Monday, April 30, 2012

Take the Tour with elementsLife This Weekend

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MATT LIGHT NAMED CELEBRITY AUCTIONEER FOR BRIDGES TO COLLEGE BENEFIT

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New England Patriot and Greenville native Matt Light will be the celebrity auctioneer for an auction and hog roast to benefit Bridges to College on Saturday, June 23, at the Turtle Creek Golf Course in Greenville.

“We’re hoping people will come out for a fun, entertaining evening that will support a good cause,” said Marlise McCallister, organizer for the event.

The auction will feature about 10 items including: a football helmet autographed by Matt Light, a Frigidaire 2-temperature zone wine cooler, Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinal tickets (Aug. 24), Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinal tickets (Aug. 25), Indianapolis Colts tickets, Ohio State Football tickets, Darke County YMCA family membership, Sound Bar with wireless subwoofer, and a 32-inch high definition television.

The hog roast and auction will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 23, immediately following the Karlh McCallister Memorial Golf Outing, at the Turtle Creek Golf Course, 6545 State Route 36 East, Greenville.

“We’ve scheduled Gary Hill for the evening entertainment after the auction,” McCallister said. “People can come for dinner, the auction and evening entertainment.”

Proceeds from the auction benefit Bridges to College, a non-profit organization, that helps students go to college. It provides educational programming, one-on-one mentoring and scholarships for students in the Greenville and Ansonia School Districts.

Tickets for the hog roast and auction must be purchased in advance. They are $10 each and may be purchased at Hansbarger Home Solutions, 548-3174, at Turtle Creek Golf Course, 548-3563, or online at the Bridges to College website, www.bridges2college.org.

"Online Special" Ends Tonight for 2012 Great Darke County Fair Ride Tickets

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Kissel Brothers Shows, Inc. has announced the current “Online Special” for 2012 Great Darke County Fair ride tickets will expire at midnight tonight, April 30th. A reminder that these current prices will never be lower than they are right now and that these prices reflect “Online” ticket purchases only.

Visit http://www.kisselbros.com/promotions-and-discounts/

Hoosier Harmony Quartet to Perform at Pitsburg Church of the Brethren

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The Pitsburg Church of the Brethren will host the Hoosier Harmony Quartet on Sunday, May 6, 2012 @ 6 PM.

The church is located at the west edge of Pitsburg, Ohio at 8376 Pitsburg-Laura Road. (mailing address is Arcanum, 45304) The public is invited to come and listen to this nationally known gospel singing quartet.

In April 2003, Hoosier Harmony Quartet was formed, bringing a fresh and exciting approach to Southern Gospel Quartet music in the Midwest. Since that time, Hoosier Harmony has continued to proclaim the gospel of God’s forgiving grace to congregations and events from Michigan to Tennessee and Illinois to Ohio. The members of Hoosier Harmony, Tom Correll (Tenor), Tim Kirkman (Lead), Mike Shubert (Baritone) and Steve Bahler (Bass and Manager) are true examples of what God’s Grace and Forgiveness can do in the lives of individuals. If you love Southern Gospel Quartet music, especially the “old songs”, you will love the harmony and testimony of the Hoosier Harmony Quartet.

Annual Historical Society Raffle

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Excitement is building as your Versailles Area Historical Society prepares for our Second Annual Poultry Days Raffle. Last year’s event was an outstanding variety of items from Versailles Area Businesses, local artists and friends of the Society. This year will be nothing less! A new group of local artists from quilters to wood workers are all busy preparing and outstanding sample of great local crafts as well as other great gift items to be a part of this year’s raffle.

All Historical Society members will be receiving tickets in the mail as well as tickets being available at numerous area locations. All proceeds from this event will be going toward our building fund. Much needs to be raised to bring the museum to the level of quality that we all want to tell the story of us!

Look for articles each week featuring items in this year’s raffle. If you are a crafter/artisan in any field, we are already looking for items for our 2013 raffle.

While visiting Poultry Days this year you can park at the museum for a donation and while you’re there tour this year’s displays as we begin to complete some long term displays as well as some special displays for Poultry Days 2012.

Help us tell our story and support your local Versailles Area Historical Society.

Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00 and are available from any Historical Society member.

Fort GreeneVille DAR Learns About History of St. Clair Memorial Hall

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Richard Kensinger gave a program at the April DAR meeting on the Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall and the renovations done through the years. Fort GreeneVille chapter members Helen Wright and Mary Jane Dietrich are pictured with Richard Kensinger. The chapter gave a donation to the St. Clair Memorial Hall Renovations Fund.

Greenville High School Alumni Open House Monday, May 7th

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All Greenville High School alumni, staff, & friends are invited to the GHS Alumni open house at the high school cafeteria from 6:30-9:00 p.m.

Over 100 Photo boards will be on display including all graduation classes along with pics of some sports, clubs & activities. Reminisce & visit with classmates & friends; free refreshments!

What: Greenville High School Alumni Open House
When: Monday, May 7th from 6:30pm to 9:00pm
Where: Greenville High School cafeteria
Who: GHS alumni, staff & friends

Twins Win GHS Prom King and Queen (Photos from Dick Brown)

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Frequent DJ contribuor Dick Brown was at Greenville High School's prom and snapped a couple of photos to share, including that of Prom King and Queen, which has an interesting twist this year (click on either picture to enlarge):
Here are some pictures I took at the Greenville High School Prom this past Saturday night that I thought you might like. The King and Queen are twins, and this is the first time that has ever happened for the Prom or Homecoming courts through GHS history. Their parents are from the GHS family: father Charlie Wolter, class of 1985, and mother Teresa Byers Morgan, class of 1983.

Tickets are still available to the St. Clair Memorial Hall 100th Anniversary Tea Party

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Its Not Too Late!!!

Tickets are still available to the
St. Clair Memorial Hall 100th Anniversary Tea Party
Saturday May 5
2:00 - 3:30pm
St. Clair Manor
224 East Third St. Greenville, OH

Enjoy tea and light refreshments while visiting with Henry and Ella St. Clair
(Protrayed by John and Karen Burkett)

Hosted by the Fort GreeneVille Chapter DAR

Proceeds go to the Memorial Hall Preservation Fund

Tickets are $10.00 each and can be purchased at Readmore Hallmark in downtown Greenville.

Wear your favorite tea party hat.
Door Prizes will be presented.

Submitted Photo of a Very Rude Deer

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Jennifer Burkett sent along this photo she managed to capture on her way to work on Friday morning.

This might make for a good caption contest...

DRUG TAKE BACK IN DARKE COUNTY IS ANOTHER SUCCESS

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On April 28, 2012 the Darke County Drug Task Force, Darke County Solid Waste, and Darke County Family Health participated in the DEA Drug Take Back Initiative. This is a time where citizens can take their expired or unwanted medications and turn them in to be properly disposed of. This drug take back yielded approximately 80 pounds of prescription pills. Those pills, if improperly dispose of, could have otherwise contaminated the soil or waterways in Darke County.

If you were unable to attend this event the Darke County Drug Task Force, Darke County Solid Waste, and Darke County Family Health plan to continue this service to the community when made available by the DEA.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Early Sunday Morning Fatal Accident

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Early Sunday morning April 29, Darke County Sheriff's Office recieved a 911 call at 0617 hrs, about a single car accident on Grubbs Rex Rd.  Along with Darke County Sheriff Office, Arcanum Rescue and Pitsburg Fire Dept. were dispatched to the scene in the 8400 Block of Grubbs Rex Rd. Upon arrival Darke County Coroner's Office Investigator was dispatched to the scene reference a single car accident. Investigation revealed a car was Westbound on Grubbs Rex Rd. went off the right side of the roadway on a curve striking a tree.

The driver of 2002 Mazda, Nancy E. Graf, 48 of Arcanum, Ohio was pronounced dead at the scene. It is uknown at what time of night this accident occurred.
 
The investigation is ongoing by the Darke County Sheriff's Reconstruction Team and Darke County Coroner's Office

What will raise my blood glucose?

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Have you ever heard someone say my blood glucose is high from the food that I ate? Food can increase your blood glucose if your intake of carbohydrates are not consistent. However, food is not the only reason your blood glucose can be higher or lower.

When you are sick your body releases glucose to help with healing. Being sick also stresses your body. Any kind of stress – physical or mental- can raise your blood glucose. You may notice a rise in your blood glucose if you are stressed with work, family, or even planning a party.

Activity has an effect on your blood glucose level. Being active and exercising improve how your body uses insulin. Exercise also burns excess body fat which helps to decrease and control weight (decreased body fat improves insulin sensitivity).

Forgetting to take your diabetes medication will increase your blood glucose. If you often forget to take your medication, consider placing your medication somewhere you can easily see. This may be in your cereal bowl if you take your medication with breakfast or your night stand if you take your medication before bed.

When you check your blood glucose, use this as an “Uh” moment. Was your blood sugar elevated due to one of the following: more carbohydrates than usual, decreased activity, increased stress, forgetting to take your medication, or being sick? Learn ways to help manage stress, increase your activity, keep your carbohydrates consistent, and learn what to do when you are sick. The Group Diabetes Classes at Wayne HealthCare will teach you this and more.

Group classes meet once a week for four weeks. During the classes you will learn the following: 1) facts associated with diabetes, 2) the relationship between diabetes and healthy eating, 3) the value of monitoring and using the blood glucose results, 4) the importance of exercise, 5) how diabetic medications work, and 6) ways to reduce risk of complications.

The cost of each class is $10 or $40 for the series of four classes. The next group classes will be held May 7, 14, 21, and 29, 2012 from 6pm to 8pm. Pre-registration for the classes is required.

If these dates do not work with your schedule, the classes will be held at alternating times throughout the day. Morning classes will be held from 9 am-11 am in June, October and December. Afternoon classes will be held from 1pm -3 pm in July, August, and November. Evening classes will be held from 6pm-8pm in September.

If you prefer to meet individually with the Certified Diabetes Educator, you can receive education regarding Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) and Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT).

For more information regarding the programs offered by Wayne HealthCare Diabetes Self Management Program please call 937-547-5750.

WHIOtv.com: One Dead in Darke County Crash

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WHIOtv.com has a story this morning of an overnight crash that occurred near 8498 Grubbs Rex Rd that killed one person. The identity of the driver has not been released, but deputies believe that speed was likely a factor but are still determining of alcohol was involved.


FARMHOUSE ANTIQUES & PRIMITIVE HANDMADES COMING TO DARKE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

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Spring of 1803, Early Farmhouse Antiques and Primitive Handmade Show is coming to the Darke County Fairgrounds in Greenville.

Shoppers are encouraged to celebrate spring in Ohio with some of the best farmhouse antiques and primitive handmades all under one roof, as well as musical entertainment, food and flowers. Over thirty vendors are expected.

“I love this sale! My husband and I went last year when it was in Miami County. I am really looking forward to it again this year! Three cheers for it being closer to my home,” stated shopper Kirsten Mills.

“I bought the most amazing things last time at The Spring of 1803 Show including an antique medicine cabinet that is hanging in my bathroom. I can't wait to go again!” Mills advice to other primitive enthusiasts? “Bring money! You’ll want to spend it!”

Event takes place on Saturday, May 12 with early buying from 9:00 to 10:00 am. Admission is $5.00 per person. Show hours are 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, with admission fee of $3.00 per person.

For more information on this show, contact Susan Hart at 937-467-1389. You can find the show online at http://www.ohio1803.com or on Facebook at Spring of 1803.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

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, May 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.

ANNIE OAKLEY DAYS MELODRAMA AUDITIONS

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This weekend, the Civic Theater will be holding auditions for the annual Annie Oakley Days Melodrama. For detailed information please visit www.darkecountycivictheater.org. If you have any other questions please contact Dane at 937-621-4916.

Please come and audition, you know you really want to.

THE WIZARD OF OZ CLOSES DCCA FAMILY THEATRE SEASON

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Darke County Center for the Arts will present American Family Theatre's production of The Wizard of Oz on Sunday, May 6 at Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall in Greenville. “For so many reasons, this is the perfect show to complete Memorial Hall's Centennial Celebration and end our Family Theatre season,” said DCCA Artistic Director Keith Rawlins. “Generations of families have loved and shared this story which has been around longer than the Hall itself; the comfort and joy found by returning home provides an appropriate theme for celebrating this place through which generations of local citizens have passed,” Rawlins stated. Curtain time for The Wizard of Oz is 2 p.m.

According to Mr. Rawlins, Philadelphia-based American Family Theater, which performs in over 300 venues across the nation each year, is committed to presenting full-scale musical productions for the entire family that capture the spirit of timeless classics. “AFT understands the excitement and magic of live on-stage performances,” the DCCA spokesperson explained. “Their production values result in a spectacular, entertaining show which entertains youngsters and delights adults,” Mr. Rawlins concluded.

DCCA's Family Theatre Series is sponsored by Dayton Power and Light Company Foundation, Second National Bank, Greenville Federal, The Andersons Inc., Dr. Doug Gordon, Midmark Corporation, Edison Community College, Greenville Rotary Club, Jordan Insurance Agencies, and Wayne Healthcare. DCCA also receives funding for this series from Ketrow Foundation, Lydia E. Schaurer Memorial Trust Fund, and HOPE Foundation, plus operating support from Harry D. and Esther Stephens Memorial and DCCA memberships. 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; this program is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Tickets for The Wizard of Oz are $5, and can be reserved by contacting DCCA at 937-547-0908 or dcca@centerforarts.net. Advance tickets may also be purchased at Worch Memorial Public Library in Versailles and Readmore's Hallmark in Greenville. If any remain by showtime, tickets will also be available at the door.

Other special DCCA events have been planned in conjunction with the Memorial Hall Centennial Celebration. DCCA will present “An Evening of Legacy” featuring local performers at Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall on Friday, May 4 at 8 p.m. Tickets for this show are $5, and will be sold at the door. Additionally, DCCA will present the Toledo Symphony Orchestra's “Stars and Stripes Forever” program on Saturday, May 5; tickets for that performance are $30, with a special student price of $15, and may be obtained by contacting DCCA.

Annual Scouting-For-Food Helps Those in Need

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On March 10th and 17th, Boy Scout troops and packs came together to collect non-perishable food items for those in need. While the food was not directly given to the families, it was given to donation centers around the Miami Valley. Troops 184, 373, 134,185,79, 96, and packs 114, 187, 231, and 149 went to over 14 different cities to distribute collection bags on doors on March 10th and went back again on the 17th to re-collect the filled bags and take them to their designated donation center. Over 15,000 marked bags were used in this countywide operation for good.

In Greenville however, Troops 373, 134, and 187 dropped their food off at the Ohio National Guard Post on Wagner Avenue. The food was then loaded onto two military vehicles and driven to the Grace Resurrection Community Center. After over 2,000 food items were delivered by troop 373 and their family members at the churches annex, we then drove to the Darke County FISH, where the rest of the food was given to the volunteers who work there. In total, 4,980 items of food were collected in Greenville alone, and large, unknown amounts of food were collected in other towns around the area. We appreciate all of those people who donated their time to help a good cause. Hopefully, more food will be collected next year than this year, and we can continue to help the public with this amazing project for others.

ZACHARY BAUGHMAN,
HISTORIAN FOR TROOP 373

Monte Carlo Night ~~ “Bet Against Cancer”~~ Come Join The Fun !!

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The Cancer Association of Darke County is holding its annual Monte Carlo on Saturday, May 5 from 6-10 p.m. at the VFW on Ohio Street. There will be door prizes, food, raffles, etc. The cost is only $10.00.

You won’t want to miss this special fun filled evening!

The corporate sponsors of this event are the American Legion Post#140, Diane Evans, American Legion Auxiliary, Hittle Pontiac, Farmers State Bank and Wayne Healthcare.
The Association would like to take the opportunity to all those local businesses that support the efforts to provide services to Darke County residents facing cancer.

All proceeds of this event will go to the Cancer Association of Darke County. The monies will help to cover the costs of patient services. 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. The association partners with United Way.

For more information about the Cancer Association of Darke County, please call the office at 937-548-9960.

Friday, April 27, 2012

AMI McCLURKIN SPONSORS TOLEDO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

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Verd & Gini Stuckey
Verd and Gini Stuckey have donated funds in the name of their daughter, Ami McClurkin, sponsoring the May 5 performance of Stars and Stripes Forever by the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. Darke County Center for the Arts presents an orchestral performance annually as part of its Artists Series; according to the Stuckey’s, Ami enjoys all of the performances, but the orchestra is her favorite. Verd and Gini stated that they sponsor the orchestral performances because “Ami is a musician, music is a positive stimulus for her and we are fortunate to be able to bring her to programs of this caliber in our community. “Helping to make programs like this possible in Darke County is one way that we can show our appreciation for all of the compassion and caring that our community shows to Ami.”

Toledo Symphony Orchestra will fill the stage at Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall with 60 members led by TSO’s innovative conductor, Jeffrey Pollock. Stars and Stripes Forever will feature rousing patriotic music by John Phillip Sousa, George Cohan and many others with songs like “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “Armed Forces Salute,” and “America The Beautiful,” just to name a few.

This special presentation is part of the Centennial Anniversary Celebration of Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall. Dedicated on May 3, 1912, research shows that the early days of the Hall often featured patriotic music, as Henry St. Clair was known to be a staunchly patriotic leader in the community. DCCA’s May 5th program has been selected to bring credit and honor to the memory of Henry and Ella St. Clair and the gift of the beautiful performance hall that they gave to our community.

The concert begins at 8:00 pm, tickets are $30, $15 for students, and are available in advance by calling 937-547-0908 or email dcca@centerforarts.net. Tickets will also be available at the door one hour prior to the performance.

Look up to ‘Discover Our Hidden Gems’

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A circa 1900 snapshoot of 334 S. Broadway at the corner of W. Third & Broadway. This building and three others will be on the Upper Floor Tour on Friday, May 4 during ‘First Fridays’
334 and 402 are more than a number and much more than an address on South Broadway. Since the mid 1800's, each of these buildings housed the entrepreneurial spirit and business ventures of pharmacists, bakers, dentists, confectioners, restaurateurs, harness makers, grocers, home furnishings, paint, clothing and shoe store owners.

402 S. Broadway, formerly Bill Rogers California Beds and Bedroom Store, is a wonderful, late 1800 high Victorian Gothic Brick and Block Structure. 328, 330 and 334, Bach to Rock since 1999, was built between 1850 and 1854 and boasts a 6-bay stucco facade. The "upper floors" of the 334 building were home to the Fraternal Order of the Moose from 1924 to the 1960's and today, can still be seen with the large lodge room complete with stage.

Give yourself the rare opportunity to view these and more "hidden gems" of Greenville’s downtown on Friday, May 4 from 6-9p.m. Meet with the owners of these historic buildings and hear them share their vision for business and downtown living options. This amazing tour will include 2 other "upper floor" locations and 2 bonus locations in downtown! Tickets for this tour are $5 each and are available at Granny's Corner and Bread of Life. Tickets can also be purchased at the door of any of the four stops during the evening event. Also, since it is "First Fridays" downtown businesses will be open late!

Mote and Associates, sponsor the Third Annual Upper Floor Building tour, is a professional design firm specializing in civil engineering and land surveying. The tour is presented by Main Street Greenville in collaboration with Historic Preservation Month to bring awareness and respect to our built environment and to ‘Discover our Hidden Gems.’

"First Fridays" is a monthly event presented by Main Street Greenville-a non-profit organization committed to stimulating and supporting revitalization efforts, historic preservation and economic growth in historic Downtown Greenville. To learn more, visit www.DowntownGreenville.org or call 937-548-4998.

PARENTING WORKSHOP – SIX YEARS LASTS FOREVER

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A free parenting workshop for parents of young children will be held Saturday, May 19 from 9:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m. at EUM Church. This program will address lifelong lessons the young child must learn during his/her first six years of life. In addition, “tough stuff for kids” will be discussed to help parents navigate grief and loss, tragedy and violence with the young child.

“Six Years Lasts Forever” is a young child program written and presented by Beverly Hughes, B.A., Parent Educator at EUM Church. Hughes has also taught parenting programs for juvenile courts, government children’s services, and schools. This class is open to the public. RSVP by May 12 by contacting Janie Detling at 937-548-3211 ext 217 or jdetling@eumchurch.org.

The parenting workshop is a ministry of EUM Church. 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) in Greenville, OH. The Downtown Campus, 111 Devor Street, houses our offices and preschool. For more information, go to www.eumchurch.org or call 548-3211.

GREENVILLE GRACE CHURCH FEATURES LOOK WHAT’S COOKIN’! ‘I DID IT FOR THE COOKIE’ COOKBOOK BLOOD DRIVE ON MONDAY!

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DAYTON & Darke County, Ohio – Greenville Grace Church located at 4805 State Route 49, Greenville will host a community blood drive from 3:00-7:00 pm. Appointments are encouraged. If you’re looking to get your hands on one of the new CBC cookbooks this drive might be for you. Schedule your appointment to donate today.

Cookies are a time-honored tradition at blood drives, but the new “I Did it for the Cookie” Cookbook by Community Blood Center (CBC) proves donors have an appetite for much more.

The “I Did it for the Cookie” Cookbook is a first for CBC. Now through Saturday, May 12 anyone who registers to donate at any CBC branch location and most community blood drives will receive a free copy of this original, donor-inspired publication.

The new cookbook is a gift from donors for donors. CBC gathered the recipes from blood donors, blood drive organizers and volunteers, friends, supporters and staff members. The result is a tidy collection of more than 270 dishes presented in a 175-page, soft cover, spiral bound cookbook. As it says in the dedication, this publication is a tribute to those willing to help others:
”In this recipe book we celebrate not only the time-honored tradition of the blood drive cookie, but also the connection between sharing the gift of life and sharing a table. Blood drive volunteers draw from their richest recipes to say a sincere “thank you” to donors. They cook, bake and assemble delightful dishes to help donors replace what they have sacrificed and to provide the warm satisfaction that comes from doing good and eating well!”


Darke County Center for the Arts - A Centennial Weekend

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The weekend of May 4 through 6 will be a celebration of Historic Darke County that will be long remembered. In addition to historic St. Claire Memorial Hall, the Darke County theme “Discover our Hidden Gems” includes Garst Museum, Bears Mill and Main Street Greenville’s ‘First Friday’ tour of the upper floors of several buildings in Downtown Greenville. The tour wraps up at Memorial Hall.

The Darke County Center for the Arts has prepared an ‘Historic Weekend’ to kick off National Historic Preservation Month in May. The 3-Night celebration has unique entertainment to delight young and old alike.

Centennial Celebration… An Evening of Legacy

Friday, May 4, 2012 – 8 p.m. 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the dedication of Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall. The Centennial Celebration will include performances by Joseph Helfrich, Spittin’ Image, The Melody Line, Greenville’s East Echoes, Versailles High School’s ‘Encore!’ show choir and Greenville Senior High School Orchestra, under the direction of JR Price.

Throughout the evening, theatre-goers will be entertained by historical re-enactors, John and Karen Burkett. They will relive some of the key moments in the lives of Henry and Ella St. Clair.

The evening begins with free tours of the hall, between 5 and 7 p.m., where refreshments will be served. A $5 admission to the performance includes a commemorative centennial program as well as a souvenir of this historic event!

Toledo Symphony Orchestra…

“Stars and Stripes Forever” Saturday, May 5, 2012 – 8 p.m. A Darke County favorite, Toledo Symphony Orchestra celebrates 100 years of performances at Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall while evoking the spirit of John Phillip Sousa.

As a special request, TSO will be recreating a musical selection performed at the hall’s original dedication ceremony in 1912. Celebrate Henry and Ella St. Clair’s legacy and the legacy of our great nation. Tickets $30. Student pricing $15.

Wizard of Oz

Family Theatre – Sunday, May 6, 2012 – 2 p.m. Explore the enchanting land over the rainbow where dreams really do come true! American Family Theater’s lavish production of this perennial favorite will inspire entire families to follow The Yellow Brick Road together.

Journey with Dorothy through the magical land of Oz as she and her friends, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion discover the magic that lies within themselves. Tickets $5.

For ticket and information, contact Darke County Center for the Arts at 937-547-0908 or email DCCA@centerforarts.net.

WHIOtv.com: Man Identified in Fatal Preble County Crash

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Thursday night saw another fatal accident in our extended area.

Samuel J Hammond, 50, of New Paris, died following a violent single car accident on Georgetown Verona Road in Preble County. The article cites the Highway Patrol as saying the car could have been traveling in excess of 80 mph at the time of the crash, which saw the car go off the right side of the road, over correct, and travel across the left side of the road and down an embankment where the car then nose dived on a 20 foot drop into the creek bed, after which the car then rolled several times.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Click on the image below for the story and video from WHIOtv.com.


WHIOtv.com: Worker Nearly Electrocuted While Working on Gas Line

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Check out the story linked below at WHIOtv.com. Apparently, a worker was replacing a residential gas line at 719 E 3rd Street in Greenville and was nearly electrocuted, potentially after hitting a water line. The call was originally made as a potential gas leak, but upon arrival, crews realized something else had happened.

The man was conscious at the scene but was taken via Careflight to Miami Valley Hospital as a precaution.

Click here for the story from WHIOtv.om

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Versailles Superintendent Takes Position in Miamisburg

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The Dayton Daily News is reporting this morning that Versailles Exempted Village Schools Superintendent Dr. David Vail has been named the new Superintendent of Miamisburg City Schools.

According to the article, Vail has led Versailles for more than four years, earning the state's highest ranking of "Excellent with Distinction" with a registered performance index of 107.

The article mentions the change to be effective August 1.

In the article, Vail is quoted as saying, "I am anxious to start working with such a great staff and such a wonderful student body."

Click here to read the full story at the Dayton Daily News

Ensuring a Successful Budget Review - Rep Richard Adams

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Guest Column from Representative Richard Adams
Ensuring a Successful Budget Review

Each year, hundreds of new bills are introduced in the Ohio House. Many of these pieces of legislation go on to become laws, moving out of the Statehouse to affect the lives of our citizens. However, even after the governor signs a bill into law, my colleagues and I are not done with it. In fact, it is the job of the state legislature to review the effectiveness of existing laws and government policies. The legislative process is never truly over, and there is always room for more scrutiny.

For these reasons, Governor Kasich recently proposed a Mid-Biennium Review of the state budget, passed in 2011 as House Bill 153. This review process is a prime opportunity to ensure that the various provisions of the budget are operating effectively and to make any necessary tune-ups. As you can imagine, conducting an assessment of the entire operating budget is quite a weighty task. Indeed, the governor’s bill contained 2,833 pages of detailed legislation, all in need of review.

In order to make this task more manageable and efficient, the House opted to separate the governor’s legislation into 10 different bills. We cannot afford to neglect any portion of the MBR, so dividing the original bill into issue-specific legislation is the best course of action. In this way, the content of each bill will be scrutinized in the proper committee based on its subject matter by legislators with applicable knowledge and experience. Tax credits will be addressed in the Ways & Means Committee, while veterans services will be dealt with by the Veteran Affairs Committee, and so forth.

The state budget is one of the most important pieces of legislation passed by the General Assembly, and therefore, it deserves a thorough examination. In addition, the governor has included many innovative proposals within the MBR that will further the recent economic success that Ohio has experienced. Since the beginning of 2011, the governor and the state legislature have had a strong record of job creation and business development, and this review process will only enhance these gains.

The MBR can be confusing, so please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions concerning this topic. My office is always available to you as a resource, and I welcome your input as we move forward in this process.

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DOWNTOWN FARMERS’ MARKET GEARING UP FOR ANOTHER SEASON

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Downtown Greenville Farmers Market
with an array of vendors offering fruits,
vegetables, honey, breads, pies, yarn, and noodles.
Do you raise vegetables? Make crafts? Maybe you grow fresh flowers or bake. Have you considered vending at the Downtown Greenville Farmers’ Market? The market will be opening on Saturday, June 2 and vendors are wanted!

As in the past, market days will be on Saturday mornings on the Courthouse lawn from 9am-1pm. The market season runs to October 13.

Vendors can choose from many options that work best for their product availability. A popular option at the market is the ‘Communal Table’. For those who have little or no time to sell at the market, you can drop off your produce and a volunteer will tend to the communal table. This allows you to sell your extra produce and make money without the time commitment. We have a designated market master to man the table the whole season.

Sponsored by Wayne Healthcare, The Andersons and KitchenAid Experience, this is the 14th year for the Downtown Greenville Farmers Market. Products must be produced in Ohio or neighboring Indiana counties. View the vendor application with further details or contact Main Street Greenville at 548-4998. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook to keep updated on information and events.

Greenville's Downtown Beautification Day - May 19th

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Main Street Greenville posted this blog post announcing information for this year's Downtown Beautification Day sponsored by BASF.  That day will see a lot of volunteers participating in the Adopt A Box program to add some color to downtown.

From the post:
The vision of this program is to see families laughing, co-workers communicating, and organizations building teamwork. Downtown is a place for people to come together, socialize, and feel connected with the rest of the community. What better way to allow that to happen then a beautification day? This day will be a small movement towards people picking up the shovel, moving the dirt, and planting the seeds for the future.
For more information on the project, and information on how to adopt a box, visit the page by clicking here.

Contribution to Local Festival is A Fitting Tribute

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(Left to Right)Pam Carpenter-Summers presents a check to the Gathering at Garst Committee in memory of her late husband, Dan Summers. Pictured are Jenny Clark, Dr. Clay Johnson, Michael Glass, Pam Carpenter-Summers, Karen and John Burkett are pictured.
Greenville native, Pam Carpenter-Summers began searching for a way to honor her husband Dan, when he lost his battle with cancer earlier this year. Although he was not a Darke County native, Dan had a special place in his heart for Greenville and the people that live here due to their spirited nature and deep historical roots. So when the opportunity arose to contribute to the 2012 Gathering at Garst by sponsoring the entertainment headliners for this year’s event, Pam chose to contribute the $2500 in memory of her husband Dan Summers.

As a life-long Californian, Dan always wanted to live in the Midwest. Throughout his childhood he and his Mother traveled by train to Missouri where he spent many summers visiting his Grandparents farm and experiencing the life and culture that the Midwest has to offer. Dan finally made his dream a reality when he and Pam relocated to the Miami Valley region upon retiring from their careers in San Diego. As a life-long train enthusiast, Dan and Pam rode the rails throughout the United States and he spent much of his spare time learning about, talking about and seeking out trains.

Although Pam was confident that Dan would agree with her decision to honor his memory by contributing to the Gathering at Garst, it was confirmed on the day that she presented the check to the Committee. As Pam and her sister walked out of the Museum doors and approached their car, a train whistle echoed through the air. Pam and her sister smiled at each other and knew that Dan approved of Pam’s decision.

The 2012 Gathering at Garst Committee would like to thank Pam Carpenter-Summers and the late Dan Summers for the Sponsorship Contribution which will bring the Beatles Dedication Band “The Cavern Beat” to the Gathering at Garst on Saturday, July 28th from 7:00-9:00pm. Additional musical artists will be performing throughout the two-day event (entertainment schedule to be released in June). Be sure to mark your calendars for Gathering at Garst… Saturday, July 28th and Sunday, July 29th. Visit our website at www.gatheringatgarst.com for frequently updated details or “LIKE” our Facebook page to learn more.

Win Foreigner Stuff with THE GREAT DARKE COUNTY FAIR!

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The band's debut smash “Feels Like The First Time” hit the charts 35 years ago this month, and Foreigner announced an exciting new technology contest that invites fans to win prizes by tagging 35 years of hits hidden in this fun internet short. Just click on the link below, and you can win a Foreigner platinum award and CDs signed by Mick Jones!


Warbler Wandering and Butterfly Monitoring Every Saturday!

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Looking for something to do on Saturdays? Why not head out to Shawnee Prairie Preserve to explore what the Nature Center and Park District has to offer. Would you like the opportunity to explore with a group and learn more about the world around you? Every Saturday morning in April, starting at 9:00am, Naturalists will lead a Wandering for Warblers hike. April is the beginning of Warbler Season! Grab those binoculars, your trusty field guide and let’s wander for warblers! Beginning and “expert” birders alike are encouraged to join in on these often 35+ bird species hikes. If birds aren’t your thing, we also have weekly Butterfly Monitoring hikes, Saturdays in April at 3:00pm. Not only will we enjoying spotting butterflies, but we will also be collecting scientific data! Join a Naturalist for this hike and help record all the butterflies you see on this pre-set route. Field guides will be provided. Both of these programs are completely free and a great way to kick off spring!

For more information on this and other programs offered by the Darke County Park District, call the Nature Center at 937.548.0165 or visit our website at www.darkecountyparks.org. We hope to see you outside, enjoying YOUR Darke County Parks!




DC Parks to Hold Board Meeting - May 3rd

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The Darke County Park District Board of Commissioners will hold a Regular Board Meeting on Thursday, May 3, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. at the Shawnee Prairie Nature Education Center, 4267 St. Rt. 502 W. Greenville, OH.

Darke County Fish and Game's Open House

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Darke County Fish and Game's Open House
May 5, 2012 10:00 Am
Kids fishing tournment 10:00am-2:00pm, great prizes for the kids.
Hot dogs and bean soup all day.
Raffle for a cross bow and a $100 gift cert. from Gander Mountain at 2:00PM.
Door prizes all day.
A great place to spend the day with family and friends, come and see what the Darke County Fish and Game has to offer.
1407 New Garden Rd.
New Paris, Oh

Greenville Art Guild Paint Out on May 19

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See artists painting among the flowers! Get a chance to create a collage garden journal for yourself and your children! The Greenville Art Guild invites the public to come and stroll the grounds of the Shawnee Prairie Preserve and observe members of the Guild as they paint at the various sites around the park. Artists will be painting from 10:00 until 2:00 on Saturday, May 19. If the weather is not agreeable, artists will be painting in the nature center.

Also, the Guild will sponsor a FREE craft project in the classroom in the nature center beginning at 10:00 AM and concluding at noon. This project will be creating a collage garden journal using acrylic medium, floral napkins, etc. All materials will be provided, but if you have a favorite pair of scissors, you may want to bring them because we will be doing some cutting. This project is suitable for ages 6 to adult (ages 6-10 require an adult to help). You can see sample pages of this garden journal in the nature center library. Please call Marilyn Banks at 937-678-6870 for more information or to register for the free class so we know how many to plan for. Come to Shawnee Prairie and celebrate Spring with the Greenville Art Guild!

Y TO OFFER INTRODUCTION TO SPANISH

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GREENVILLE, OH (April 24, 2012) – When people think of the Y, they often think of treadmills, swim lessons, and basketball but the Y has a lot more to offer than just physical fitness. The Y also has class offerings that will boost your spiritual and mental fitness.

The YMCA of Darke County is pleased to announce “Introduction to Spanish Language”. Participants can expect to learn useful vocabulary, pronunciation, basic grammar, and the skills necessary to communicate in everyday situations. Each weekly session will have an interactive lesson in addition to practice in the language.

“Introduction to Spanish Language” will begin on Wednesday, May 2nd and will run 15 weeks. Cost is $75 and includes a workbook and 15 weeks of instruction by Justin Herth. For more information or to register, call the Greenville Y at 548-3777.

The YMCA of Darke County is a non-profit membership association of over 4,800 members with facilities in Greenville and Versailles. The mission of the YMCA of Darke County is to develop the whole person – spirit, mind and body – through character development programs that reinforce Christian principles and that build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.

Resplendent Routzong

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re•splend•ent: Attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous.


There is no better term to describe Routzong in spring! Join a Naturalist on Saturday, May 5th at 2:00pm as we walk through a dense carpet of trillium, trout lily, wild phlox and jack-in-the-pulpit. Your senses will be delighted by the first subtle colors and smells of spring. Meet at Routzong Preserve, located just off 571-East on Routzong Road.

For directions or more information, call the Nature Center at 937.548.0165 or visit our website at www.darkecountyparks.org Bring your cameras so we can capture the soul-lifting experience of a spring walk through Routzong!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Mindy Saylor is Ready For Her New Opportunity

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Now that it's official, Mindy Saylor had this to say regarding her new (permanent) job:
I am excited about the opportunity to continue to serve Darke County as the Director of Homeland Security & Emergency Management. I am committed to and believe in the mission of Emergency Management and stand ready to face the challenges of preparing for, responding to and recovering from a disaster or emergency.

I cannot stress enough how important it is for every citizen to have emergency plans and supplies in place prior to any event. As we in the disaster response community do our part in preparing, I challenge all residents to do the same. For more information on preparing, visit www.darkecountyema.org and www.ready.gov.

Greenville Resident Starts Summer Collegiate Baseball Team

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The Dayton Daily News ran an article last week detailing a new venture for Greenville resident Joe Marker. Joe is the team president of the Dayton Docs, a new team in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. College baseball players participate in the league to continue their development on and off the field while maintaining their amateur status.
The Docs are sponsored by a group of physicians who specialize in sports medicine and kicked in an estimated $100k to run the team. The league itself is funded by Major League Baseball.

The Docs will play home games at Wright State University’s Nischwitz Stadium in Fairborn and will being their season on June 8th. Learn more about the team at their website, www.docsbaseball.com.

Read more about the Docs and Marker’s journey in the full article by clicking here.

Bigs make “Monster size” impact on their littles.

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Big Sister Heather Pollard of Sidney, Little Brother Marvin Fleetwood, Devonte Davidson and Big Brother Jeff Pollard of Sidney at the recent Monster Truck Show at Nutter Center.
Big Brother, Jeff Pollard and Big Sister, Heather Pollard decided to surprise their little brothers in a Big way by taking them to the Monster Truck Jam recently held at the Nutter Center. Big Brother, Jeff works with Best One Tire in Sidney which was one of the sponsors for the event. As part of this event their littles were given special VIP treatment. This is just one of the many fun activities that Jeff and Heather introduce their little’s to.

Big Sister, Heather is matched with DeVonte Davidson, age 13. They have been matched in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program since August of 2009. During the course of their friendship they have worked on school speeches, participated in 5K races, Went for ice cream, and just hang out and have fun. DeVonte and his brother Marvin Fleetwood are the sons of Shana Davidson of Sidney.

Big Brother, Jeff is matched with DeVonte’s younger brother Marvin Fleetwood, age 7. Jeff has been Marvin’s Big Brother since September 2011. Jeff and Marvin have enjoyed playing ping pong, going out to eat, and learning to read.

DC Engineer Jim Surber's Thoughts on the Planned 242 Changes

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Yesterday, we posted details on the planned project to close a section of 242 near the Darke County Airport in order to make the airport more functional and to utilize more of the runway that’s already there, all with information from Commissioner Mike Stegall. I also asked Darke County Engineer Jim Surber to provide his thoughts on the project and he very graciously provided the information below:

Jim was nice enough to recap events leading up to this proposal, saying that 5 years ago there was a plan proposed to have ODOT take over Chase Road and make it the new route for State Route 242. This would have seen the closure of the same north/south section of what is currently 242, but rather than ODOT abandoning the entire stretch of 242, they would adopt the stretch of Chase Road that connects 242 to 121, if the Commissioners improved and widened the mile-long road to meet state standards. Jim believed this to be a very good plan and did not know why it was abandoned, but it clearly did not come to fruition.

Map Provided for Reference
The current proposal was brought up by the Commissioners to ODOT to abandon 242 all together (a stretch of 3.67 miles). An agreement was drawn up between ODOT, the Commissioners and the Trustees of both Townships that would eventually see the portion of State Route 242 from USR 127 to Chase Road become a County road (2.16 miles). Chase Road was not addressed in the agreement. Of the remaining 1.51 miles of SR 242, 1.0 miles would become the responsibility of Richland Township and 0.51 miles would become the responsibility of Wayne Township. Very recently, the agreement was modified, eliminating the Township Trustees, but with no stated changes in the ultimate assignment of the portions of SR 242.

With this plan, as noted in the previous post, the main concern is the impact to the increase in traffic to Chase Road, with Jim stating that it would be a “grave vehicular hazard” and that he “advised the Commissioners that no part of former SR 242 be closed until Chase Road is widened and improved to accept the traffic from a widened and improved former SR 242.” The funding mechanism for this portion is still being determined, as Jim has stated that the $800k payment, by the agreement, is only paid for making modifications to State Route 242, and not for Chase or any other road.

An additional concern noted by Mr. Surber was in the future funding for that stretch of roadway. Currently, the county receives, on average, $10,000 per mile of roadway (approximately $5,000,000 for 519 miles). For the stretch to be abandoned, the state has stated that it will only provide $970 per mile per year, either to the county or the township. This means that this stretch will see a deficit of over $9,000 per year per mile of road, for a total of a little over $30,000 per year. Jim characterized this as an “unfunded mandate,” either at the county or township level in that responsibility for upkeep would be given to either entity without appropriate funds to do so. The Commissioners appropriate the Engineer's budget, but do not fund it. They neither appropriate nor fund the budgets of the Township Trustees, so, in Jim’s opinion, are essentially asking them to dilute their total road maintenance budgets to accommodate maintaining this new stretch of roadway.

Aside from providing the above mentioned guidance on the project, Jim also said that he is not actively working on the project, that the planning decisions at this point are only being made by the commissioners and that he has not been invited to any meetings or discussions on the topic in the last few months.

A MEN’S KNIGHT OF WORSHIP

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EUM Church will have a special worship service for the men on Sunday, April 29 at 7:00 p.m. at the EUM Worship Center located at 1451 Sater Street in Greenville, Ohio. There will be testimonies along with a brief message. Worship music will be provided by The Quest Band. Men, invite your sons, brothers, and buddies to this special event!

The Men’s Ministry is a ministry of EUM Church. 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) in Greenville, OH. The Downtown Campus, 111 Devor Street, houses our offices and preschool. For more information, go to www.eumchurch.org or call 548-3211.

Cleveland School Plan an Achievement of Compromise- Rep Jim Buchy

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Guest Column from State Representative Jim Buchy

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson’s proposal to reform the Cleveland City School District has received a lot of attention in the Ohio House over the past several weeks. I am encouraged that it has not only been an area of extensive discussion, but also an item of bipartisan cooperation and agreement. A pair of jointly sponsored bills recently has been introduced before the Ohio House and Senate with this cooperation in mind, which has been inspired by a compromise from Mayor Jackson and the Cleveland Teachers’ Union.

Throughout this process, I advocated for the Cleveland Teachers’ Union to get involved. In order to enact appropriate reform, it is important to have all sides present and willing to cooperate. Therefore, I was happy to hear that Mayor Jackson and the Cleveland Teachers’ Union had come together and reached an agreement on legislation. This cooperation has extended to the legislature, as the new proposal has a long list of support on both sides.

In recent years, the Cleveland Teachers’ Union has been collaborating with the school district to increase professionalism and teacher performance. Their support of this bill is a continuation of that work. Over the past few months, I have worked closely with the President of the Cleveland Teachers’ Union and become familiar with strategies they have put into place to increase rewards for high quality teachers. Their work was limited by laws that needed updating and the State Legislature is prepared to work in a bi-partisan manner to make those changes.

Among other changes in the new version includes the ability for the school district to quickly intervene in low-performing schools and states that teachers even at these low performing schools will be assessed on merit and their qualities will determine their future not an arbitrary rule that says all teachers in a low performing school will be fired. Another feature of the agreement establishes a performance pay model based on a variety of factors, such as specialized training and experience. Furthermore, teachers will be assigned to fill positions using input from principals, teachers and parents, rather than the current seniority based system.

Regarding school layoffs, decisions will be made based on teacher evaluations and quality. Tenure and seniority will still be considered, but only as a tie-breaker. Finally, under the agreement the school district will have management control of decisions that affect the school’s spending.

It is important to note that this legislation will only affect the Cleveland City School District, which is the only district in the state operated by the mayor. While obviously not all of Ohio’s school districts are set up the same, I feel strongly about the Cleveland plan and believe it can be used as a benchmark down the road for other districts seeking to make changes. I will be a co-sponsor of this important piece of legislation.

Rep. Richard Adams Announces Passage of Job Creation, Economic Development Bills from the Ohio House

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COLUMBUS—State Representative Richard Adams (R-79th District) has announced that the Ohio House of Representatives recently passed a series of bills that aim to create jobs and encourage economic development within the state of Ohio, specifically by permitting tax credits for home-based employees, offering tax credits for businesses that expand into vacant facilities, and urging Congress to take action on the Workforce Investment Act.

“One of my major objectives continues to be to promote economic development and job creation. These bills support the goals of the citizens of Miami and Darke counties,” said Representative Adams.

House Bill 327 permits a company tax credit for employees whose services are performed primarily from their homes to be included in the Job Creation Tax Credit and Job Retention Tax Credit programs. This legislation enhances the current tax credits to include the increasing number of companies that utilize employees who work from their homes.

The House also passed House Concurrent Resolution 33 to urge the United States Congress to take action on the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and to allow states greater flexibility to address their current economic realities. In 1998 Congress passed the WIA with the intent of reauthorization every five years. However, it has been 12 years since the WIA was reauthorized, and the program fails to meet the needs of a very different economic situation than what existed more than a decade ago.

Additionally, the House voted to concur on Senate changes to House Bill 18, which authorizes a $500 per-employee grant for a business that expands into a facility that has been vacant for 12 months and creates new jobs. This legislation would encourage businesses that have a need to add new employees but have a lack of space to do so to invest in communities that have been hard-hit by the difficult economy.

During the 129th General Assembly, a top priority for the House has been job creation, starting with the passage of House Bill 1—which created the lean, non-profit economic development entity JobsOhio. Since then, the House has passed numerous economy-focused bills, including House Bill 58 (a job retention and tax conformity bill that will save taxpayers nearly $50 million), House Bill 114 (the transportation budget that included significant monies for public works jobs), House Bill 133 (to safely and responsibly reduce our dependence on foreign oil and help Ohioans keep more of their own money), House Bill 153 (the state budget that closed an $8 billion deficit without tax increases), and House Bill 243 (to lighten bureaucratic permit restrictions on micro-distillers in Ohio).

Library To Host Historical Tours on “First Friday”

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The “First Friday” on May 4th marks the 100th anniversary of the Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall. There is a very special relationship between the Greenville Public Library and the Memorial Hall. Yes, they do sit side by side on the most beautiful city block in town! But even more, Henry & Ella St. Clair donated generously to the construction of the Library which added to its size, beauty, and extensive book collections at the time.

Even though the Library was built by grants from Andrew Carnegie and the Greenville Schools, the “extras” came from the St. Clair's – the marble stairwell, the stained glass, the imported statues, and the private book collections of Henry himself. Henry's portrait in stained glass graces the Reference Room. Of course the Memorial Hall was built entirely by Ella in memory of Henry and features the same beauty on a much larger scale.

Along with this special anniversary, May is also National Preservation Month and several local organizations - including Main Street Greenville – are holding events and tours throughout the coming weeks.

The Library began a partnership with Main Street Greenville earlier this spring and now offers a special event from 5:00 to 6:00 each First Friday – so in keeping with the theme for May we will be conducting our own historical tours!

Stop in the Library at either 5:00 or 5:30 for a half-hour tour by Director John Vehre or Assistant Director Susi Halley - and learn about the building's design and decor, the story of its creation & renovation, and the people involved.

You'll still have plenty of time to attend “An Evening of Legacy – Memorial Hall” next door that evening. Be sure to consult the local news venues for more information about all the Memorial Hall celebrations, the First Friday events, and National Preservation Month!

National Preservation Month¬ – Discover Our Hidden Gems – The Garst Museum

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The Lowell Thomas House
May is National Preservation Month. Sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the theme this year is “Discover Our Hidden Gems.”

Locally, the Garst Museum, Bear’s Mill, and Main Street Greenville are collaborating to bring historic preservation awareness to Greenville and Darke County communities.

The Darke County Historical Society (the Garst Museum) has as its mission to collect, preserve, exhibit, study, and interpret materials relating to the history and culture of Darke County, Ohio as part of the development of the crossroads of the American experience. Permanent exhibitions of national significance include the Annie Oakley Center, the Treaty of Greenville, Lowell Thomas, and Ohio Native Americans.

In honor of National Historic Preservation Month, the Lowell Thomas House, which has been preserved at the Garst Museum, will be open for tours from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm on May 5 and May 26. Enter the museum through the glass doors next to the parking lot. Admission to the house is free, but regular admission to tour the museum will apply.

A special joint membership deal for Historic Preservation Month is also offered during May. Partnering together for the places that matter are Bear's Mill, Main Street Greenville, and Garst Museum (Darke County Historical Society). Your support will allow all three organizations to continue their mission to ensure that our local treasures remain intact and celebrated for years to come. The special membership package includes an individual membership to each organization for a year at a discounted price of $50. This offer is for new members only.

Stop by Garst Museum or Bear's Mill or visit www.DowntownGreenville.org to support our treasures today!

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

Free Friday Night Movie at TCC

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We will be showing the movie "Jerusalem Countdown" @ Triumphant Christian Center on Friday, April 27th @ 6 p.m. We are located @ 1129 Southtowne Court in Greenville. We are behind Hansbarger's Appliances on 49 South. This movie is open to the Public and free. We will be serving popcorn & drinks. Come and join us for a night of fun & fellowship. Donations will be accepted...

Please click here to see the previews (trailer) of this movie.

YMCA TO HOST CINCO DE MAYO OVERNIGHTER

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Greenville, OH (April 24, 2012) – The Greenville Y will host a Cinco de Mayo overnighter on Friday, May 4th from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am. This event is open to anyone in grades 1-4. Come and celebrate this Mexican holiday! Games, activities, and food will be based on the Mexican culture, including the piñata! Please bring a swimsuit, towel, gym clothes and gym shoes, sleeping bag and pillow. You will need to register by Thursday, May 3rd. Registration for this event is $15 for Y members and $25 for all others. For more information contact Ruth Barga at the Y at (937) 548-3777.

The mission of the YMCA of Darke County is to develop the whole person—spirit, mind and body—through character development programs that reinforce Christian principles and that build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Details on Darke County’s Plans for State Route 242 and the Darke County Airport

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A few people have asked for more details on the county’s intentions and plans involving the section of State Route 242 that is coming under county control near the Darke County Airport, so I have reached out to Commissioner Stegall who was happy to provide some details on the plan.

As noted in Commissioners Meeting minutes from April 16th (click here to download), ODOT is ‘abandoning’ the entire section of 242 that runs through Richland and Wayne Townships. This leaves that roadway under control of the county. Mike noted that this stretch of roadway was one of the shortest in the state, which is why ODOT is so cooperative in letting it go out of their realm of responsibility. ODOT is also giving the county $800,000 in the transaction, so that modifications can be made to account for the impact this change will have on the surrounding roadways.

What is the project?

The county intends to close the north/south portion of the roadway (shown in the map above) which will enable the airport to utilize the last 300 feet of existing runway at the airport. With the roadway where it is, there are safety risks with planes taking off so close to where traffic exists. This project does not include physically lengthening the runway, however, that is something that the county would like to do in the future if the opportunity exists. Just by closing that section of 242, the runway gains 300 feet of usable runway.

The project is just in the beginning stages now, and the county doesn't expect any work to happen at least until 2013.

Why the interest in expanding the capabilities of the airport?

Commissioner Stegall noted that the airport is commonly used, among other things, by local companies bringing executives in and out of the area, including Midmark, Continental Carbonic, FRAM Group and others, and is also used by some NASCAR drivers and teams when they come into the area for the Prelude to the Dream. These companies, and some of the NASCAR drivers, have larger planes that the airport cannot currently accommodate, but some will be able to with the additional available length of the runway. Some will still not be able to unless the county physically lengthens it even further, but again, that is currently not in the scope of this project. Currently, some of these folks are forced to land at New Knoxville and the expanded capabilities of the airport would allow them to utilize the DC Airport.

The Concerns…

Mike also noted that the county is working closely with ODOT as well as the townships on the project, and the townships have legitimate concerns about the changes this could have to traffic patterns, specifically that traffic from 121 and 127 will begin to use Chase Road. Mike stressed that this is a legitimate concern and that the county is doing what they can to help out financially to make modifications to the area to be able to handle the changes in traffic. Although it is unclear at this point (depending on who interprets the deal), part of the $800,000 could potentially go to help this issue specifically. If not, the Commissioner Stegall said that the county is looking for ways to fund the project. In addition, County Engineer Jim Surber is working to make sure the roads are capable of handling the changes.

What do you think? Join the discussion in the comments below.

DDN: ODOT to Review US 127 After Fatal Crashes

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According to this article at the Dayton Daily News, ODOT has announced it plans to review US 127 in Mercer County after recent fatal crashes as soon as final crash reports become available. The article also mentions that various law enforcement agencies are also stepping up patrols and bringing greater scrutiny to the area, including the Mercer County Sheriffs Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

This of course is following a series of awful accidents claiming several lives, the latest of which passed away last week after a crash that occured on March 31st.

The article also discusses the possibility of adding rumble strips to the center line on the highway to alert drivers when they begin to drift left of center.

Click here to read the full article at the Dayton Daily News.

Davidson wins 2012 Greater Cincinnati Match Game Championship

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Left, Michael Davidson with Mike Eaton Jr USBC Director
Michael Davidson won the 2012 Greater Cincinnati Match Game Championship in Fairfield, Ohio at Northwest Lanes on Sunday, April 22nd. The grueling format was 6 Qualifying Games, cut to the top 32. 3 more games with the first 6 games carrying over. The field was then cut to the top 16 with a Double Elimination 1 game Match Play format.

The tournament was open to any High School or Collegiate Bowler and was a scratch format. After the first 6 games of qualifying, Michael was the tournament leader with a 1,270 pinfall. The 32nd spot for the first cut was a score of 984. "Michael was in great shape to make the top 16 with 3 more games to go. He just needed to keep making good shots like he had been all day."

For the next 3 games, bowlers were seeded based on their finish after the 1st 6 games. This made it more interesting as the top 5 bowlers were within 55 pins of the lead. Eric Sacks from Vandalia, who will be bowling for Florida State after graduation, was in 2nd place, out only 19 pins. He rolled a fine 279 in the 7th game to Michael's 222 and took the lead. Davidson finished with 190, 202 but was not quite enough to take over the top spot. However, he finished as the #2 Qualifier behind Sacks.

The field was now cut to the top 16 bowlers for the head to head single game double elimination match play finals. "All of these kids have now bowled 11-12 games (including practice), so it was extremely important to not get knocked out early. Otherwise, to come back and win through the losers bracket would be a serious grind."

Annie’s and Dave Thank Maid Rite

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Annie & Dave visit the Maid Rite in Greenville, Ohio
Did you see Annie Oakley and her best friend, Dave, when they went to the world famous Maid Rite sandwich shop in Greenville, Ohio? They stopped in to thank Maid Rite for its contribution as a Gold Star Sponsor for Annie’s Wild West Gala.

Annie’s Wild West Gala will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2012. This is a fund raiser for The Garst Museum and the Annie Oakley Center. All funds raised at this event will benefit the Garst Museum in Greenville, Ohio.

Part of Annie’s Wild West Gala is Annie’s Wild Raffle. Prizes for the raffle include accommodations for a weekend Gatlinburg get-a-way, an Apple iPad and a Kindle Fire. Tickets for the raffle can be purchased at the KitchenAid Experience, the Garst Museum, or any Garst Museum board member.

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

Commissioner's Corner - April 2012

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The spring season is upon us, the farmers are planting, and as this is written we are getting a little bit of rain. The temperatures are warming up, and springtime normally makes everyone feel better. Spring is a good time to start things anew, and we in the Commissioner’s Office are revving up for a busy springtime and summer.

We have been really busy in the office. We are of course looking as to what to do in the E.M.A. Office. We have several options and we want to make sure we pick the right one for Darke County. Right now, the Office is being run by Mindy Saylor. Mindy is doing everything by herself, so we have to make sure that whatever we do is the right choice. Mindy is doing a super job for us in a very difficult situation. We hope to have an answer real soon. We also are keeping tabs on the new roof project at Edison State College. The Contractor, Harold J. Becker, is moving along nicely, and as long as the weather does not slow them down, they may be done by the end of the month. This project has been long overdue, and we hope to keep Edison State for a long time. Thanks to Jeff Marshall and everyone who helped make this possible after all these years.

The Jail continues to have problems, and we are looking at solutions to fix them. We are in the process of getting the jail ductwork cleaned, and the jail itself, as this has not been done since the building was built. On the 9-1-1 front, the County Commissioners Association of Ohio (C.C.A.O.) is not very positive on the $.28 per month cell phone tax being kept. Since this is an election year, it looks like that will be going away at this point. This will definitely hurt the less populated counties like ours. We receive about $115,000 a year and this is a source of revenue we cannot afford to lose. We will keep everyone posted. The Sheriff’s office is planning a series of talks on 9-1-1 to inform the public how it works. Deputy Chief Whittaker will be supplying the information as to when and where these will be held. If anyone has any questions on the mechanical side of how it works, you may contact him at the Sheriff’s Office.

The St. Rte. 242 project is moving along nicely. The State Highway Department says they are ahead of schedule, and we hope to have things moving here shortly. This project will be a big help to our runway extension at the airport. As you know, we have 300 feet of runway that is not usable by some bigger aircraft, and this project will allow us to access this already existing part of the runway.

On the economic development front, the County continues to move ahead aggressively. We still have a lot of projects in the works, and all the local C.I.C.’s, the Partnering for Progress initiative, the villages, city, towns, and the E.D. Office continue to work closely together to retain and bring new business to the county. This partnership is unique in the fact that everyone is on board to make things better. This does not happen in other parts of the State. One area of development for the State that we are looking to get involved in is the Shale Oil supply chain. This project is bigger than anybody can estimate, and we may have several companies that can fit into the supply side of this booming business. Mayor Mike Bowers and Commissioner Stegall attended a Shale Oil Conference on April 11th in Cambridge, Ohio, to learn more about the subject. What we discovered was that the entire State will be affected by this business, and if companies want to get involved, there will be a website to share with Oil Companies explaining what service your company can provide. If any companies are interested, no matter how big or small, go online to OhioShaleEnergy.com and complete a survey and you will be entered into a data base at the Voinovich School at Ohio University for oil companies to access. According to what we learned at the conference, this could generate over $500 million dollars a year in extra revenue to the State by 2014.

In other economic news, On March 28th, S&P upgraded Ohio’s Enterprise Bond Fund Ratings two levels to AA+. S&P cited Ohio’s strong risk profile and sound financial policies as key factors in the upgrade. This is the first upgrade since 2003. Things continue to improve in Ohio, and we hope to continue down this path of economic growth. On the same note, as Greenville was honored as one of the top micropolitans in the country, ranked #21, Cincinnati and Cleveland were both ranked in the top ten Metropolitan areas by KPMG Limited, an audit, tax and advisory firm as being the least costly locations in America to do business among the 27 largest Metropolitan areas. All of this is great news for Ohio, as we are moving ahead out of the economic slump. Anyone can subscribe to get updates on Economic activity in Ohio by accessing DevelopOhio.Blog. In other Ohio news, for the 31st straight year Ohio has led the nation in Tree City USA cities with 237. Last year Ohioan’s planted over 28,000 trees statewide. To learn more go to www.ohiodnr.com/forestry.

We hope to keep Darke County as informed as possible on all happenings in the County. One way we do that is in our Public Sessions. We meet every Monday and Wednesday, at 1:30 p.m. in the Commissioner’s Office conference room. We are located at 520 S. Broadway, just south of the Courthouse. Please plan to attend a meeting soon. See you there!

- The Darke County Commissioners

WHIOtv.com: Grain Elevator Demolished in Osgood

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WHIOtv.com has a report on an old grain elevator with lots of history being demolished yesterday in Osgood. The grain elevator is owned by Trupointe Cooperative, Inc and sits at the intersection of 705 and 716. It's believed that it was originally constructed in the late 1800s.

Click on the image below for the report, including iWitness 7 video of the building's demise...


Peters Wins 2012 Midwest Ohio Youth Open

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Left, Nathan Peters with Michael Davidson
Nathan Peters won the 2012 Midwest Ohio Youth Bowling Tournament in Coldwater, Ohio on Sunday, April 15th. This tournament was split into two divisions. Boys Scratch and Girls Scratch. The format was a 6 game qualifying block bowling across 6 pair of lanes. After the 6 Qualifying Games, the filed of 24 was then cut to the top 8 bowlers for best 2 out of 3 Match Play competition.

The Versailles High School Bowlers had a great showing for the finals. 3 out of the 8 finalists were from Versailles. Benjamin Didier qualified 4th with a 1,139, Michael Davidson qualified 6th with a 1,110 and Nathan Peters qualified 8th with a 1,077. The lane pattern was a very demanding condition where keeping the ball in play and covering spares was extremely important.

The 1st round of match play was a best 2 out of 3 format. Ben bowled Blake Spangler from Coldwater, which went 3 games: 195-191, 173-196 and 175-201 with Blake advancing to the top 4. Michael bowled Garrett Stout from St. Henry which went 3 games: 246-204, 158-196 and 179-178 with Michael advancing to the top 4. Nathan Peters bowled Drew Gay: 211-182, 235-177 and 192-173 with Nathan advancing to the top 4.

BBBS Announces Daffy Duck Derby & Duck N’ Run 5k!

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Click to enlarge the flyer
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby and Darke County is making plans for the upcoming fundraising event, 2012 Rubber Duck Race in Sidney. This event will be held on Thursday, June 21st. The Duck launch will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Geib Pavilion in Tawawa Park.

In addition to the duck race, the agency will also host the sixth annual Duck N’ Run/Walk 5k race, which is a part of the Shelby County 5K Tour. The 5k run/walk will be held on the evening of Thursday, June 21 with race time at 8:15 p.m. through scenic Tawawa Park in Sidney. Registration will begin at 7:00 p.m., and a shot-gun start will begin the race at 8:15 p.m. Runners (walkers also welcome) will follow the course through the scenic park, with refreshments and an awards presentation waiting at the finish line. Runners can pre-register for the event for $22.00, which includes t-Shirt and Rubber Duck Adoption. $17.00 allows a runner to participate and receive a t-shirt, or $12.00 will cover the cost of the race only. Race day registration is $15.00 and does not include a t-shirt. Duck adoptions and t-shirts will also be sold separately on race day.

The public is invited to come out at 7:30 p.m. for the Rubber Duck Race to cheer on their adopted rubber duck and compete for some awesome prizes. BBBS will be providing spectators with food and refreshments at the race course site. The HITS Crew will do LIVE broadcasting at the event.

The Rubber Duck Race & 5k Duck n Run/Walk proceeds support match relationships between Bigs and Littles. Pictured are Big Sister Angie Ross and Little Brother Robert Swearingen, Jr. son of Robert and Teresa Swearingen.
Last year nearly 2,800 rubber ducks made their way down Mosquito Creek to compete for the many fabulous prizes. This year’s grand prize will be a $1,000 Shopping Spree (some restrictions may apply!) There are also many other great prizes, including a Cincinnati get-away with King Island tickets and an overnight stay; two “3-day” passes to the great Country Concert at Hickory Hills; a Sports Enthusiast Pack with golfing gift certificates, Dayton Dragons tickets, and CJ’s HighMarks gift certificate; and much more!

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