Ross County, among 20 Counties in South-Central and Southeast Ohio — “The Rural AIDS Advisory Group” happened to be gathering in Chillicothe on World AIDS Day, on their quarterly planning meeting date.

Led by the Portsmouth City Health Department, the mission of The Rural AIDS Advisory Group (T.R.A.A.G.) is “to promote HIV and STD prevention in an attempt to reduce the spread of HIV infection in the rural counties.”

Kellie Cline and Rachel Childers of the Portsmouth City Health Department were setting up for the meeting at the Pump House Center for the Arts when I happened to be there looking for a preview of this month’s Holiday Showcase. They explained TRAAG and their duties within it.

They said TRAAG rotates their meeting locations within their 20-county region, which roughly spans

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