MCD (Windows NT 5.0; U) >X-Accept-Language: en >To: IsaiahH@cox.net >Subject: Dick Eastman article > >Good morning, > We, in Huron County, Ohio, are having a perplexing problem with our >health department concerning them taking our copies of microfilm out of >the local library. <snip outdated link> > In case anyone is interested, the mailing address for the health >department is 180 Milan Ave, Norwalk, Ohio 44857. > We would appreciate any help in the way of public opinion you can >give us. DIck Eastman's Article: (The following article is from Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter and is copyright 2003 by Richard W. Eastman. It is re-published here with the permission of the author. Information about the newsletter is available at http://www.eogn.com.) - Genealogy Society to Sue Local Health District? In a bizarre twist of logic, the Huron County (Ohio) General Health District has interpreted Ohio's new fee structure for ordering copies of birth and death certificates as meaning that those certificates should not be made available at all. Despite the new guideline specifically stating the fees for making such copies, the Huron County General Health District refuses to issue any certificates at all, at any price. Tim Hollinger, a board member, refuses to issue copies of these public domain records, citing concerns that they could fall into the hands of ''terrorists, number one, or criminals." This is despite the fact that the laws clearly state that such information is public domain within the United States and cannot legally be withheld. In fact, the new Ohio law about fees clearly states under what conditions those records are to be released. Hollinger appears to be ignoring the law that he does not approve of. OK, now here is where the story really gets bizarre: It seems that the Huron County Genealogical Society had a copy of those records on microfilm. The microfilm version was made some years ago by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In fact, microfilm copies of the records are available in many places. However, members of the county's General Health District ''stormed'' the local library and seized the Huron County Genealogical Society's copy of the microfilm. The Genealogical Society has asked for the return of the microfilm, but the General Health District has (so far) refused. Local historian and genealogy society member Henry Timman appeared before the General Health District and stated, ''You're retaining our property without our consent. We'd like to have our records back, that's what we'd like." He also said that that ''Ohio law supercedes personal opinion'' and that the genealogy group will consider going to the police or court to get back the records. Are all of us using the tools of "terrorists or criminals" in our genealogy research? Should this information be locked up? Should a new set of fees be used to justify illegal seizure of a non-profit society's property? Can public domain government data be withheld by local government officials? You can read more about this strange misinterpretation of Ohio's new fee structure at: http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1699&dept_id=46371&newsid=10153455&PAG=461&rfi=9

Would it be safe to assume that Huron County, Ohio will soon stop making accident reports and police reports available because they might fall into the hands of tortfeasors, terrorists and criminals? I can just see it now: "I'm sorry, Mr. Smith, but you can not get a copy of the police report for your insurance company whereby Mr. Jones broke into your house and stole your Rolex because Jones might get a copy, too." or, "Mr. Smith, we know that your house burned to a crisp and that you did not do it, but what if your insurance agent is a terrorist? We can't give you a copy of that report." And I can only imagine that obtaining your own birth certificate would be a real adventure there, too. "I'm sorry, Mr. Wilson, and we know that you need newborn Elmo's birth certificate for his Social Security Number, but I am afraid that we cannot give it to you on the basis that some newborn out there is considering a life of crime and might adopt Elmo's identity in kindergarten to avoid failing grades." I think that the "privacy police" have simply gone way too far. Richard ---------- Original Message ----------- From: Isaiah Harrison <IsaiahH@cox.net> To: STATE-COORD-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Mon, 29 Sep 2003 13:35:37 -0700 Subject: [STATE-COORD] Records Problem in Ohio > Judy Kelble sent me this which might be of interest. > > >Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2003 09:10:42 -0400 > >From: jkelble@accnorwalk.com (Judy Kelble) > >X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.73 [en]C-CCK-MCD (Windows NT 5.0; U) > >X-Accept-Language: en > >To: IsaiahH@cox.net > >Subject: Dick Eastman article > > > >Good morning, > > We, in Huron County, Ohio, are having a perplexing problem with our > >health department concerning them taking our copies of microfilm out of > >the local library. > > <snip outdated link> > > > In case anyone is interested, the mailing address for the health > >department is 180 Milan Ave, Norwalk, Ohio 44857. > > We would appreciate any help in the way of public opinion you can > >give us. > > DIck Eastman's Article: > > (The following article is from Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter > and is copyright 2003 by Richard W. Eastman. It is re-published here > with the permission of the author. Information about the newsletter > is available at http://www.eogn.com.) > > - Genealogy Society to Sue Local Health District? > > In a bizarre twist of logic, the Huron County (Ohio) General Health > District has interpreted Ohio's new fee structure for ordering > copies of birth and death certificates as meaning that those > certificates should not be made available at all. Despite the new > guideline specifically stating the fees for making such copies, the > Huron County General Health District refuses to issue any > certificates at all, at any price. > > Tim Hollinger, a board member, refuses to issue copies of these > public domain records, citing concerns that they could fall into the > hands of ''terrorists, number one, or criminals." This is despite > the fact that the laws clearly state that such information is public > domain within the United States and cannot legally be withheld. In > fact, the new Ohio law about fees clearly states under what > conditions those records are to be released. Hollinger appears to be > ignoring the law that he does not approve of. > > OK, now here is where the story really gets bizarre: It seems that > the Huron County Genealogical Society had a copy of those records on > microfilm. The microfilm version was made some years ago by the > Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In fact, microfilm > copies of the records are available in many places. However, members > of the county's General Health District ''stormed'' the local > library and seized the Huron County Genealogical Society's copy of > the microfilm. The Genealogical Society has asked for the return of > the microfilm, but the General Health District has > (so far) refused. > > Local historian and genealogy society member Henry Timman appeared > before the General Health District and stated, ''You're retaining > our property without our consent. We'd like to have our records back, > that's what we'd like." He also said that that ''Ohio law > supercedes personal opinion'' and that the genealogy group will > consider going to the police or court to get back the records. > > Are all of us using the tools of "terrorists or criminals" in our > genealogy research? Should this information be locked up? Should a > new set of fees be used to justify illegal seizure of a non-profit > society's property? Can public domain government data be withheld by > local government officials? > > You can read more about this strange misinterpretation of Ohio's new > fee structure at: http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm? BRD=1699&dept_id=46371&newsid=10153455&PAG=461&rfi=9 ------- End of Original Message -------