Monday, October 31, 2011

Trick or Treat in the Old Days 
By Abraham Lincoln

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Phillipsburg is on State Route 49 and there is one traffic light in town. For many years, the All Saint's Day decorations would include local farm produce (bales of straw, pumpkins, corn shucks, etc.) arranged in a circle, sometimes with a split rail fence. In the center, in the position of honor, would be somebody's privy, sitting there like a proud relic of times past.

There has been a policeman in town, and there are businesses on all four corners — not to mention traffic on State Route 49. Nobody ever got caught erecting this annual scene—like magic, something would appear next Halloween.

Back in those days, kids in all the towns didn't walk up to a house and ring a doorbell and say, “Trick or treat.”

They would cut notches in wooden sewing thread spools and tie a string around it like you were going to spin a top. Then with a pencil in the center, so it could spin, they would put the wooden spool close to someone's window and yank the string.

As the spoon spun, the wooden notches made a terrible racket as they struck the glass—the sound it makes is frightening. That was a typical prank before kids knocked on the front door for a treat. Older kids had tricks that us youngsters couldn’t do.

Help Wanted at Job and Family Services

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
FOR THE
FOLLOWING POSITION

Custodial Worker – Cleans and maintains office facilities; light maintenance and repair; ground maintenance includes snow removal from walks and litter removal from parking area. Average working hours of 20 hours per week.

Minimum Qualifications – Knowledge of cleaning practices and procedures; skill in operating cleaning equipment and tools; ability to read, write, calculation of simple mathematical functions, and carry out instructions; recognize safety warnings; stand, walk or bend continuously; lift up to 50 pounds frequently.

Benefits include – competitive salary, holidays, and Public Employees Retirement System.

Submit Resume to:
Kathy Stryker
Darke County Job and Family Services
631 Wagner Avenue
Greenville, OH 45331

DCP Gift Shop

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It's time to start thinking about the season of gift giving! Why not shop local and support a great cause by purchasing items from the Gift Shop at Shawnee Prairie Preserve Nature Center. The shop, managed by the Friends of Darke County Parks, is overflowing with great gift ideas. Everything from local honey to homemade apple butter will delight the 'foodie' on your list. How about a Field Guide to Ohio's wildflowers, birds, or even trees for that hard to buy for friend? Know a child that adores the outdoors, then pick up a new butterfly net, wildlife kite, insect magnifier, flower kit or even an owl flashlight! The gift shop in the Nature Center is open Monday through Saturday 9am-5pm and is located at 4267 State Route 502 Greenville, OH.

For more information, please contact the Nature Center at 937.548.0165 or www.darkecountyparks.org

Family Movie Night!

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Join the Darke County Parks family as we present a screening of the movie Earth, a DisneyNature Film. This epic and entertaining movie follows families of Polar Bears, African Elephants, and Humpback whales for an entire year, highlighting their harrowing fight for survival as well as their exhilarating triumphs. This event is completely FREE for the whole family, so grab the kids (or kids, grab Mom and Dad!) and head out to Shawnee Prairie Preserve Nature Center for Movie Night on Friday, November 18th at 7pm. Please call the Nature Center at 937.548.0165 and let us know how many to expect so we have enough popcorn! Bring a blanket or comfy folding chair. For more information on this and other programs offered by the Darke County Parks, please visit our website at www.darkecountyparks.org We hope to see you and your family at movie night!

GARST CHRISTMAS WREATH SILENT AUCTION

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(L to R) Marge Prakel and Judy Shappie of the
Versailles Garden Club arrive with holiday wreaths they
have designed.
Looking for that perfect Christmas wreath? Seven talented garden clubs have submitted wonderfully creative wreaths to Garst Museum to be sold through a silent auction.

Beginning November 6, you can stop in the Lowell Thomas Meeting Room (handicapped entrance) of Garst Museum and place a bid. Bidding can also be done by phone or via email. Since you do not need to bid in person, we encourage you to bid as often as you would like!

To view the wreaths, beginning November 6, just visit www.garstmuseum.org. To place a bid online, send an email to: information@garstmuseum.org to receive a bidding number. You are also more than welcomed to place a bid via the phone by calling 937-548-5250 and asking for the office manager. Credit cards will be accepted.

Wreaths will be provided by: Arcanum, Butterflies Junior, Garden Girls, Ladybug, Sun and Fun, Wood Sprite, and Versailles Garden Clubs.

The silent auction bidding will continue until 3:30 PM on Sunday, November 20, the afternoon of the Christmas Open House at Garst. Email or phone bids must be received by 3:15 PM.

Wreaths will be delivered within Darke County to the successful bidder. Out of County bidders may pick them up or pay shipping costs and have them shipped through the Garst Museum Gift Shop. You need not be present to win as winners will be notified.

Cancer Association Thanks Ansonia American Legion for donation.

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Ansonia American Legion Post 353 presents donation to Cancer Association of Darke County.

Pictured L to R: Dennis Dickey, Commander of American Legion Post 353; Christine Yount, Executive Director of Cancer Association; Ray Prasuhn, member of the Executive Committee of the Ansonia American Legion, Delores Beisner, Board President of Cancer Association and Larry Henderson, Service Officer of the Ansonia American Legion.

The American Legion supports veterans and veterans’ rights. There are currently 7 posts in Darke County. The Ansonia post raises most of their monies from their Bingo license with tickets being sold daily. A portion of their proceeds must go to charities and they prefer to give those monies to local organizations.

The Cancer Association of Darke County is sincerely appreciative of this donation. The monies will help to cover the costs of patient services, which will help over 180 patients this month. The association exists to provide support for people in Darke County that have been diagnosed with cancer. The support that is given provides reimbursement to patients for expenses including: mileage, medication, medical supplies, and nutritional supplementation. The organization also offers a monthly support group, a volunteer driver program, free wigs and head coverings for cancer patients, educational materials for the prevention and early detection of all cancers, information booths at various Darke County events, and speakers for groups interested in learning more about our organization. The Cancer Association is an independent non-profit organization not affiliated with the American Cancer Society or other organizations. The Association exists because of donations from organizations such as the

American Legion, private individuals, fund raisers, clubs, etc. For more information about the Cancer Association of Darke County, please call the office at 937-548-9960.

GFD: Structure Fire at Miami Valley Vending

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Call was dispatched at 1704 hours as a reported trailer fire. Upon arrival of Greenville Fire Department Quint 2 & Engine 1 at 1707 hours, Captain Fashner requested a 1st alarm (Greenville Fire Department recall). Several minutes later a 2nd alarm was requested as a precaution. Due to a data entry error at the Greenville PD Dispatch Office, an incorrect and obsolete auto response table was brought up on the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system and replaced the correct auto response table. The fire was controlled by the first Greenville Fire Department units on the scene and the issue with the CAD data and mutual aid request did not have any impact upon the fire. The fire started in an exterior area and spread to the roof of the building.

The fire is currently under investigation by fire investigators from the Greenville Fire Department, Greenville Police Department, and the State Fire Marshal.

WHIOtv.com: Fire Damage Estimated at $350k in Greenville

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WHIOtv.com has the story of the Miami Valley Vending Services building where a fire occurred late yesterday afternoon. While the fire was quickly brought under control, the blaze has already been estimated at causing approximately $350,000 in damages.

Click here for the printed report from WHIOtv.com, and the image below for their video


Click here for the press release from the Greenville Fire Department on the fire.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Pet's Pictures with Santa Claus

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Get your Pet's Picture taken with SANTA CLAUS on Saturday, November 12th, 2011 from 10am to 2pm at Greenville Walmart in the Garden Center.

The “Darke County Friends of the Shelter”, a 501c3 organization, and Wal-Mart will be taking pictures of your companion animals with Santa Claus. All animals must enter Wal-Mart through the Garden Center entrance.

The cost of the photo is only $3.00 and all proceeds will go to the "Darke County Friends of the Shelter" helping the dogs and cats at the Darke County Animal Shelter. Children are also welcome to have their pictures taken with Santa Claus. Bring your whole family for a picture!

Wal-Mart will offer a photo package deal for Christmas. All pets must be on a leash or in a pet carrier. Please come and support the Darke County Friends of the Shelter and be prepared to have some DOG-GONE FUN!

For more information you can contact the Animal Shelter at 937-547-1645.

Week 10 Football Scores and Pick'em Winner

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Week 10 High School Football Results:
  • Ansonia 18 vs Tri-County North 28 (Tiebreaker #1)
  • Versailles 55 at St Henry 28 (Tiebreaker #2)
  • Mississinawa Valley 0 vs Bethel 56
  • Arcanum 0 vs Covington 34
  • Greenville 34 vs Goshen 28

This week, Morgan Ellis won by correctly picking all 5 games and only missing the combined score of the Ansonia/TCN game by 4 points. Morgan will be the final winner of a free shirt from Cavalier Clothing for the season!

Congrats again to all of our winners this season, and thanks to everyone for playing!

Commissioners Corner

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October is here, along with falling leaves, harvesting, and cool Friday nights for High School Football. Autumn in Darke County is truly one of the prettiest times of the year. With the year nearing its close, everyone will be getting ready for Halloween, then Thanksgiving, and finally Christmas, and wrapping things up for the year.

We in the Commissioners office are winding things down for the year also. This month begins the yearly appropriations for all county offices. Carol Ginn, the County Auditor , and her staff have been preparing the appropriations, and we will be meeting with the department heads shortly. We are keeping our fingers crossed, as it looks like we should be able to keep the budget that we sent to the Budget Commission in July. Thanks to all department heads for diligently keeping their offices on budget and helping us through this really tough economic stretch. We can tell the people of Darke County this, we are in a better position than most other counties. Our department heads, their staffs, and the Commissioners office have worked together for the last several years, and that has allowed us to suffer less than most other counties. Please be sure to thank your department heads and their people for all they have done to get us through this difficult time. John Cook, our very capable business manager, has informed us that our county health insurance rate for next year has actually dropped 4 tenths of a percent! We have been working hard to maximize our dollars, and because of our efforts our insurer, CEBCO ( County Employee Benefits Consortium of Ohio) has seen fit to lower our premium a little. We are one of 5 counties in the state whose rate was below a 4.9% increase. A decrease in premiums for insurance is almost unheard of. Thanks to John and all the employees who continue to work hard and lead a healthier lifestyle to keep our premiums manageable.

On the economic development front, things are still progressing very well in the County. Marc Saluk, the Economic Development Director, continues to keep us on a positive roll. Marc is currently working with several companies on expansion, and a few new companies that are exploring our County. On October 19th, Our Partnering 4 Progress group met at Family Health Services for our monthly meeting. Partnering 4 Progress (P4P) is a collaborative effort between the public, private, and individuals to promote economic growth. Matt Kolb, the treasurer of the group, presented the group with these numbers: Total partner investment has been approximately $638,000. The approximate yields on this investment are: New Capital Investment- $23,950,000 (a 37.5% return for every $1 invested)- Annual Payroll(retained/created) $19,178,000 (a $30 to $1 return) – and State/Federal funds secured was $18,725,000 (a $29.4 dollar to $1 ratio). The best number of all though is in the jobs area. So far P4P has assisted in the creation or retention of 525 jobs. The Commissioners and Partnering 4 Progress will continue to aggressively promote our local businesses, help with expansion, and seek new business at every opportunity. One County business that needs to be recognized is Dynamic Weld of Osgood. They were recently awarded the “Supplier of the Year” for Honda. Dynamic Weld makes custom material handling and returnable shipping containers and have been in business since 1981, employing about 35 people. Dynamic Weld has been named Partnering for Progresses “Business of the Quarter”. Congratulations to Harry Heitkamp and Gene Neikamp, the owners, for this excellent achievement. We hope they continue to grow and prosper.

The Darke County Commissioners hold public meetings every Monday and Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. at the Commissioners office located at 520 South Broadway, just south of the Courthouse. Everyone is always welcome, and we hope to see you there!

- The Darke County Commissioners


Pets of the week from Darke County Friends of the Shelter

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The Darke County Animal Shelter presents their pets of the week:


We have Chopper at the Darke County Animal Shelter. He is a 7-month-old Boxer/Lab mix. He is brown with short hair. He is a nice dog and will grow to around 50 pounds. He is ready for adoption and looking for a new home.

We have Papi at the Darke County Animal Shelter. He is a 3-month-old Jack Russell/Fox terrier mix. He is mostly white with a little brown and black. He is a sweet little guy and very happy. He will make a great companion and housedog. He is ready for adoption and looking for a new home.

We have Bear at the Darke County Animal Shelter. He is a 1 year old Shepherd. He is tan, white and black with short hair. He is a friendly guy who likes people. He will make a great companion. He is ready for adoption and looking for a new home.

We also have a Rottweiler mix, a shepherd, a Dachshund and numerous other dogs. We also have cats and kittens for adoption. The Shelter hours are 8am till 4:30pm Monday-Friday and 9:00 till noon on Saturday. The Shelter is located at 5066 County Home Road in Greenville, and the phone number is 547-1645.

Get you pet’s picture taken with Santa Claus. Come join us on November 12th at the Greenville Wal-Mart on Wagner Avenue to get your "Pets Picture taken with Santa Claus". The hours are from 10am till 2pm. Be sure to bring your kids for this fun time. All proceeds will go to the "Friends of the Shelter" to help the dogs and cats at the Darke County Animal Shelter. For more information you can contact the Animal Shelter at 937-547-1645. To see the dogs we have, go to our web site at www.darkecountyanimalshelter.com.

Friday, October 28, 2011

WHIOtv.com: Fire Guts 2 Story Home in Palestine

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WHIOtv.com has video and some early details regarding a house fire that occurred in Palestine this morning. Approximately 6 fire departments were dispatched to get the fire under control. thankfully, no one was injured and the cause remains under investigation.

Click here for the story from WHIOtv.com and click on the image to view the video.


Final Hike to Health of the Year!

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Darke County Parks is holding its final Hike to Health of the year on Saturday, November 5th at 2pm at Turkeyfoot Preserve. Turkeyfoot Preserve is conveniently located just outside of Greenville on Bishop Rd. Join a Naturalist as we hike the trails at a brisk pace to get the blood pumping and to feel the crisp autumn air. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and the last of the changing leaves before the ice and snow begin to fall. This is the perfect time to stay active before the holiday season begins. Meet at Turkeyfoot Preserve to take part in this hike. For directions or more information on this and other programs offered by the Darke County Parks, call the Nature Center at 937.548.0165 or visit our website at www.darkecountyparks.org

NOVEMBER BLOOD DRIVES IN DARKE COUNTY

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DARKE COUNTY, OH — (October 26, 2011) Community Blood Center (CBC) Come out and enjoy the opportunity to help save the lives of others by donating blood. Many will be thankful for your gift.

Scheduling your appointment is easy. Go on line to www.donortime.com to schedule your own appointment. You can also contact Dana Puterbaugh, Darke County - Account Representative @ 937-997-2199 / dputerbaugh@cbccts.org to schedule your appointment.

Please remember that appointments have priority and Walk –Ins are always welcome as the schedule permits. This just means that if you walk in and all appointments are filled at the time you come to the blood drive we will let you know when the next available appointment is and you have the choice to either wait or come back at the time that is available.

WHIOtv.com: Firefighter Injured Battling Fire in Darke County

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WHIOtv.com has the story and video on a barn fire that occurred last night on Gordon-Landis Road. Reportedly no one (or livestock) were hurt in the fire, but we've heard (unconfirmed) one firefighter was taken to Wayne with an injury to his arm.

We'll update with more information as we get it. Click on the image below to read WHIO's story as well as watch the video clip.


"Diabetes and Medications" Program to be Held for Free

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Gerald Kaup, R.Ph., from Kaup Pharmacy, will be presenting a program on “Diabetes and Medications”.  This program will be held on November 8, 2011 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  This FREE program will be held at Wayne HealthCare in the 3rd Floor Conference Rooms.

To learn more about this program or other educational opportunities for individuals with diabetes call 937-547-5750.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Announcing Garst Museum’s “Museum in a Suitcase”

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The Garst Museum is now offering a traveling program featuring “A Museum in a Suitcase.” Garst Museum’s new program is available at no cost for local adult groups who are interested in learning about items of yesteryear. Museum docents will bring a suitcase of items to your facility for a forty-five to sixty minute program. The “Museum in a Suitcase” program includes a unique opportunity to handle the artifacts and reminisce about times gone by.

For more information about the “Museum in a Suitcase” program, please contact the Garst Museum at 937-548-5250 or via email at information@garstmuseum.org.



The Garst Museum is located at:
205 N. Broadway, Greenville, OH 45331
937-548-5250

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP WILL MEET November 3, 2011

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The next meeting of the “Living with Cancer” Support Group will be held on Thursday, November 3 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. The meeting will take place in the third floor conference room and the speaker will be Dr. Adam Schwartz, Director of Pharmacy at Wayne Hospital. He will have an open forum of questions and answers and share other information regarding cancer treatment.

The local Cancer Association of Darke County sponsors the Living with Cancer group in cooperation with Wayne Hospital. The Support Group is open to anyone with a cancer diagnosis, also family and friends of an individual with cancer are encouraged to attend. Facilitating the support group meeting this week will be Jill Brown from Wayne Health Care from Wayne Hospital.

For further information, contact the Cancer Association of Darke County office at 548-9960. Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 A.M. to Noon and 1:00 to 4:30 P.M.

Guest Post from Mike Stegall: "Just the Facts, Ma'am"

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Guest posts are welcome and encouraged. If you have something to say and are able to do it in a respectful, reasonable way, send your piece to darkejournal@gmail.comThe contents of guest posts do not necessarily reflect the opinions of DarkeJournal.com.


How many of us old timers remember the television show “Dragnet”?  Jack Webb, who produced the series and starred as Detective Joe Friday, would always ask a witness who started straying from his original question, “Just the facts, Ma’am”. Once again, we in the Greenville School District are being asked to support a school levy, and I have done some research and hope to give the people of the district “Just the facts, Ma’am”.

As I go about the district, it seems to me that the same questions concerning the school levy keep getting asked: (1) “I won’t vote for the levy because the school board is stupid” (2) “The money we spend is being wasted because the kids aren’t learning anything” and (3) “Teachers and Administrators make too much now, and the levy will give them a pay raise”. Let’s take them one at a time, without any emotion, and look at them logically. First, “the school board is stupid”. OK, I will admit that if you look at their track record, it does seem that their decisions sometimes appear less than smart. I have also heard this since I was in school, 40 years ago.  They do make mistakes, they are human. We all make them, it is just their mistakes are more public. Are they “stupid”? No.  Do they make bad decisions sometimes? Yes. They are asked to do a thankless job, for very little financial or personal gain. They try their best, but they need to step up and show some leadership. When you make a mistake, admit it, and go on and DON’T DO IT AGAIN!!  We do not expect perfection from them, just open honesty would do well. Don’t double talk, tell us what you mean and be done with it. For all the alleged mistakes they have made though, the quality of education in Greenville has not suffered, which brings me to number 2. “The kids aren’t learning anything” is just not true. Greenville just received an Excellent rating from the State Board of Education.  Now, you can argue that the State Board’s ratings are bogus, or whatever, but keep this in mind: ALL schools are rated based on the same criteria. If Greenville gets this rating based on that, then nobody has an argument against it. All schools are graded the same.  Greenville is excellent by the standard that everybody uses, so be happy about it. Don’t criticize the teachers, they have done their job. Now, they need to continue to be excellent. This is not a finish line for the school, just a beginning. I once heard that “Perfection may be unattainable, but Excellence can be achieved”. We have achieved it, now let’s improve on it. The rating is good news, which brings me to the real sticky issue, salaries. With some help from Carla Surber, and the State Board of Education, I have some numbers for you to contemplate. Are Greenville teachers well paid? Yes. Are they overpaid? Probably not. Here are the numbers, and keep in mind that the school is a business. We all want government to be run like a business, so we have to be competitive in salary to get the best and the brightest or they will go somewhere else, just like in business.  

GPD: DRUG BUY-BUST LEADS TO TWO ARRESTS

12 comments:
Cheadle
On October 26, 2011 around 4:30 p.m., the Darke County Drug Task Force, detectives from the Greenville Police Department, deputies from the Darke County Sheriff’s Office, and a member of Darke County Juvenile Probation conducted a reverse drug buy-bust operation in the 400-block of Harrison Avenue. During the operation, a juvenile brandished a knife in an effort to rob an undercover officer. The juvenile was assisted by 21-year-old Jesse Cheadle. Both subjects fled on foot and were taken into custody after a foot pursuit.

Jesse Cheadle was transported to the Darke County Jail and held without bond on an Aggravated Robbery charge. The juvenile was transported to West Central Juvenile Facility and is being held on Aggravated Robbery charges, awaiting a detention hearing.

All You Can Eat Pancake and Sausage Breakfast To Benefit The Special Olympics

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Time: Saturday, October 29 · 7:00am - 11:00am
Location: Greenville Masonic Lodge Greenville, OH
More Info: 200 Memorial Drive, Greenville, OH 45331
Cost: $5 Adults and $2.50 Children

Again this is a ALL YOU CAN EAT Pancake and Sausage Breakfast from 7:00am - 11:00am

Part of the proceeds for this event will go towards The Special Olympics.

See you there!

It Is a Good Time to Reassess Standing Corn

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From Justin Petrosino at OSU Extension, Darke County

As you might have heard on the Tiger radio station last week, I will no longer be working for Extension as of November 4, 2011. I was hoping to announce it in a more personal manner than a radio broadcast of a news report but they beat me to it! I have enjoyed my time with Extension and have enjoyed Darke County enough to continue to call it home. I will be taking a position with Stewart Seed as the Sales Agronomist for Ohio on November 7, 2011.

Now that we have the quasi-farewell (I’ll still be around Darke County) out of the way let’s get down to business. Soybean harvest progressed quite well this month leaving just a few fields to finish up in dry conditions. However, corn fields are a different story. My brother recently informed me that in Afghanistan corn harvest was wrapped up a few weeks ago. That is not so in Darke County. It is a good time to reassess standing corn fields to see which fields take priority.

With damp conditions in many fields stalk rots can continue to be a problem. There are two simple ways to check the standability of corn out in the field. The first way is to push on the stalk and see if it snaps, this will give and indication of what is about to break. The other method is to squeeze the stalk at several heights between your thumb and pointer finger. It will be very hard to crush a healthy stalk, but if the stalk is soft it might be an indication of a future break. If weak stalks are present make sure to harvest that field as soon as possible.

While in the field keep an eye out for ear molds. Although hot and dry conditions persisted through silking we are still seeing some ear mold in the field. Here are some quick tips for identifying ear molds. If the mold is white to pinkish and starts at the ear tip and works its way down it is most likely Gibberella ear rot. If it is white and starts from the base of the ear it is Diplodia. A pink growth around a single kernel or multiple kernels anywhere on the ear is Fusarium. Ear tip damage can result in the green growth of Aspergillus or blue growth of Penicillium. For more information on ear molds and toxins, check out the OARDC Plant Pathology website at: http://oardc.osu.edu/ohiofieldcropdisease/.

The last thing to be looking for in the field is weeds. If the field will be going to soybeans marestail is a major concern. If you spot marestail a fall application of glyphosate + 2,4-D followed by a spring application of glyphosate + 2,4-D + a PRE like Valor XLT or Authority First, will provide control of marestail for soybean. If the field will go to corn after corn, not a recommendation but it does happen, be sure to control winter annual weeds. In the spring green weeds act as an attractant for the black cutworm. As the adults fly in the females will lay eggs in the winter annuals. Controlling the weeds now or early in the spring will help minimize the chances of black cutworm damage to next year’s corn crop. The same application of glyphosate + 2,4-D will clear up a field in winter or spring.

Keeping stand loss to a minimum is critical whether it is early in the season or at the end of the season. If several gaps of 4 to 6 feet occur in a row of corn a yield loss can be as high as 5 %. In a 150 bu/acre corn crop that is 7.5 bushels lost in an acre. At today’s prices it is worth the extra time in the field to identify which fields need priority for harvest and which need a fall herbicide application.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Woodland Survival Series: Firestarting

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Darke County Parks is introducing a new series called, Woodland Survival. Part One of this survival series will take place on Thursday, November 3rd at 6:30pm at Shawnee Prairie Preserve and the focus will be Firestarting. Not long ago, people knew what to do when an impromptu overnight in the wilderness occurred. Today, these basic skills are lost to much of society. Join a Naturalist as we re-learn firestarting, without matches! This program will be heavily hands-on and take place rain or shine. Call today, 937.548.0165 to reserve your spot as space is limited to 12 participants. Fee for the program is $15 per person. For more information on this and other programs, please visit our website at www.darkecountyparks.org

MAID-RITE SANDWICH SHOPPE SUPPORTS ARTS IN EDUCATION

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Darke County Center for the Arts thanks Maid-Rite Sandwich Shoppe for contributing funds in support of its Arts In Education (AIE) program. DCCA, in conjunction with school administrative staff, annually takes performing artists to every grade of all Greenville City and Darke County public schools.

Lyle Cogen visited nine elementary schools September 12-16, with Sticks and Stones, a program on bullying. Cogen, returning to Darke County at the request of school administrators, captured the attention of 4th through 6th graders using music and drama to give students the tools to recognize and deal with bullying in the schools.

Most Arts In Education performers spend a week in Greenville traveling to all Greenville City and Darke County public schools, with the exception of the Jr. High program, which generally takes place at St. Clair Memorial Hall with students being bussed in. According to Keith Rawlins, DCCA Artistic Director, “During the Artist’s residencies we always point out local landmarks to visit, with Maid-Rite Sandwich Shoppe making the list as a ‘must’ to truly experience the treasures we have in Darke County.” “The support of a local icon like Maid-Rite is greatly appreciated by DCCA and sends a powerful message to the children,” he concluded.

For more information on Darke County Center for the Arts programs call DCCA at 937-547-0908, e-mail dcca@CenterForArts.net, or check out the web-site at www.CenterForArts.net .

DCCA PRESENTS PIANIST/VOCALIST MICHAEL KAESHAMMER

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Darke County Center for the Arts will present Michael Kaeshammer in concert on Saturday, November 12 at Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall in Greenville; the show begins at 8 p.m. “Michael Kaeshammer's combination of piano virtuosity and vocal ability with charisma to burn makes him a vibrant performer who not only thrills audiences with his talents but also connects directly with them through his charm and enthusiasm,” commented Keith Rawlins, DCCA Artistic Director.

According to Mr. Rawlins, Kaeshammer is a Canadian music export following in the path previously successfully pursued by Diana Krall and Michael Bublé. Kaeshammer's current U.S. tour has taken him across the country, including to such prestigious sites as Tanglewood in Massachusetts and Telluride, Colorado. “Michael appeals to audiences of all ages and music lovers of all genres,” Mr. Rawlins said. “He'll croon a beautiful pop ballad and then seamlessly launch into a foot-stomping boogie-woogie that will get the entire crowd moving,” the DCCA representative explained.

Second National Bank is sponsoring Michael Kaeshammer's performance. Darke County Center for the Arts also receives financial support from Harry D. and Esther Stephens Memorial, Ketrow Foundation, and the Lydia E. Schaurer Memorial Trust Fund. Additionally, the Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

Tickets for the Michael Kaeshammer show are $20, and can be reserved by contacting DCCA at 937-547-0908 or dcca@centerforarts.net. Tickets will also be available at the door if any remain by showtime.

Representative Buchy and Senator Faber to Answer Questions on Issue 2 in Versailles

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Columbus, Ohio- Ohio State Representative Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) will join Ohio State Senator Keith Faber (R-Celina) in addressing local citizens on the merits of Issue 2. The event will begin at 7pm on Thursday, November 3rd at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Versailles. The forum is being hosted by Educate Versailles. The meeting will include the thoughts of Darke County Engineer Jim Surber who opposes Issue 2. Citizens for, against, and undecided on Issue 2 are encouraged to attend the informational meeting and question and answer session.

Issue 2 is a referendum of collective bargaining reforms law passed by the Ohio General Assembly this spring. It will be on the November Ballot. Senator Faber and Representative Buchy both voted in favor of the reforms following a series of town hall meetings across the district where the two law makers listened to area residents and brought their concerns back to Columbus, ultimately impacting the final version of the bill.

Representative Buchy says, “Issue 2 is about jobs. That is the message I have been taking around the state.” If passed the measure is expected to help local governments, schools, and the state manage rising labor costs which has become a struggle with a weak economy and lower tax receipts.

Event Details
Issue 2 Educational Forum
Hosted by: Educate Versailles
Starts at 7pm
The Knights of Columbus Hall
8440 State Route 47
Versailles, Ohio 45380

Know Your Diabetes ABC’s

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Know Your Diabetes ABC’s

A for the A1C test. This test shows you what your blood glucose has been over the last three months. The A1C goal for many people is below 7%. High blood glucose levels can harm your heart and blood vessels, kidneys, feet and eyes.

B for Blood pressure. The goal for most people is 130/80 mm HG. High blood pressure makes your heart work too hard. It can cause heart attack, stroke or kidney disease.

C for Cholesterol. The LDL goal for most people is less than 100 mg/dl. The HDL goal for most people is above 40 mg/dl. LDL or bad cholesterol can build up or clog your blood vessels. It can cause a heart attack or a stroke. HDL or good cholesterol helps remove cholesterol from your blood vessels.

To learn more about the Diabetes ABC’s and diabetes information consider attending education at Wayne HealthCare. Diabetes education is provided as individual sessions or group classes. The next group class series will be held on November 7, 14, 21 and 29, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. To learn more about the educational opportunities available at Wayne HealthCare call 937-547-5750.

Gordon United Methodist Church to Host Homecoming Event

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The Gordon United Methodist Church located at 311 East Street in Gordon, will be celebrating United Methodist Women’s Sunday along with their annual Homecoming event on Sunday, October 30. Sunday School will begin at 9:00 a.m. followed by a worship service at 10:30 a.m. Special guests for the event will be The LightReaders, Tom, Claudia, Marilee and Susan, who live in Tipp City, OH. They will be presenting “God’s Gifts, His Promises and Beyond”. Each “gift” – Life, Presence, Hope, Grace, Salvation – comes with music that completes the message. Following the service, everyone is invited to a carry-in dinner. The church will provide meat and drinks.

Rev. John Gilmore is the Pastor of the Gordon United Methodist Church and can be reached at 937-884-5129.

5678 Dance Studio Offering Princess Camp

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5678 Dance Studio is offering Princess Camp on November 19th from 2-4 at our studio, 636 Wagner Avenue in Greenville, located in the same shopping center as Ashley Furniture and Time Warner Cable. The cost is $30 which includes, dance instruction, crafts, snacks and a little momento for the day. Please come dressed as your favorite princess. The camp is for all little girls aged 2 1/2-7 years of age. You do not have to be currently enrolled in our studio.

Also, it is not too late to sign up for classes. We continue to add new classes as interest arises. We are currently offering classes for Creative Movement for ages 2 1/2-4, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Pom, as well as Adult Ballet, Adult Jazz, Adult Tap and even Zumba. In last Sunday's Daily Advocate, we have a coupon for a FREE class of your choice. Stop in and meet one of our well trained Dance Instructors. We believe dance should be educational and fun. Our goal is to provide instruction in all disciplines of dance in an enjoyable and positive atmosphere. Classes are scheduled for all ages and all ability levels. A generous pricing plan includes a family discount and makes dance classes affordable for households with multiple children. We strive to provide a clean, family friendly learning environment. Parents are encouraged to use our parent viewing area to observe their child's progress. Visit our website at greenville5678dance.com for more information or call 621-9559 or email 5678cari@gmail.com.

Free Family Movie Night at EUM!

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EUM Church is hosting a FREE Family Movie Night, complete with popcorn and drinks, Saturday, November 5 immediately after the 6:30 p.m. worship service. Come on out to the EUM Worship Center at 1451 Sater Street on the corner of Sater and Sebring-Warner Road and enjoy a great family night out!

Come for worship… Stay for the movie! Children’s programs are provided during worship.

Movie Night is a ministry of EUM Church. We would love to have you come and see what we are all about. Our worship services are Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 8:15, 9:45, and 11:15 a.m at our Worship Center located at 1451 Sater Street (corner of Sater and Sebring-Warner Road). The Downtown Campus, 111 Devor Street, houses our offices and preschool. For more information, go to www.eumchurch.org or call 548-3211.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

ARCANUM PUBLIC LIBRARY IS CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF SERVICE

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The Arcanum Public Library is celebrating 100 years of service. The library has been through many struggles during the past century, but it has persevered. With 30% cuts in state funding, it is once again struggling, which is why it is looking for support by putting an operating levy on the November 8 ballot.

The library is located in the beautiful, Ivester House, which has had two additions, but been able to retain its classic character. While the building has the charm of a former era, it is looking to the future with new computers and faster internet service for patron use. The board greatly appreciates all of the donations that have been made by the community towards this project.

The library was in five locations before its current location, including Smith’s General Store, the Weisenbarger building and the Kincaid home. Support from citizens and civic organizations, such as The Criterion Club, have kept the library available for the public’s benefit. In 1998, the library computerized the card catalog system in order to better locate and circulate materials. Now, you can use one of the library’s new computers, or if you have your own laptop, you can also use the library’s wireless access to meet your on-line needs. The library has grown to over 63,000 items including books, periodicals, books & music on CDs, puzzles, puppets, microfilm, DVDs & videos, and most importantly, free membership.

For those of you that have enjoyed the library during the past 100 years, we encourage you to show your support by voting yes for the operating support levy on November 8th. It is a 1.0 mill levy, which will cost a homeowner with a $100,000 assessment approximately $35 or less, depending on exemptions. With approximately a 30% cut in funding from the state, the funding from the levy would allow us to restore our Monday hours, our materials budget and programming. Considering the costs of books, magazines and other services you can get at the library, it is still a great value. We look forward to another 100 great years of service to the surrounding community.


HARVEST SOUNDS BENEFITS HOPE FOUNDATION

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New Madison - First Universalist Church of New Madison is proud to announce HOPE Foundation of Darke County has been chosen to be beneficiary of the church’s eleventh annual benefit concert. HARVEST SOUNDS 2011 will be presented Sunday, November 6, 3:00 p.m. at First Universalist Church, 331 East Washington St., New Madison.

HOPE Foundation of Darke County (Helping Other People Excel) is dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents of Darke County by receiving, managing and distributing charitable gifts in the areas of education, the arts, social services, community projects, conservation and animal welfare. 100% of the proceeds from HARVEST SOUNDS will go to HOPE Foundation to provide grants where the funds will best serve Darke County.

Opening the concert will be “Subject to Change,” featuring Stuart Schlotterbeck, along with good friends Wanda and Dennis Schwallie. The three perform a variety of musical styles and play a number of instruments, including strings, harmonica, drums and recorder. Wanda and Stuart provide the vocals, joined occasionally by Dennis. The popular and in-demand Columbus group will add a special touch to HARVEST SOUNDS.

The First Universalist Trio with flutist Margaret Schryver, pianist Roberta Feltman, and Lloyd Ketring at the organ, will set the stage for the exciting closing performance of the concert. The Trio’s three part rendition of “Lord of the Dance” opens the way for the first dancer ever to grace the stage at the church’s annual benefit concert.

Closing the show will be sixteen year old Drew Lovejoy who is a World Champion of Irish Dance, having won the world championship in 2010, is the 2011 first runner up, and number one in his age group. He is the youngest North American male to achieve this goal, and first person of color in the world to win the championship. In July of this year he won the North American National Championship competition held in Nashville, TN. He now holds the title of National Champion for both 2010 and 2011.

If you like the strumming of guitars, the tickling of the ivories, sacred chords of an organ, the exuberance of Irish Dance, lilting melodies played on a flute, vocalists singing your favorite tunes, and crisp November days, you will love HARVEST SOUNDS.

Tickets for HARVEST SOUNDS are $8, (free to students through grade 12), and will be available at HOPE Foundation, from church members, or at the door the day of performance. For information please call 937-548-2480 or go to www.uuchurchnm.org

An Overview of Nutrition Program will be offered for Individuals with Diabetes

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An Overview of Nutrition Program will be offered for Individuals with Diabetes

As a diabetic you are told to eat healthy. However, you may have a lot of questions about what you should eat. Karen Droesch RD,LD,CDE a Certified Diabetes Educator at Wayne HealthCare will discuss an “Overview of Nutrition”. This topic will be taught in a fun interactive format through a jeopardy game.

Join Karen on November 3, 2011 from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. This program is free and will be held in the conference room at Wayne HealthCare. If you have questions about the program please call 937-547-5750.

Join us to learn more about nutrition.

Final Week of the High School Football Pick 'em

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DEADLINE FOR WEEK 10 PICKS IS FRIDAY AT 5:00 PM


The last week of the season is here (already)! Several notable games this week as we say goodbye to several teams a couple look to hold onto playoff chances.  Versailles is currently ranked 7th in their region and would clinch a playoff appearance with a win at St Henry. Ansonia, meanwhile is currently on the outside looking in and will have to win vs Tri-County North to have a shot at continuing on into the post season. Here are this week's games:
  • Ansonia vs Tri-County North (Tiebreaker #1)
  • Versailles at St Henry (Tiebreaker #2)
  • Mississinawa Valley vs Bethel
  • Arcanum vs Covington
  • Greenville vs Goshen
Simply email darkejournal@gmail.com with the subject "week 10." 

List the team you think will win, as well as your prediction for the total scores for each of the tiebreaker games.

The person who picks the most games correctly will win a free shirt of their choice from Cavalier Clothing (who has an amazing selection of designs for schools all over the county), along with the illustrious prize of bragging rights. In the event of a tie, the winner will be the one with the closest total score of tiebreaker #1. In the freak event that there is still a tie, the closest total score in tiebreaker #2 will win (an individual may only win one shirt per season). The winner will be announced the weekend after the games. Entries MUST be received no later than 5:00pm on Friday!

Good luck, and get your picks in early!

"Black Out" This Friday's Ansonia Football Game

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As you may know Ansonia is fighting for their playoff lives. This Friday night we are urging all Ansonia fans to wear Black, bring your noisemakers (cow bells,etc) and root the Tigers to a win and another playoff appreance. Ansonia (6-3) will be playing Tri County North (7-2) this friday night at Tiger Field at 7:30 p.m. It is also Senior Night, so come and say thanks to the eight seniors as they try reach the playoffs in all four years of their high school careers.

ENDING SEASON WITH CELEBRATION

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This Saturday closes the season for the Downtown Greenville Farmers’ Market. The market, located at 4th and Broadway, has been open every Saturday from 9:00 am-1:00 pm since June. On October 29, the market will conclude with a special celebration for long time vendor and market staple, Francis Byers, who turns 90 years old this December.

Mr. Byers has been vending at the downtown market since it opened in 1998 at O’Brien’s Mill. He has stayed with the market through several location changes to its current site at the Courthouse. Before coming to downtown, Francis began his market career of selling his 1st place produce at the Richmond, IN market. A long time affair with the soil, Francis has been gardening since he was 18 years old. Making a career out of his passion, he has competed at the state and county fair with grain, fruit and vegetables. In fact, this year marked 72 consecutive years at the Darke County Fair!
Today, Francis tends to two acres of garden, 120 apple trees, and numerous cherry and peach trees.

The Downtown Greenville Farmers’ Market family invites friends, family and market goers to join them in celebrating Francis’s milestone at 12:00 pm on Saturday, October 29 at the Courthouse. The market family is planning cake, card signing and well wishes for Francis.

Questions about this event can be directed to Amber Schmerge at Main Street Greenville at 937-548-4998.

Join the Clay’s at Senior Moments November 1st, 2011

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Eight years ago Randall & Carolyn started a ministry in their hometown for Senior Citizens. They call it Senior Moments. At the first meeting there were 36 people and now have hit a high of 217.

They gear the music and ministry to seniors and enjoy tips and special guests. Senior Moments takes place the first Tuesday of the month, April through December.

Senior Moments next meeting is Tuesday, November 1st at Romers in Greenville at 2 PM. This meeting will be the Annual Talent show provided by senior volunteers. Tickets available for $3.00 at the door for snacks after the program. A love offering will also be taken up during the Program. Please come and join the fellowship.

Cornhole Tournament Hosted by Ansonia First Church of God Men's Softball Team

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The Ansonia First Church of God Men's Softball team is hosting a cornhole fundraiser on Saturday, November 5th at the Ansonia First Church of God. Registration is at 12:30PM and the tournament will start at 1:00PM.

The tournament is double elimination and will hand out cash prizes to the winners (the entry fee is $20 per team if you pre-register, $25 per team day of). There will also be a full concession stand. 

Click here to view, print and fill out an entry form as well as more details on the event. This tournament will be held rain or shine! Sign up now, and we will see you there!

Congrats to Homecoming Queen Nicole Raffel and Chief Green Wave Andrew Cech

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Photo submitted by Dick Brown

Payne Bows Out of Greenville City Schools Board of Education Race

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Joe and Linda Payne
After much thought and prayer, I have decided to remove myself from consideration as a member of the Greenville City Schools Board of Education. I will serve out my term and step down at the end of 2011. I understand my late decision prevents the Board of Elections from removing my name from the ballot. Even so, I simply ask the good citizens of the Greenville City School District not to vote for me. If by some fluke I am elected anyway, I will resign the position.

Five years ago when The Payne family moved to Greenville I never would have thought I would be serving on the school board. As the years went by, my passion and concern for our schools only increased. I knew, and still know today, that strong schools are not just good for our kids; they are essential for a strong community. When the position became vacant, I applied and accepted the call to serve.

While I still feel called to support our school district, I know my call as church pastor is my first priority. While the folks at First United Methodist have been extremely gracious and supportive in all I do, I have come to grips with the fact that I cannot juggle the demands of both unique positions at the same time, along with that of husband and father. I’m letting one of them go, and this is it. This is my decision and no one else’s, and I feel at peace making it.

What an honor and a privilege it has been to serve on the board this past year! It has given me a tremendous respect for those who have ever served in this capacity in the past, as well as those presently serving. I am honored to have worked with Ben, Cindy, Sue, and Jim. I thank them for appointing me to this unexpired term. I also thank Susie, Carla, Jon, Guy, Dave, Barb, and the whole team at the central office. The Greenville City School district is in good hands.

I am proud of the direction Greenville City School district is going. Our state report card has continued to improve. In just a few years we have gone from a “Continuous Improvement” Rating to that of “Excellent” this year. We have a solid administration in place. We also have a great plan to upgrade our infrastructure so that our children will have the facilities they need to succeed.

To Ms. Banta, and Mr. Matix: should you be elected, I ask that you serve as a team player along with the other members of the board and administration, that you not come with an agenda, and that you always, always keep the interests of the children first. I trust Jim Sommer will do this also.

I want to thank those who have supported me. I thank my church. I thank those who signed my petition. I especially thank those who took petitions so that others could sign. To my wife, Linda, I love you. To my kids, thanks for allowing me to be your dad. Finally, I want everyone to know that when it comes to Greenville City Schools, I will continue to be it’s number one fan.

Just a couple of weeks ago, a young man I know came up to me looking so proud. He wanted me to see his state report card. I know that in past years he had been struggling to keep his grades up. So when I looked at his marks I was amazed to see that most of them were at the very top. Ladies and gentlemen, this is just one child of many, and there are others like him. We have good teachers, aids, classified staff, and administrators. We are on the right track in supporting kids like this young fellow. I urge all of you to join me in getting behind our kids so that more of them can succeed.

Halloween Parade and Beggar’s Night Offered to Kids

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Lelah Shoop and Hala Knapke of Youniques Boutique
look forward to Beggars' Night & the Lion's Club
Parade each year. They are one of many downtown
businesses that provide a treat stop for the kids in the
Greenville community.
On Thursday, October 27, immediately following the annual 7 pm Lion’s Club Parade, downtown Greenville will be transformed into a Halloween fun night for elementary school aged children. The Lion’s Club and Main Street Greenville are pleased to bring this safe Halloween event to the community.

The parade will form on the100 block of West Fifth Street at 6:30 pm and will proceed down Broadway to the city building ,where judging will take place and prizes will be awarded. Seven prize categories will consist of Tiny Tot Girls (up to age 6), Tiny Tot Boys (up to age 6), Masked girls (ages 6-10) Masked boys (ages 6-10), Masked girl (ages 11-16), Masked boys (ages 11-16), Best costumed adult, and Best Masked Group.

In conjunction with the parade and Beggars’ Night, the groups are asking for unwanted eye glasses and hearing aids. Donations of these items will be accepted now through Oct. 28 at the following downtown businesses: Studio 1 Hair Designs, Sweet One O One, KitchenAid Experience, Beltone Hearing and Advanced Eye Care. Just look for the drop box at each of their locations. “The Lion’s Club mission is wanting everyone to see a better tomorrow. That's why we support sight programs and services including vision screenings, eye banks and eyeglass recycling. We provide eye care services to those at risk of losing their sight and raise donations through campaigns like SightFirst and Campaign SightFirst II,” commented Lion’s Club president Nancy McClurg. Please join the Beggars’ Night committee and the Lion’s Club in supporting a great cause.

The event has been organized as a way for downtown businesses to say thank you to the community for doing business downtown. The Beggar’s Night committee members are Chair: Antonia Baker, Second National Bank; Joan Brandt, Commercial Printing; Julie Kessen, Granny’s Corner; Mary Lane, Staffmark, Diane Wentworth, Studio 1; and Amber Schmerge, Main Street Greenville.

Please no political campaigning. We ask that each participating business pass out kid-friendly items and not handouts or flyers. If your business would like to participate in handing out candy, as you must be pre-registered, please contact Amber Schmerge at 548-4998 or Antonia Baker at 547-2635. If you have additional questions regarding the parade, please contact Nancy McClurg at 670-0301.

Special Story Time at the Library to be Hosted by Fort GreeneVille DAR

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OAKLEY HOUSE PROMOTES SAFETY ON HALLOWEEN Community Trick o’ Treat on Sunday, October 30th

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Halloween is a great reason to get together with friends and family. Oakley House is helping children and adults in Greenville Community stay safe this holiday by hosting trick-or-treat on Sunday, October 30th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Refreshments and entertainment will be provided. Parents are expected to accompany their children throughout the event.

Oakley House offers these basic tips to ensure a safe and fun Halloween for everyone:

  • Children should be accompanied by an adult
  • Eat dinner before going out
  • Inspect all candy and throw anything that looks suspicious or unwrapped
  • Monitor the amount of sugar children have after the holiday
  • Wear clothing with reflective markings or tape
  • Approach only houses that are lit

Oakley House, located near the intersection of Russ Road and Northview Drive, promotes independence and individuality, while providing seniors with extra assistance in their daily routine. Residents enjoy the freedom and advantages of living independently in an environment surrounded by friends and a caring staff. Oakley House is located at 1275 Northview Drive in Greenville.

For more information about trick-or-treat or Oakley House, contact the Residence Director at 937-548-9521 or visit www.alcco.com.

Service for Vivian Stormer to be Held Today

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The friends and family of Vivian J. Stormer will gather at the Greenlawn Cemetery in Versailles, Ohio at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday October 25 for a brief committal service.

The Reverend Dennis Wheeler, pastor of the Versailles Christian Church will officiate.

Those who remember the Stormers and their contributions to the Versailles community are invited to attend.


Guest Post From Jean Young, Executive Director at Family Health

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Guest posts are welcome and encouraged. If you have something to say and are able to do it in a respectful, reasonable way, send your piece to darkejournal@gmail.comThe contents of guest posts do not necessarily reflect the opinions of DarkeJournal.com.

Everyone knows Congress is under tremendous pressure to get our nations fiscal house in order. The debate now is not which programs to cut, but by how much. I believe that is a dangerous proposition for Community Health Centers like Family Health.

More than 23 million Americans rely on Community Health Centers for primary and preventative care, including over a half million Ohioans. The primary and preventative care provided by Community Health Centers helps save more than $1,200 per patient annually, saves millions of dollars for the Medicaid program and keeps patients out of far more costly places, like emergency rooms. In fact, Health Centers currently serve 14% of all Medicaid beneficiaries at a total cost of only 1% of Medicaid spending! There is no doubt that deep cuts to Community Health Centers will shift patients to more expensive health care alternatives costing taxpayers even more.

As a taxpayer and an employee of Family Health, I ask our representatives in Congress to protect the future of Community Health Centers. Cutting health centers is a big step in the wrong direction because it will definitely drive patients to more expensive healthcare settings –like hospital emergency rooms.

Jean Young, Executive Director
Family Health Services of Darke County, Inc.

GHS Girls Cross Country Qualifies for Regionals

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The Greenville High School girls cross country team qualified for the regional tournament this past Saturday. The girls competed at the district meet taking fourth place overall in the Dayton District 1 race held at the Miami Valley Career Tech Center. Leading the girls was Kristen Karns, followed by Emily Hayes, Cheyann Beam, Zoe Steifel, Nicole Raffel, Anne Bradfield, and Catherine Gibson.

The girls move on to the Troy Levee on Saturday where they will compete in the afternoon race at 12:30. Congratulations young ladies!

Monday, October 24, 2011

MUNICIPALJUDGE CANDIDATES+ ON CABLE

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The Candidates' Forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Darke County will be broadcast on GPAT following the event, Monday, October 24.

If you were unable to attend the Candidates’ Night, please be sure to tune into Greenville Public Access Television (GPAT), Channel 5 either Oct. 27, 28, 29 or 30 at 9A.M, 1 P.M, OR 7 P.M. The program will be broadcast in its entirety.

The candidates were videotaped and those citizens unable to attend the Forum will have an opportunity to view the candidates and hear their responses to questions. The program will be
2 hours.

The event begins with very brief introductions by unopposed Greenville City candidates or opposed Greenville Township candidates on the General Election ballot who are in attendance. Then the forum begins with the Candidates for Darke County Municipal Court. Following that, Greenville Board of Education Candidates and then Greenville City Council, Ward 1 candidates participate.

League members follow up with the pros and cons of State Issues, 1, 2 and 3 as well as presentations on the local issues by various individuals.

Forum candidates were given two minute introductory speeches. Following that, they answered questions submitted by the audience and discussed issues. They concluded with a one minute statement. Opposed candidates involved included:

  • Darke County Municipal Court Judge: (Vote for one): Jesse Green ( R) or Julie Monnin (D, incumbent).
  • Greenville City Schools Board of Education: (Vote for two): Diana L. Banta, Fred Matix, Joe Payne, Jim Sommer (incumbent).
  • Greenville City Council, Ward 1 (Vote for one): Isabel Culbertson (D) or Clarence Godwin (R).

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization with the major purpose being to inform voters about the candidates and issues. Special thanks to Nick Schmidt of Schmidt Photography for videotaping the evening, Todd Kaiser from Bach to Rock for the sound system and for setting up the equipment and to the American Legion for use of their facility.

 PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8.

GGSA Fall Coed League Tournament This Weekend

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The 2011 GGSA Fall Coed League Tournament is set for this weekend as eleven area teams compete in the final GGSA event of the year. Tournament games begin Saturday at 9:00 AM with the finals beginning at 8:00 PM. The double elimination tournament will be held at Stebbins Field in Greenville. Go to www.ggsaonline.com for more information about the adult Coed League and the Greenville Girls Softball Association.

FINAL REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS

SUNDAY NIGHT
1.(6-1) Boots Softball
2.(6-1) Nuts & Bolts
3.(5-2) Hupman's Lawn Care
4.(5-2) Tailgators Sports Bar
5.(3-4) Score Boards Sports Club
6.(2-5) Oliver Floyd Funeral Home
7.(1-6) Spencer Landscaping
8.(0-7) Countryside Gardens

SATURDAY AFTERNOON
1.(7-1) Tobacco Town
2.(4-4) Greenville Technology
3.(1-7) McMillers Carry Out

The Garst Museum Lecture Series #1 Indian Policy and the Ohio Frontier

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Garst Museum is proud to present Dr. Douglas Hurt, head of the History Department at Purdue University as he presents a discussion on Indian Policy and the Ohio Frontier on Sunday, October 30, 2011, 2:00 PM at the Garst Museum in Greenville, Ohio.

Dr. Hurt stated, “I became interested in the Ohio frontier when I worked at the Ohio Historical Society from 1978-1986. After I left the Society, Walter Nugent and Malcolm Rohrbough, editors of the Trans-Appalachian Frontier Series published by the Indiana University Press invited me to contribute a book on their Ohio frontier. I titled it The Ohio Frontier: Crucible of the Old Northwest, 1720-1830. No one had written much about the Ohio frontier since the mid twentieth-century except for a few studies on military history and Indian leaders. I chose to emphasize settlement, agriculture, and social history and the story of Indian-white relations between the early settlement period and the time when more people began leaving Ohio than immigrating to the state. I closed the book with the canal era. The history of Indian and white relations is important to Ohio and the region during the eighteen and early nineteenth centuries. I continue to find it a fascinating subject for study.”

Dr. Hurt holds a Ph.D. in American history from Kansas State University, and serves as professor and head of the Department of History at Purdue University. He has published nineteen books, the most recent titled The Big Empty: The Great Plains during the Twentieth Century which is part of the Modern American West Series published by the University of Arizona Press. He is a past president and current Fellow of the Agricultural History Society. He has served as the editor of Ohio History, Agricultural History, and the Missouri Historical Review. Currently, he is writing about agriculture during the Civil War.

All lectures are free and open to the public. Support for the Garst Lecture series comes, in part from the Stephens Foundation.

Take this opportunity to take part in the Holiday Wreath Silent Auction. Wreaths will be on display and ready for bidding.

The Garst Museum is located at:
205 N. Broadway, Greenville, OH 45331
937-548-5250

Greenville School Foundation Silent Auction and Dinner

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The Greenville Schools Foundation has been busy planning for our Annual Silent Auction which will be held on November 12, 2011 at Romer’s. The doors will open at 5:00 pm with dinner beginning at 6:15 pm. The menu for the evening will consist of beef chuck roast, golden fried chicken, green beans almondine, rice pilaf, au gratin potatoes, fresh garden salad and dessert.

Jim Sommer and Sam Suter are co-chairing this year’s event which we anticipate to be a smashing success. Tickets are only $15.

Entertainment will be provided by the Greenville High School Jazz Scene under the direction of Mr. J.R. Price and the GHS Wavaires under the direction of Ms. Michelle Smith.

Many local businesses and individuals have donated items for you to bid on during the silent auction with some great surprises.

Greenville Schools Foundation mission is to provide funds to students, alumni, faculty and employees of the Greenville City Schools for the creation of, or participation in, enrichment programs not available through any other means.

We look forward to a full house on Nov. 12, so get your tickets soon by calling Sam Suter (548-1114) or Jim Sommer (548-7775) or contact any Foundation Board member.

Why Ohio will be Forced to Seek a 2-Point Conversion this Spring

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Guest Column from State Representative Jim Buchy

Every 10 years, the citizens of this great nation participate in a census to count the people living in each given location. The census numbers are used for the drawing of the U.S. Congressional districts. This is a Constitutional requirement. The majority power in the state generally controls the way the lines are drawn with the state legislature and the governor consenting to the new lines in the form of a bill. This year, my colleagues were given the responsibility of helping Ohio move forward with fair representation. The result has been a rehash of what we have witnessed this entire General Assembly. The attempt to move this state forward and throw the football of progress to our capable receivers, the taxpayers, has been scuttled by passing interference from the other team.

When I was asked to seek the appointment to fill the unexpired term of Representative Jim Zehringer when he was appointed as Director of Department of Agriculture, I was eager to assist Governor Kasich and Speaker Batchelder turn Ohio around. For too long, I had witnessed Ohio back-pedal through a number of administrations from both parties. In 1983, when I came to the Ohio House I voted on a bill that redistricted 21 U.S. Congressman. A few weeks ago I voted on a bill to redistrict 16. We are not competing with the other states. We must work to attract jobs and residents to Ohio.

The most recent census results called for Ohio to lose two U.S. Congressional seats. When the line drawing was complete we voted on a map that resulted in a likely loss of one seat for each party. In doing this we added a likely minority seat in Columbus giving the opportunity for minorities to be elected in two majority minority districts in Ohio. These results seemed to be fair but the opposing side did not agree. The democrats did not provide any alternative maps.

This past November, Ohioans threw the last administration out of office because they had four years to fix this state with no results aside from: increased spending, more regulations, and a credit rating that was plunging. In the first 10 months of his administration, Governor Kasich has signed a series of positive bills that will entice business to call Ohio home. We are on the upward track with more jobs, lower unemployment, and options for young people who want to stay right here in our local communities. There is more to come, but every step of the way, the old guard are looking to stymie our efforts.

Addresses for local military personal needed

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On October 21st, students from Opportunity 13, Tri-Village, Mississinawa Valley, and Versailles special needs classrooms participated in Made A Difference Day. They work along side local veterans and thanks to everyone who donated fifty six care packages were made for service members serving overseas. According to one veteran, “It was a heart-warming experience to help the students make a difference in the life of others”. The event was so successful we have more care packages to send.

If you know of any military member who is serving overseas, please send his or her address to trivillage@live.com

Electricity By Abraham Lincoln

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I believe “education” has been lost to a host of gimmicks that, should the electricity go off for a few weeks, would deliver a nation into the hands of mumbling idiots. The world, as we know it, would stop without electricity—that is how important, the shock that kills people, has become.

Electricity powers your, iPhone, iTouch, iPad, Netbook, Desktop, Laptop and your refrigerator. It is funny, really, how the word, “refrigerator” used to mean “Frigidaire” and was made right here in Dayton, Ohio. Frigidaire factories employed thousands of people who brought home fat paychecks that paid for everything from new cars and homes to college educations.

But now the name refrigerator could mean Samsung or Hotpoint. Frigidaire (look it up on Google) now make lots of things used by folks all over the globe. The name for a refrigerator no longer matters and, increasingly, it doesn’t matter who makes it or where it is made. The buildings where the local refrigerator was made is now either closed or completely gone.

The electricity that powered the Frigidaire refrigerator is still here, on the grid, but the largest refrigerator uses less of it than the smallest model used during the War.

DCCAdent Evening a Success!

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Members of the DCCAdent Evening Committee toasting the start of the event with Bill Whiting, Banfi Winery, on the far left. The Committee from left to right include: Steve & Eileen Litchfield, Gary & Martha Brown, Amy & Randy Breaden, Lynn & Kent James, Ceil & Don Hosfeld and Dawn Hissong. Missing from the photo were Marv & Millie Stammen.
A highlight of the fall DCCA Season was the DCCAdent Evening at the Greenville Golf Course on Friday, October 7th. Proceeds of over $3400.00, went to the Darke County Center for the Arts.

Music sponsors for the evening were Second National Bank, Family Health and Financial Achievement Services.

Other sponsors of the evening were: Beltone Hearing & Audiology Service, Marchal & Marchal Ltd., Buchy Food Products, Marv and Millie Stammen, Ralph & Phyllis Brumbaugh, Kent & Lynn James, Greenville National Bank, Hansbarger Home Solutions, Mike & Rose Stegall, Dr. Stephen Stentzel, DDS, Dr. Bill & Kris Osterbur, Bill & Gloria Hole, Randall & Amy Breaden, Brethren Retirement Community, Dawn Hissong, Tracy Haines, Dr. John & Kathie Molesky, Dick Lavy Trucking, Inc., K & K Farms, Tony Roberts Agency, Gary & Martha Brown, Professional Family Eyecare, Wayne & Sharon Deschambeau, Wayne HealthCare, Western Ohio Podiatric Medical Center, Edward Jones Investments, Dan & Marty Schipfer, Ted & Holly Finnarn, Gary Flinn & Susan Muntean, Scott & Kim Rudnick, Oliver-Floyd Funeral Home, LLC and Ramco Electric Motors.

An auction of Ohio State Tickets, donated by State Rep. Jim and Sharon Buchy, added to the proceeds. Vicky Davis was the successful bidder in the auction for those tickets.

Chef Uwe Knebelsberger, Greenville Golf Course chef, prepared a fabulous multi-course dinner paired with wines from Castello Banfi of Italy which were presented by Bill Whiting, grandson of the winery founder.

Special thanks to Kevin Chalk and Vicky Davis of the Greenville Golf Course for the arrangements for the evening.

Darke County Center for the Arts presents and promotes performing and fine arts, encouraging cultural enrichment in the community.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Conceptual Drawing for Greenville's Proposed K-8 Building

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The blog hosted by Citizens for Quality Greenville Schools has been updated with more information on the proposed new school. Most noticeable is the latest addition: an artist's conceptual drawing of the front of the new building. You can check out the image below and make sure you visit the blog to get the latest information on the project, as well as links to ask any outstanding questions you have.

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Let's Build It: Thoughts from Marc Saluk on the New School Proposal

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I’m often asked my opinion about the correlation between new school buildings and economic development because of my job. But, despite the title, I am no expert on the matter. Near as I can tell, no one is. It’s a tough correlation to make statistically because there are a large number of factors that define both quality schools and economic development.

However, that doesn’t mean that economic development directors don’t get a good insight into the matter. Why is this? Because it’s our job to speak regularly to those that run the nations’ industries. While it may not breakdown neatly into statistical formula, direct feedback from decision makers is an excellent indicator about an issue.

Based on this, I can definitively state that school buildings DO matter. At least in the minds’ of some very key people-- those that create jobs.

I know they matter because I speak all the time to plant managers’ who decided NOT to reside in Greenville because of the older school facilities. Why do so, they say, when virtually every other district in the region has a modern facility, equipped with the technology it now takes to prepare students for the world?

I know they matter because of the number of executives who have told me their spouse’s were not impressed by their initial drive-by of the district’s buildings. I know this because of the number of plant managers’ that tell me it’s tough to recruit young professionals because they are turned-off by the district’s older facilities.

These are not my opinions. These are the opinions of many who view the school district from the outside and make decisions that affect local employment. Agree with them or don’t. At the end of the day, their opinions do impact our community in a very real way.

If I had to guess, I would say their opinions are based on more than the buildings themselves. Speaking with them also seems to indicate that the lack of new buildings also speaks to the community’s pride. Again, this may be unfair but…well, you know what our parents always told us that life was…

What’s MY opinion? I’ll do something unusual here and quote myself because I think I summed up my thoughts pretty well in an article written by The Advocate several months ago. At the risk of being a bit self-indulgent, here I go…quoting me:
“It’s hard to directly and definitively correlate jobs and school buildings. However, there is little question about two things: job retention and growth is tied in part to local education and work force quality. And, the quality of that local education and work force is, in these days of increased technology in the classroom, tied in part to the existence of modern facilities for a school district.”
New resources for our children AND a better prospect of a good job for them in the future? To me, the combination makes a new school facility a tough thing to vote against this November.

MVCTC Legal Assistants Collaborates with Sinclair Community College Legal Research Class

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MVCTC Legal Assistant student, Jordan Murphy (Arcanum) working with Katie Burns from Sinclair.
Clayton, Ohio –Mrs. Jenna Beck’s Legal Research and Writing II Class from Sinclair Community College held their class in a different setting on Wednesday, October 5, 2011. The instructor along with the sixteen (16) college students traveled to Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) to work with Mrs. Kelly Haws’ Senior Legal Assistant Class. The Sinclair students are enrolled in the Paralegal Associates Degree program and shared their knowledge of Lexis database and their legal research skills with MVCTC’s legal class. The students at MVCTC are writing research papers on a legal topic and Sinclair’s students assisted each MVCTC student in finding a case to go along with their topic. This collaborative educational experience was beneficial to both groups.

Mrs. Haws said of the experience, “Legal Assistant students were so impressed with the presentation from Sinclair’s class and were thankful for the articles and information Sinclair shared to assist with their RAP research papers”. Mrs. Beck added, “It was an exciting opportunity for our students at Sinclair to come and present Lexis to the MVCTC students. It was a chance for our students to refine their Lexis skills and encourage others to enter the legal profession. We look forward to working with the MVCTC Legal Assistant program in the future.”

A student in the MVCTC Legal Assisting Program learns highly skilled training such as office technology, law office procedures, legal terminology, accounting, and records management for an in demand career field. After completing the two-year program, students are able to pursue a career as a legal assistant, judicial assistant, court system clerk, court runner, insurance office support, and with additional education may be able to become a paralegal or even an attorney. The Legal Assisting program at MVCTC is a Tech Prep program, which means all students meeting specific criteria may be eligible for college credit and scholarship money towards Sinclair Community College. For more information about the Legal Assisting Program or any of the other exciting 49 career programs offered at MVCTC, please visit www.mvctc.com.

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