Sheriff Donnie Barrera announced Friday that the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s (ODPS) Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) has recently awarded $25,725 in federal traffic safety funding to the Highland County Sheriff’s Office for federal fiscal year 2016-17.

”These funds are critical in ensuring that we are doing everything we possibly can to keep our local community safe,” said Barrera. “Based upon crash data, traffic safety is a priority for Highland County, and we are committed to working with our partners at the state level to address this safety issue.”

To reduce the number of traffic incidents and to promote traffic safety, the Highland County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting high-visibility enforcement, working overtime hours and intends to hold educational and awareness events with the grant funds, according to a press release.

The funds are passed through OTSO from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to support the efforts of safety partners statewide and focus on traffic safety priority areas, such as restraint use, impaired and distracted driving, motorcycle safety and youthful drivers.

Competitive grant proposals are accepted and reviewed by OTSO, with funds awarded to projects that will have the greatest impact on reducing fatal crashes or significantly improving traffic safety systems.

Barrera expressed his thanks to Deputies Mike Gaines and Ryan Miller “for their dedicated efforts in procuring these grant funds.”

For more information or clarification, contact Sheriff Donnie Barrera at 937.393.1421.