Friday, June 29, 2018

Greenville Farm Power of the Past

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It’s time for the 19th Annual Greenville Farm Power of the Past Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Show at the Darke County Fairgrounds. This year’s show dates are Thursday, July 5th through Sunday, July 8th.

The Schedule of Events include:
  • 9:00 AM DAILY FLAG RAISING & OPENING CEREMONY
    • Horse & Mule Fun Days in the Horse Arena All Day
    • Flea Markets and Food Concessions All Day
  • THURSDAY All Activities
  • FRIDAY All Activities
    • 1:00 – 3:00 Quilting in the Fine Arts Building
    • 7:00 DCTPA July Classic Truck & Tractor Pull ($5.00 Grandstand admission charge)
  • SATURDAY All Activities
    • 10:00 Antique Tractor Pull (free Grandstand)
    • 10:30 Tractor Cruise Sponsored by Darke County Farm Bureau
    • 1:00 – 3:00 Quilting in the Fine Arts Building
    • 2:00 Kiddie Tractor Pull (top of Coliseum)
    • 3:00 Tractor Parade in front of the Grandstand
    • 4:00 Pony Pull in the Horse Show Arena
    • 4:00 Kiddie Coin Scramble in the Straw following the threshing demonstration
    • 6:00 Draft Horse Pull in the Horse Show Arena
    • 6:00 WOGTPA Garden Tractor Pull in front of the Grandstand
    • 8:00 Music by The Thien Snipps
  • SUNDAY Some Activities
    • 9:00 – 1:00 Car Show & Cruise In
    • 9:15 Church Service in the Fine Arts Building with music by The Faithful Sons
This year the feature tractor and equipment companies are Case and Oliver. There will also be tractors by John Deere, Minneapolis Moline, Cockshutt, and Allis Chalmers, to name a few. Last year over 400 tractors were on display. We are pleased to be hosting the Summer Show of the Buckeye Oliver Collectors Club. This year’s feature gas engine is Michigan Built Gas Engines. This does not refer to a company by that name, but to the over 50 different companies who manufactured stationary gas engines between 1890 and as late as 1940. These engines powered everything from machine shops to washing machines in the days before electricity.

The Oil Field Engine Society has been a regular guest at our shows and this year we are highlighting oil field engines and giving the group special recognition. Their members always enjoy running those large engines and sharing their knowledge of these engines.

The Cast Iron Seat Collectors Association members will be exhibiting their unique collections of cast iron seats, tool boxes, planter lids, mower lids, drill ends, windmill weights, and other cast iron items. This is the first time for this national group to have their Summer Meet in Ohio.

Admission is $5.00 per day per person or a membership/show pass is $10.00 per person. Kids ages 12 and under are admitted free of charge. Check out our website at www.greenvillefarmpower.org or on Facebook for more information.

Come on out to the tree-shaded Darke County Fairgrounds to see a large display of tractors, gas engines, farm tools of the past, Chainsaw Carving, some equipment in operation, the large flea market, and enjoy some delicious food. We hope to see you there!

Greenville Municipal Concert Band Presents A Celebration of Independence

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Left: Chelsea and John Whirledge. Right: Jim Buchy.
The summer concert series in the park, presented by the Greenville Municipal Concert Band, will begin Sunday, July 1st at the New Marling Band Shell in the beautiful Greenville City Park. The ribbon cutting ceremonies will begin at 6:30 and the concert will begin immediately after. Please note, the 6:30 start is a change from earlier announced times.

Our celebration concert will feature music of America. Helping us celebrate this special evening will be Jim Buchy. Jim is a native of Greenville and graduate of GHS as well as Wittenberg University. He was president of Buchy Food Service for 35 years. Jim has also served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives for 24 years. In addition, Jim was Assistant Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Policy Director of the NFIB and currently is the Senior Advisor of the Batchelder Company in Columbus. Jim is the Chairman of the Agriculture Education Foundation and has received 15 statewide awards during his public service career. Jim is happily married to Sharon for 53 years and they have son John married to Dara Buchy and daughter Kate married to Kevin Kerg. They enjoy their 8 grandchildern and one great grandchild. Jim will be narrating several speech excerpts as the band performs the Beautiful Arlington: Where Giants Lay Sleeping.

Also joining the Greenville Municipal Band for their opening concert in the new band shell this coming weekend is John and Chelsea Whirledge. John is the Worship Pastor at Trinity Wesleyan Church here in Greenville and Chelsea is the Vocal Music Director at Greenville High School. John and Chelsea have been performing with the park band for the past several years and are excited to return for a new season. John will sing America the Beautiful and the traditional God Bless the U.S.A. Chelsea will sing You Raise Me Up. John and Chelsea will team up with the Greenville Municipal Concert Band for a wonderful presentation of God Bless America and a great tribute to our armed forces with Armed Forces Salute.

We are very excited to perform this first concert for the newly rebuilt shell while celebrating the independence of our great country. Many people have worked very hard to make this dream a reality for this community. Park bench seating will be available and you are also welcome to bring your own lawn chairs or blankets to sit and enjoy the show. As always, the summer concerts in the park series are free and open to the public and a great way to spend time relaxing and enjoying our beautiful park with family and friends.

Food trucks will be on hand for the celebration with parking available in the Marling Band Shell lot and the GHS stadium lot. Again, please note the 6:30 start to the ceremonies. As always, bring a friend and enjoy the show.

TAKE A CRUISE DOWN MEMORY LANE DURING JULY’S FIRST FRIDAY EVENT

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The American Kings will headline the First Friday event on July 6th in downtown Greenville. 
Greenville, OH -Main Street Greenville will once again be bringing back Memories on Main for July’s First Friday event. The focus is a 1950’s inspired theme, highlighting memories that once took place on Broadway, the main drag of downtown Greenville.

Fire up the engine of your hot rod and take a cruise down memory lane on Friday, July 6th from 6 to 9 pm.

“Memories on Main was created as a way to enjoy the history that is unique to small town America,” said Crysta Hutchinson, Executive Director of Main Street Greenville. “We’re proud of the fact that downtown Greenville is just as vibrant today as it was in the 50s and this event is a fun way to celebrate that.”

The festivities will include music by The American Kings, a ping-pong ball drop, 50’s themed workouts and sock hop, and fun family activities and giveaways hosted by Second National Bank in honor of their 135th anniversary.

The American Kings will perform from 7 to 9 pm on 5th Street between the Coffee Pot and Michael’s Fine Clocks and Jewelry. They are a Dayton band who still allow the words “sock” and “hop” to make perfect sense together. With their true renditions of your favorite rock ‘n’ roll songs, you can fully trust a high-energy and fun show.

The ping-pong ball drop, sponsored by Greenville National Bank and Second National Bank, will take place on West 3rd Street at 9:10 pm sharp. Main Street Greenville will be dropping 200 ping-pong balls from the ladder of a fire truck. The ping-pong balls will have colored dots on them, each color representing a different prize level.

F45 Training and Refit will be showcasing 50’s themed workouts also on West 3rd street. They will be strapping on their gym shoes for programs at 7, 7:30, 8, and 8:30 pm. In between workouts there will be plenty of 50’s music and dancing!

Are your children into lights and sirens? The Greenville Fire Department will have a firetruck stationed on West 3rd Street at 8:30 pm before the ping-pong ball drop. Bring your kids out to take pictures with the truck and meet a couple of local firefighters!

Second National Bank wants to celebrate their 135th anniversary with the community! During the festivities they will be providing games, food, prizes, and music to recognize their many years of dedication to our town and hopefully many more to come.

In addition to all the activities listed above, many downtown businesses will be open late for all to enjoy, so make reservations for dinner and explore the shopping experiences offered!

Main Street Greenville is a non-profit organization committed to stimulating and supporting revitalization efforts, historic preservation and economic growth in Historic Downtown Greenville. To learn more about the organization, visit www.MainStreetGreenville.org or call 937-548-4998. You can also like the organization on Facebook to receive updates on a regular basis (www.facebook.com/mainstreetgreenville).

Ice Cream Social at Versailles Area Museum

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The Versailles Area Museum invites you to join us for an old-fashioned day of fun as we host our annual ice cream social on the museum lawn. July 15th is the date rain or shine and this year many new activities are planned.

We will be premiering our newest display “The Great Outdoors”. Enjoy the days of the last century when we all seemed to hit the road as the commercial suggested to “see the USA in our Chevrolet”. From boating to camping its all here to enjoy!

We will also welcome back the Darke County Art Guild for their “Art on the Lawn”, a chance to enjoy artists at work, creating beauty for the next generation.

If you were dodging showers at Poultry Days and missed the old Rio fire truck, well it will return for an encore performance on our lawn for you to enjoy.

What is a party without music? From the wonderful Bushwack display and their new song to enjoy inside, we will have the Marshall’s live on the outside. Ron and Elaine are kind enough to join us again and offer some fun music for the afternoon.

So, as you can see we have it covered, new displays, beautiful art, a great old fire truck, fun music, and delicious ice cream for sale. It sounds like you should be hunting for your lawn chairs and loading the car to head to the Versailles Area Museum on July 15th from 1:00 to 4:00 for a great afternoon of fun and reminiscing!

Abraham Lincoln Returns to Library

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On Friday July 13th the public will have two opportunities to meet with the 16th President of the United States when he presents “A Biography of Lincoln’s Life.“ These are free events open to all ages and no registration is required. The first event is 12:00 p.m. on the Greenville Public Library lawn so bring a blanket or lawn chair. The second is 2:00 p.m. at the Brethren Retirement Community in the Brick Room.

Lincoln impersonator John Cooper is a self-avowed history nut and considers Lincoln his favorite and our greatest President. He has portrayed President Lincoln for more than 25 years with the aid of his tall stature, Lincoln-styled beard and coat, and stovepipe hat.

John has appeared all over the US and locally at the Darke County Fair and Trinity Wesleyan Church. He gave two programs at the Library in February 2017 and gained quite a following! Join us again for an entertaining and educational afternoon. See www.fourscore7yearsago.com/lincoln.html.

Ice Cream Social at Union City Trinity Lutheran Church on Monday, July 2nd

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Trinity Lutheran Church in Union City will have its annual Ice Cream Social Event on Monday, July 2nd from 4:30 to 7:30. This event is open to the public and we invite all of our family and friends to attend. It is guaranteed that you enjoy a good meal, ice cream, desserts and plenty of social time with family, friends and neighbors. Trinity is located at 1470 St. Rt. 28. Everyone is welcome at Trinity Lutheran Church - we hope to see you there.

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Greenville BPW Holds Fundraiser

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Greenville, OH. On Wednesday, June 20, 2018 the Greenville Business and Professional Women’s Club (BPW) held their annual chicken BBQ dinner fundraiser. BPW would like to thank all those that purchased tickets for the fundraiser. Thanks also to the Greenville VFW Post 7262 for allowing the Club to use their facilities for the drive up deliveries and to Eikenberry’s IGA for providing the bags to put the dinners in.

The next meeting will be September 13th; however, the BPW Club is working on their Annual Guest Night “What a Girl Wants’ fundraiser scheduled for October 11th. Follow the Greenville BPW Club Facebook page for more details, activities planned for the evening, and the Super Raffle.

The money raised from the chicken dinner fundraiser will be used to award scholarships to the young women of Darke County. The Club meets the second Thursday of each month for a dinner business meeting. Contact membership chair Sonya Crist at 937/423-6357 or sonyacrist@gmail.com to learn more about the Club.

Pick-Up Truck Driver Pulls Into Path of Semi at 127 and Kruckeberg Road

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On June 25, 2018 at approximately 10:38AM, Darke County Sheriff Deputies along with Greenville Township Fire and Rescue responded to the intersection of US Route 127 and Kruckeberg Road for an injury accident involving a semi and a pick-up truck.

Preliminary investigation revealed a Gray 2001 GMC pick-up truck driven by Trenton Prasuhn (16) of Ansonia was traveling Eastbound on Kruckeberg Road and had stopped at the intersection of US Route 127. Prasuhn then pulled into the intersection with an attempt to travel Northbound on US Route 127 and was struck by a Red 2016 Mack tractor-trailer which was traveling Southbound on US Route 127, driven by Ryan Riffell (44) of Arcanum.

Prasuhn was transported to Wayne HealthCare for his injuries, and Riffell was uninjured.

This accident remains under investigation by the Darke County Sheriff's Office.

Edison State presents: “African Americans in Piqua, Then and Now”

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Kris Lee (right) and Larry Hamilton (left) at the
African Jackson Cemetery in Rossville, Ohio.
Piqua author and historian Larry Hamilton and Piqua City Commissioner Kris Lee will be at Edison State Community College on Wednesday, June 27 at 1:00 p.m., to discuss “African Americans in Piqua, Then and Now.”

Hamilton will be recounting the pre-Civil War story of John Randolph. Randolph, a slave owner, directed in his will that upon his death, his 300+ slaves would be freed and provided with 2,000 acres of rich farmland in Mercer County. These former slaves, or freedmen, traveled across Virginia, down the Ohio River and up the canal by boat to the land that had been given to them.

In Mercer County, they were met by hostile farmers and driven back into their boat. Some settled outside of Piqua in Rossville. These freedmen became educated and skilled in various occupations. They prospered, and many left the Piqua area to seek their fortunes elsewhere.

Kris Lee is a descendent of one of these freedmen. Lee was recently elected as a Piqua City Commissioner—the second African American to hold this position.

Lee has a long list of academic achievements, including two associate degrees; one from Edison State in paralegal studies, and one from Wright State in communication, an MBA from Bluffton University, and an MA in Organizational Management from Bluffton. He has served 27 years in the Piqua Police Department; 14 years teaching at Edison State with 9 years in the Edison State Law Enforcement Academy.

Lee and his wife are raising five children plus a niece and a nephew, he has spent years coaching area teams in basketball, tennis, and soccer, and has served on the parish council at St. Marys, Ohio.

The public is welcome to attend this event. Free parking is available at the East Hall lot at Edison State Community College. The seminar will be held in East Hall Room 458.

For further information or if you plan to bring a large group, call Dr. Vivian Blevins. 937.778.3815.

JENA POWELL FEATURED SPEAKER AT JUNE BPW MEETING

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Pictured left to right: Speakers Marina Mehaffie and Jena Powell, and BPW Secretary Sonya Crist.
Greenville, OH June 20, 2018 – The 2018-2019 Greenville Business & Professional Women’s Club (BPW) Officers hosted the June 14th meeting at the Brethren Retirement Community Brick Room. They are President Peggy Foutz, Vice President Kasey Christian, Secretary Sonya Crist, Treasurer Dorothy Poeppelman and Assistant Treasurer Susan Shields.

Secretary Sonya Crist introduced the speaker Jena Powell who is a young entrepreneur that started her first business at the age of 17. Jena spoke of her journey to Rome with her siblings and how she met a man named Peter that changed her life when he talked about the United States being the land of opportunity and asking her to help him find a job in America. When she was a young girl she always wanted to be a ‘business’ woman. Powell graduated from Liberty University and is now a Darke County resident and vice president of sales and marketing for “Huntington Outdoor’, a billboard business with their office located on Broadway in downtown Greenville. They service over 300 billboards in Ohio and Indiana. Jena has a passion for small business, non-profits, and community and won the primary for the Ohio 80th House District Representative last May. Jena introduced the company’s intern Marina Mehaffie who talked about her role at Huntington Outdoor by writing articles about the company and interacting with social media. Marina agrees with Jena on the quotation, “you have to want the opportunity and continue to challenge yourself” to be a success. Both Jena and Marina are working on how they can keep the next generation in Darke County!

The next meeting will be September 13th; however, the BPW Club is working on their Annual Guest Night “What a Girl Wants’ fundraiser scheduled for October 11th. Follow the Greenville BPW Club Facebook page for more details, activities planned for the evening, and the Super Raffle.

The Greenville BPW Club’s mission is to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education, and information. The Club holds fundraisers through the year to raise money to grant scholarships to the young women of Darke County. The Club meets the second Thursday of every month for a dinner meeting. Those interested in learning more about the Club can contact Membership Chair Sonya Crist at sonyacrist@gmail.com or through 937/423-3657.

Mercer Savings Bank in Greenville donates to Cancer Association of Darke County.

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Left to right: Carolyn Fletcher (Cancer Association of Darke County Board Member), Duane Edwards (Cancer Association of Darke County Board Member), Krista Hines (Mercer Savings employee and Becky Saylor (Cancer Association of Darke County Board Member)
Mercer Savings recently started an employee giving program and an employee each month is chosen and can decide where they want the funds to go. Krista Hines decided to donate to the Cancer Association of Darke County. Krista states: I chose to donate to the Cancer Association of Darke County because I feel like cancer has touched the lives of just about everyone. Whether it is a neighbor, coworker, friend or family member, everyone knows someone who is or has battled this disease. My family received the news that our mother had colon cancer this past December. It is nice to know that there are organizations like the Cancer Association of Darke County to help.”

The association wishes to thank Mercer Savings and Krista for their donation of $200. Local cancer patients will certainly benefit from this.

The association is not affiliated with American Cancer Society or Relay for Life or any other cancer organizations.

The organization is supported with donations, grants, fundraisers, etc. and is a partner with United Way. Funds are used to help Darke County cancer patients.

Corporate Sponsors for 2018 (list is ongoing) are: Brothers Publishing Diane Evans Insurance First Assembly of God Greenville Memorial Auxiliary 7262 Greenville National Bank Hansbarger Home Solutions Johnston Chiropractic Clinic Law Office Rudnick & Hosek Mercer Savings Second National Bank STAR 88.3 Versailles Savings and Loan and Zechar Bailey Funeral Home

Monday, June 25, 2018

FINANCIAL ACHIEVEMENT SERVICES (FAS) OFFERS FREE DOCUMENT SHREDDING, SATURDAY, JULY 7TH

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(June 21, 2018, GREENVILLE, OHIO) Financial Achievement Services (FAS), is once again offering area residents the opportunity to have their paper records shredded and recycled on Saturday, July 7th during their annual Document Shred Day.

“Shredding sensitive documents is an easy way to reduce your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft,” said Matt Arnold, owner and President of FAS. “We are happy to help people shred and properly dispose of old statements and paperwork they no longer need. Protecting your sensitive personal information by shredding your paper documents is a sound yearly plan.”

Accepted items to be properly disposed of might include those with Social Security numbers, birthdates, PIN numbers or passwords; banking documents and other financial information like check stubs or old check books; leases, contracts or letters that include signatures; pre-approved credit card applications and medical or dental bills. Of course, be sure to keep documents you may need for tax purposes.

A shred truck will be available in the parking lot of the FAS offices at 5116 Children’s Home Bradford Road in Greenville on July 7th from 8:30AM to 11:30AM.

This is a free service to the public. No appointment is necessary. Just bring your box of documents and the FAS team will take care of the rest!

Registered Representative/Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Signator Investors, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC, and Registered Investment Advisor. Financial Achievement Services is independent of Signator Investors, Inc.

Summer fun at the Arcanum Public Library

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Summer has started off with plenty of activities at the Arcanum Public Library. The summer reading program is in full swing, with kids and adults reading for prizes. There are programs nearly every day for patrons to enjoy. StoryTime for preschoolers is on Mondays at 10:00. Come in for stories, songs, crafts, and a lot of fun. On Tuesdays, kids age 7 and up can come from 10:00 – 11:30 for games, crafts, movies and more. The library shows movies on Wednesdays. The first showing is at 10:00, and the second at 2:00. Check with the library for the movie listing. Big programs are on Thursdays. June 28 at 10:00 will be a game of “Name That Tune!”. Teams will compete against each other as they guess songs, artists, and more. All ages are welcome and no registration is required.

In addition to the summer reading program, the library has other events lined. On Tuesday, July 10, there will be an adult coloring session at 4:30. Supplies are provided and beverages served. No registration required. Also on July 10, the book club will be meeting at 5:30. Newcomers are always welcome to drop in. On Wednesday, July 18, at 11:00, the library will be putting on the next installment in its gardening series. The topic this month will be terrariums. No registration needed. On Thursday, July 19, the library will be hosting Second National Bank as they present a program “Safe Banking for Seniors”. Contact the library for a specific time. The library is looking forward to an introduction to crafting beer on July 26. “Brew Review” will be a great chance to learn about beer and the process of making it yourself, and to taste a few samples. This event will require pre-registration as space will be limited. Check with the library for specific times and details.

Patrons can come into the library for more details about the programs, or check out the website at www.arcanumpubliclibrary.com. The library can be found on Facebook and on Twitter. Patrons can call the library at 937-692-8484.

DCCA’S BARBECUE AND BLUES MOVES DOWNTOWN

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DCCA is bringing it’s annual fun-filled fundraiser “Barbecue and Blues” to downtown Greenville this year featuring blues music by the Doug Hart Band and special guest Austin “Walkin’ Cane.” The event will be held Friday, July 13 on the spacious lawn at the Greenville Public Library, 520 Sycamore Street; the fun begins at 6:30 p.m. Food vendors include Main Street Greenville businesses The Coffee Pot, Merchant House, and Romer’s Catering, and local food truck favorites Kona Ice and Nacho Pig; wine will be available as well as micro brews from Moeller Brew Barn. 
Darke County Center for the Arts is bringing it’s annual fun-filled fundraiser “Barbecue and Blues” to downtown Greenville this year. The event will be held Friday, July 13 on the spacious lawn at the Greenville Public Library, 520 Sycamore Street; the fun begins at 6:30 p.m. Food vendors include Main Street Greenville businesses The Coffee Pot, Merchant House, and Romer’s Catering, and local food truck favorites Kona Ice and Nacho Pig; wine will be available as well as micro brews from Moeller Brew Barn. Music will be provided by the Doug Hart Band and special guest Austin “Walkin’ Cane.”

“’Barbecue and Blues’ has always been a great party, but the move downtown makes it even more exciting; grab your blanket or lawn chairs and come out to celebrate summer with us,” said DCCA Executive Director Andrea Jordan. “The food will include scrumptious specialty items befitting a barbecue as well as the usual fare that our community enjoys from our vendors; in addition to creative and varied regular menu items, vegetarian and gluten-free options will also be available,” Ms. Jordan stated.

According to DCCA Artistic Director Keith Rawlins, Doug Hart and his band blend the blues with rock to create a passionate, soulful sound. “Doug has earned several awards in Blues Challenges around the region; his dynamic, energetic style will really get our “Barbecue and Blues” crowd jumping,” Mr. Rawlins said. Mr. Rawlins also stated that special guest Austin “Walkin’ Cane” has won quite a local following due to several previous performances for DCCA. “This Clevelander sounds like an early blues singer from the Delta; his story-telling abilities pull audiences in and his smooth baritone keeps them listening and leaves them begging for more,” Rawlins explained.

An additional component adding to the evening’s excitement will be a drawing for a mosaic guitar created by Bowling Green-area artist Gail Christofferson and featuring a likeness of guitar great Jimi Hendrix; raffle tickets costing $5 are currently on sale at the Welcome Center in downtown Greenville and will be available at “Barbecue and Blues.” Also, art work inspired by the blues in nature and created by youngsters participating in a creative art camp sponsored by Darke County Parks in conjunction with the Anna Bier Gallery will be displayed for viewing at the festive event.

Sponsorship for the musical performances is provided by Merry Lee Cross and Shaun Hayes of BHHS Professional Realty, Matt and Angie Arnold, and George and Becky Luce. The event venue is provided by Greenville Public Library; other sponsors are Erwin Brothers, Rumpke, and the John R. and Miriam H. Knick Fund. Proceeds from “Barbecue and Blues” support DCCA programming, helping make possible DCCA's Arts In Education program as well as the Family Theatre Series and a summer theatre residency by Missoula Children's Theatre.

Tickets for the event are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under; food and drink are not included in the ticket price. A limited number of reserved tables are available for purchase. In case of inclement weather, “Barbecue and Blues” will move inside Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall. Although tickets will be available at the gate, DCCA strongly recommends purchasing them in advance. Tickets & tables can be purchased by contacting the DCCA office at 937-547-0908.Tickets are also on sale at Greenville Public Library, Readmore's Hallmark, and Darke County Welcome Center.

Friday, June 22, 2018

ONE MILLION SOLD!

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Top: Dean Gongwer of Nelsons racks the One Millionth Dinner.
Middle: Honorary Parade Marshals Diana and Jim Subler strolling the grounds.
Bottom: 2018 Little Miss Poultry Days Elle Bey of Tipp City with her court
Miranda Miller and Lani DeMange.
Barely a day after the festival there was little sign one had occurred. The only clues were a stray ride wristband, an unused social tent ticket laying in the street and that last carnival ride parked in the back. While the visible signs are few the memories are countless. A weekend of laughter, time with family and many new friendships. Despite sporadic showers over the weekend the 67th annual Versailles Poultry Days moved forward hitting new records.

Saturday afternoon an ultimate frisbee player, his fiancé and friends stood in the rain focused on getting one of those delicious BBQ dinners. Little did that competitor from Columbus know that the dinner he would purchase would be the One Millionth. Ryan Stoneberger, who was at the festival for a second year competing in the Ultimate Tournament, purchased the dinner and received gifts including a trip to Las Vegas and MikeSells snacks for a year. Ryan’s dinner was one of many that propelled chicken sales to a new peak of 28,420 dinners sold breaking the previous record of 27,620. At the end of the weekend Versailles can boast that is has served 1,012,685 BBQ chicken dinners since 1952.

Highlights of the festival include 70 Ultimate teams from more then 20 states and Canada of which the team “Party Fowl” from Ann Arbor Michigan took home the coveted trophy. These Poultry Days pilgrims also raised over $11,000 to be donated to the Lymphoma Society. This money was raised through a hard-boiled egging contest in which Jeff Martin, with team “Cephalogallus” from Goshen Indiana ate 24 eggs to become the Champion Eggeater! The Cleveland based “Pollos En Mis Pantelones” was the top team fundraiser.

Faith Wilker of Versailles was crowned the 2018 Miss Chick and along with her court of Jamie Hart and Morgan Heitkamp will appear at area festivals over the next year. Elle Bey of Tipp City was also crowned 2018 Little Miss Poultry Days along with her court Miranda Miller and Lani DeMange.

The Social Tent was packed over the weekend and the Darke County community gave the bands a solid welcome. The far traveling Tricky Dick & The Cover-Ups were among the bands eager to return next year. The numerous contest and event winners will continue to be recognized on our Facebook page over coming weeks.

The board thanks the community, volunteers and sponsors for your contribution to another successful festival. This success allows Poultry Days to support community projects throughout the year. Suggestions for a festival theme or honorary parade marshal can be emailed to chairman@versaillespoultrydays.com or mailed to PO Box 108, Versailles, Ohio 45380. If you would like to become more involved with the festival or are involved with a community organization or business that would like to conduct an activity please contact us.

The festival is always held the second full weekend in June and will be held June 14, 15 and 16th in 2019. Themes, bands and attractions are already being discussed as the board organizes for the 68th annual Versailles Poultry Days.

Greenville Federal Sponsors TOLEDO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA and DCCA Arts Programs For Children

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Jeff D. Kniese, President and CEO of Greenville Federal presents
a check to DCCA Executive Director Andrea Jordan.
Darke County Center for the Arts recognizes Greenville Federal as an Impresario sponsor of the recent “Oh! What a Night” performance by Toledo Symphony Orchestra, at Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall, Saturday, May 19 as the final show in DCCA’s 2017-2018 Artists Series. Greenville Federal also supports DCCA’s Family Theatre Series and Arts in Education programs, which benefit Darke County youth and their families. According to DCCA Executive Director Andrea Jordan, “DCCA is grateful for Greenville Federal’s sponsorship at the Impresario Level, DCCA’s highest level of sponsorship, which helps enable our efforts to provide culturally enriching experiences for the citizens of our community.”

The concert featured guest soloist Connor Bogart, who performed Broadway hits from Jersey Boys, Phantom of the Opera, and Les Miserables as well as pop favorites by Barry Manliow and Neil Diamon, for a delighted DCCA audience. While guest conductor Carl Topillow wowed the crowd with his enthusiasm and conducting, as well as his clarinet playing. Since its formation in 1943, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra has grown from a core group of 22 part-time musicians to become a regionally prestigious ensemble employing 65 full-time professional musicians, as well as numerous others to meet the needs of an expansive and eclectic repertoire. The orchestra, known for the joy they bring to their skillful performances which inspire audiences throughout Ohio and Michigan, reaches an audience of more than 260,000 individuals annually through its performances and education programs.

Featured in the 2017-2018 Family Theatre Series were, a heartwarming holiday spectacular for all ages with the return of Lightwire Theatre to present A Very Electric Christmas on November 19th; Theatreworks' production of E.B. White's treasured tale Charlotte's Web on February 18th; and Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia's production of the award winning classics Guess How Much I Love You and My Little Storybook on April 8th. All three performances will be on Sundays starting at 2 pm, at St. Clair Memorial Hall. Thanks to continued community support, ticket prices have remained at $5 since the first Family Theatre Series performance in 1997.

DCCA Arts In Education programs for the 2017-2018 season included health and wellness enthusiast KID POWER (grades K-3) presenting "Operation Lunch Line" a 3D interactive production on nutrition and exercise. Two time Grammy award winner TERRANCE SIMIEN & The ZYDECO EXPEREINCE (grades 4-6) returns by popular demand to present “Creole for Kidz" sharing Creole music and culture. SIX APPEAL (grades 7 & 8) brings a capella with hands-on critical listening to St. Clair Memorial Hall, and SIX GUITARS (grades 9-12) presents the "Voices of Chase Padgett" portraying 6 different guitar playing characters, each presenting their own story and style of music. Arts In Education artists are generally in residence for a week as they tour all of the eight public school districts in Darke County. These programs are open to the public.

Darke County Center for the Arts presents and promotes performing and fine arts encouraging cultural enrichment. For more information contact the DCCA office at (937) 547-0908 or visit their website DarkeCountyArts.org.

“Family Fun Day” at Library

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The Greenville Public Library welcomes back favorite juggler Tom Sparough “The Space Painter” at Family Fun Day on Wednesday June 27th at 11:00 a.m. We'll meet in the Activity Building of the First Congregational Christian Church on 5th Street. Tom's shows are breathtakingly fun and always include tons of laughter, audience participation, and skill.

Again, Family Fun Day is sponsored by generous grants from the Friends of the Library and the Greyson James Steyer Memorial Fund. Be sure to pick up a brochure at the Library and follow the Children & Teen pages on Facebook for more information about all the summer programs!

Biblical Counseling Classes

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  • Do you enjoy helping others?
  • Are you passionate about giving Biblical advice?
  • Do you want to further your own knowledge of Biblical teaching?
  • Do you want to learn how to better apply the Bible to your own life?

If you answered YES to any of those, we encourage you to join our Fall Biblical Counseling Classes here at Beamsville Christian Church. Together, we will learn how to help others who are struggling with problems in their lives by using the Bible. We believe that the Bible holds the answer to everything!

Our Biblical Counseling Classes will give you the confidence to help others who have needs in their lives and to help you please Christ more in your own life. Our classes are approved by ACBC (Association of Certified Biblical Counselors) toward becoming a certified Biblical Counselor. We have two thirteen week classes that start in September.

If you would like more information about attending our Biblical Counseling Classes, please contact Pastor Steve Short at steve@beamsvillechurch.com, by telephone at 937.547.0009, or check out our website (https://tinyurl.com/FallCounselingClass) where our Fall Counseling Class brochure is available.

Your Pet can be a star

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Greenville - The Darke County Friends of the Shelter will be making 2019 calendars. Enter your Pet's picture for a chance to become a Star in the group's 2019 calendar. The monthly pictures will be made up of local pets. Bring a photo or digital picture to the Darke County Animal Shelter, located just beyond the Sheriff's Department. All pictures must be submitted by July 7, 2018.

You can also submit the form online. Go to http://www.darkecountyfriendsoftheshelter.com/calendar2019 fill out the form and send the digital photo of your pet via e-mail to dcas@kometweb.com.

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

Family Health Services Annual Meeting Open to the Public, Monday June 25th

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Annie Oakley Golf Tournament will be held July 23, 2018 at Turtle Creek Golf Course

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Clockwise from top left: Dave Knapp of Dave Knapp Ford, Lincoln, Joe Arnett, Matt Hinkle, Justin Schoen and Donald Hittle of Hittle Buick-GMC, Jim Troutwine of Troutwine Auto Sales, and Rob Slusher and the Sales Team of SVG Chevrolet
The 37th annual Annie Oakley Golf Tournament is fast approaching. Get signed up with your team today for a chance to win a new car or truck from one of four Darke County area car dealers! You can also purchase a T Sign to be displayed to advertise your business or in honor or memory of someone.

This year’s tournament is scheduled for July 23rd at the Turtle Creek Golf Course and will feature a shotgun start with scramble format, chances to win great prizes and lunch/dinner for the golfer and their spouse/guest. Most importantly, the proceeds from this fun and exciting event will benefit the local and independent Cancer Association of Darke County.

Each golfer has the opportunity to win a new car or truck valued at $ 27,500.00 for a hole-in-one on the sixth and seventeenth hole. SVG Chevrolet, Hittle Buick GMC, Dave Knapp Ford-Lincoln and Troutwine Auto Sales are again joining together to sponsor this year's Hole-in-One competition. Any golfer getting a hole-in-one on the 11th hole wins a Yamaha Golf Cart. The golfer getting a hole-in-one on the eighth hole will win a choice of Premium Golf Equipment.

Additional information and entry forms for the 37th annual tournament are available at the Cancer Association of Darke County at 548-9960 or from any tournament committee member.

Sojourner Quartet to Perform at The Pitsburg Church of the Brethren

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The Pitsburg Church of the Brethren will host the Sojourner Quartet on Sunday, July 1, 2018 at 6 PM.

Sojourner Quartet is a Christian music ministry based in Findlay, Ohio. Sojourner began in 1991 as a contemporary Christian group playing their own instruments and writing many of the songs they performed. As their popularity spread, they began to play throughout the country. In 1998, the group went solely southern gospel. As their ministry grew, they shared the platform with many of today's top southern gospel groups including The Booth Brothers, The Hoppers, The Isaacs, Ivan Parker, The Crabb Family, The Tally Trio, Triumphant Quartet and many more. Over the years, several songs released to southern gospel radio made the charts in the USA and in Europe.

These four men are completely devoted to Jesus Christ not only through their music ministry, but through their personal lives. Their mission is to glorify God, the Father, by witnessing the gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ to as many people as possible, regardless of their denomination, through their music and personal testimony.

The church is located at the west edge of Pitsburg, Ohio at 8376 Pitsburg-Laura Road. A love offering will be accepted and refreshments will be served following the concert.

Thursday, June 21, 2018

The Darke County Historical Society Announces the Dr. Harry G. Thomas Medical Scholarship Program for 2018

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Dr. Harry G. Thomas
The Darke County Historical Society is pleased to announce that funds will be available from the Harry G. Thomas Medical Scholarship Program for the 2018-2019 academic year.

The H.G. Thomas Medical Scholarship program, administered by the Darke County Historical Society, was established and funded in 1971 by Lowell Thomas and his sister Pherbia Thomas Thornburg, in memory of their father Doctor Harry G. Thomas. The program was later supplemented by a bequest from Lowell Thomas’s will with the investment interest generated by the fund being used to offer scholarships.

Dr. Thomas received a degree from the University of Cincinnati Medical School, practiced in Iowa & Colorado, and served during WWI in British hospitals, leaving the war as a Colonel in General Pershing’s army. Dr. Thomas died in 1952 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Both he and his wife, Harriet Wagner, were descendants of Darke County pioneers.

Eligibility for the Harry G. Thomas Medical Scholarship requires the applicant to be a resident of Darke County and a graduate of a Darke County high school. Applicants must have been accepted into a medical school, complete an application, and furnish transcripts and letters of recommendation. Students may be considered for scholarship awards for up to four years during medical school but must re-submit a letter of interest each year. The application deadline is September 15th, 2018.

For information concerning the scholarship program or for an application, please contact Dr. Clay Johnson at Garst Museum, 205 N Broadway, Greenville, OH 45331, 937-548-5250, or information@garstmuseum.org.

One in 1000 winners!

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Garst Museum would like to announce Annie's Star Spangled Raffle winners. The 1010 raffle tickets, a part of the Saturday, June 9, fundraiser, Annie's Star Spangled Gala, were sold since April. Winners did not need to be present to win. Shown left to right are: Merry Lee Cross, winner of $1000 cash; Wayne Deschambeau, standing in for his wife Sharon, winner of the Glenlaurel stay and Tom Graber for his wife, Julie, who won the $500 draw. There were two additional prizes if winners were present. Gail Benesh, won the $250. Deschambeaus additionally won the $100 Garst Museum Store gift certificate. Prizes were donated by friends of the Museum, Glenlaurel, a Scottish Country Inn in Hocking Hills, Ohio and the Garst Museum Store, with proceeds of $5050 benefiting the Garst Museum and The National Annie Oakley Center.

LEARN TO SHOOT LIKE ANNIE

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Annie Oakley taught more than 15,000 women to shoot. Will you be one of 25 to learn or refresh your skills? (Photo courtesy of Garst Museum and The National Annie Oakley Center)

Annie’s Memorial Shoot

Want to learn to shoot like Annie Oakley? On Saturday, August 11, the Annie Oakley Center Foundation in cooperation with the Darke Co. Fish and Game Club will host “Annie’s Memorial Shoot.” Coinciding with Annie’s birthday weekend, this class in shooting safety is taught by certified instructors. It is geared for the beginner who wants to learn or someone who want a refresher course focusing on safety and marksmanship, loading and unloading, and using gun sights.

The class, which does not qualify for the Concealed Carry License, will be held at the Darke Co. Fish and Game Club located just south of New Madison. A donation of $50 (with $40 for an additional family member) includes the instruction, required eye and ear protection (provided by Fastenal), rifle and handgun ammunition, lunch and a souvenir t-shirt. In case of rain, a covered firing range will be available. Instruction is from 9 – Noon and firing range time from 1 – 4 following lunch.

Advanced registration for all ages is required and the class is limited to just 25 participants. Participants must be at least 12 years old and those under age 18 must have a parent or legal guardian present during the entire class. The application and donation must be received by August 1. Applicants after the first 25 will be placed on a waiting list if an opening occurs. For an application, please request one at info@annieoakleycenterfoundation.com or by calling Brenda at the number below.

Lunch for a non-shooting parent/guardian or guest should be pre-ordered for a donation of $8. Extra t-shirts are available for a donation of $10.00 for anyone interested.

Special thanks to the Fish and Game Club, Fastenal and the Ohio Dept. of Natural resources for their help with this event. For additional information, contact Bruce Mikesell (937) 423-5717 or Brenda Ballengee (937) 467-1984.

Vacation Bible School at First Presbyterian Church

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First Presbyterian Church would like to announce VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL, The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything – A Veggie Tales Vacation Bible School will set sail at J & J Enterprise Party Facility (3875 OH-502) on July 11, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Kids from 1st – 8th grades are invited for a fun-filled day exploring what it means to be a true hero for God while they enjoy music, games, lunch and snacks, swimming and lessons that teach great Bible values. For more information, or to pre-register, visit First Presbyterian’s website at www.greenvillepres.org or call Marnelise at 937-548-3188.

Craft Beer Series: India Pale Ale at Library

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India Pale Ale (IPA) is the most popular style in the American craft beer scene. IPAs seem to be everywhere today, and their prevalence means there's a lot of information to unpack regarding these storied beers. Some newcomers think "IPA" and "craft beer" are synonyms, and some even think craft beer and IPA are two completely different things. What's what when it comes to this incredibly popular hoppy beer style, and what makes it unique? How do you tell all the sub-styles of IPA apart to know which ones you like and which you don't?

In this upcoming class in our Craft Beer Education Series, we'll unravel the confusion surrounding the past and present of IPA, craft beer's most successful style. The Craft Beer Education Series is lead by Certified Cicerone David Nilsen. He will guide attendees through a tasting of five IPA variants, explaining the history and unique ingredients and brewing processes of each.

Craft Beer Education Series classes are free, but seats are limited and registration is required. This class is offered Thursday June 28th and again July 5th at 6:30. Please call the Greenville Public Library at 548-3915 to reserve your seat. We hope to see you there!

Native Americans of the Miami Valley at Library

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Six tribes have lived in the Miami Valley area throughout history: the Archaic; the Adena; the Hopewell; the Fort Ancient; the Miami; and the Shawnee. Join us to discover who these people were, learn about their customs and cultures, and recognize what legacy they left behind for future generations.

Kathy Creighton, Executive Director of the Butler County Historical Society, will present on Tuesday June 26th at 5:00 p.m. at the Greenville Public Library. Please call 548-3915 to register! This will be a fascinating program.

The BCHS received an award last fall for their “Native American Cultures of the Miami Valley” exhibit and educational programs from the Ohio Local History Alliance, a partner of the Ohio History Connection and the only statewide organization for local history. See bchistoricalsociety.com for more info.

“BUTTERFLY GARDENING” PSA FREE PROGRAM AT SHAWNEE PRAIRIE

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Greenville – June 30, 2018: Darke County Parks naturalist will host a free program to the public on the basics of butterfly gardening. Join us on June 30th at 3pm as we explore which plants attract the most butterflies, as well as other tricks to keep these important pollinators thriving. Did you know some butterflies take in minerals through a behavior called “puddling”? Learn about this and other habits to provide a suitable space for your garden visitors. We will discover which flowers and structures will have butterflies and other native pollinators returning again and again to your garden.

Interested in learning more about the Darke County Parks and our special programs? Visit the parks website at darkecountyparks.org or sign up to receive your quarterly copy of the Nature Notes Newsletter. Included in each newsletter is a listing of the upcoming programs, informative articles from the naturalist educators and/or director and special programming information. You can also visit the parks headquarters at Shawnee Prairie Preserve located at 4267 State Rout 502 in Greenville, OH. The nature center and office hours are Monday through Saturday 9-5, closed on Sundays.

We strive to maintain and protect the unique natural and cultural areas of Darke County for future generations. We hope you will join us this summer and many seasons to come!

Try Hammocking with Darke County Parks

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Darke County Parks is offering a FREE program to “Try Hammocking” at the Shawnee Prairie Preserve Nature Center on July 2nd at 6pm. Participants will leave this program with a basic knowledge of hammocks. We will discuss what equipment is needed, how to pick the right trees, styles of hammocks and more. Hammocks will be available to try out and also experience setting up and tearing down. Park staff will be on hand to answer questions and offer assistance.

Although this is a free program, registration is required. Please call the Nature Center at 548-0165 to register.

New Community Garden At Full Capacity

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The rented beds in the new community garden have been planted with a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs.
On May 17, 2018 Darke County Parks held its first information session on the newly constructed community garden at Ohio Street’s Bish Discovery Center. The response was extremely positive. By June 1, a mere fifteen days after the initial session, all 21 raised beds had been rented. Looking out across the space there are now beds full of plants, a cozy gazebo to rest out of the sun, rain barrels to provide water and pavers to provide a sturdy surface for walking. It is the hope of the Park District that this garden becomes a place to meet, learn, and relax.

There are two programs scheduled this summer - Succession Planting on July 19 @6:30pm and Freezing and Drying Your Harvest on Aug. 14 @6:30pm. Pre-registration is required however these programs are free and open to the public. For more information or to sign up for these programs please call 937-548-0165. Darke County Parks is proud to be the recipient of a grant from RAB Lighting that was the catalyst for initiating this project.

YMCA WRAPS UP 2018 WATER SAFETY PROGRAM

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GREENVILLE, OH— Over 250 children in Darke County were involved in the YMCA’s Safety Around Water Program, which concluded on Thursday. The YMCA hosts the event annually at the beginning of summer, as families venture out to their favorite pools, beaches, lakes, and ponds. The class is presented free of charge and the event is open to the public.

The event was held at both branches on June 4, 5, and 6. It is sponsored by The Daily Advocate, Wayne Healthcare Foundation, Versailles Policy, Alvetro Orthodontics, and the Greenville Rotary Club. The event is also supported by Y members who agree the event teaches a vital life skill.

This year’s theme, Swim Safely with the Incredibles 2, was a big hit among the kids. Throughout the program, water safety skills were combined with activities that emphasized character development through the Y’s core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

“The goal of the program is to make children safer around water,” said Sam Casalano, YMCA CEO. “For some, this program will help them overcome their fear and boost their self-confidence around water.”

On day one, children were taught pool safety rules, such as no running, no swimming alone, and look before you leap. They learned how to identify the lifeguards and why it is important to listen to them. They practiced blowing bubbles in the water and kicking. They also learned a valuable lifesaving skill during an activity called Flip or Flop. They practiced flipping over onto their backs to float and rest while swimming, then flopping back over to swim when ready. The children were also introduced to the character values of respect and responsibility.

The second day, participants learned about the importance of sunscreen and drinking lots of water when out in the sun. They also learned about how swimming in cold water is more difficult than in warmer water, and learned some basic rescue skills. They were introduced to the character value of caring.

On the final day, kids learned boat safety. They learned about using the help position and the huddle position to protect themselves. They were fitted with life vests and got to take a ride in the Y’s canoe. They were also introduced to the character value of honesty.

After each class, every child took home slips of paper to return the next day with something written or drawn on them that demonstrates the character value of the day. Y staff then used these to make links to add to paper chains to form the stretchy arms and legs of Elastigirl from the Incredibles.

Casalano said, “If we can save one child from drowning, it’ll be worthwhile to have this event.”

He added, “Because of the passion and caring of our sponsors, in conjunction with volunteers and staff members, we were able to offer this program. The enthusiasm and dedication of all who were involved definitely made this year memorable, and it is gratifying to see such a strong community-wide commitment to safety and the welfare of children in our area.”

Edison State Darke County students continue service to the community

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The Edison State Darke County Fundamentals of Communications students made a drug abuse presentation at the Greenville Public Library. The students were (L to R) Kathryn Combs, Morgan Sparks, Autaum Moore, Josh Schrock and Jackson Plush.
Edison State Community College Darke County communications students accumulated over 2,000 hours of community service during their fall and spring 2017-18 semesters. They made nine anti-bullying presentations, seven drug abuse presentations, and helped provide over 3,000 contact hours to Greenville students in Empowering Darke County Youth’s After School Tutoring Program.

Fundamentals of Communications students used a variety of service options to incorporate the learning tools they received in the classroom. The tools included sending, receiving and feedback, as well as understanding and promoting ethics, human diversity, teamwork, critical thinking and respect for learning.

In the fall, they made anti-bullying presentations to students in Ansonia, Mississinawa Valley and Greenville City school districts. In the spring, they made drug abuse presentations to Ansonia and Greenville students.

Edison State students were rated by the district teachers, receiving almost exclusively 9 or 10 out of 10, for content, audience interaction and presentation skills. They reached nearly 500 elementary and middle school students with their messages this year.

The Greenville Public Library also provided a forum for the students, starting with a presentation on Literacy last summer, the bullying presentation last fall and the drug abuse presentation this spring. The drug abuse presentation was recorded and posted on the library’s Facebook page. It was watched live by 26 individuals and since then has been viewed 613 times.

In addition to the presentations, communications students worked with more than 115 Greenville Kindergarten through 8th grade students who needed extra help with their academic skills. They participated through the Empowering Darke County Youth After School Program. Some students, who couldn’t work in this program due to scheduling conflicts, provided the same service to students in their home school districts.

“As a college, we are committed to serving our community in many ways,” said Chad Beanblossom, Edison State Executive Dean, Darke County Campus. “We appreciate the partnerships with our local school districts, the Greenville Public Library, and Empowering Darke County Youth.”

“These are sharp kids,” communications instructor Bob Robinson said. “They put a lot of time and effort into learning the skills of research, public speaking and – especially – teamwork. They did great jobs!”

Robinson added he had 110 students in the fall and spring semesters… 95 of them participated in one or both community service options. The tutoring program has brought back former students since its inception in 2016. They simply want to help. One Edison State student, Jim Kildow, has accumulated over 400 hours working with the Empowering programs.

“I am extremely proud of the work our students are doing in the community,” added Beanblossom. “These are valuable experiences that not only benefit the youth of Darke County, but Edison State students as well.”

Monday, June 18, 2018

Community Grant Applications Due June 29

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Local non-profit organizations that serve Darke County residents are invited to apply for grants from the Darke County Foundation. Approximately 30 organizations will be selected to receive a total of $50,000 in grants. Organizations must be certified tax-exempt by the Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)3 or equivalent. Applications may be downloaded from www.darkecountyfoundation.org.

Deadline to apply is June 29, 2018.

Schools or groups that provide the following programs or services in Darke County are encouraged to apply:

  • Arts education and enrichment (music, visual arts, theater, etc.)
  • Agricultural-environmental awareness, or water and soil conservation
  • General education for youth or adults
  • Health and well-being
  • Community beautification
  • Recreation and sports
  • Religious
  • Social service and stability
  • Animal welfare

Grant payments will be made in August. The Darke County Foundation is a community foundation dedicated to improving the lives of Darke County residents by receiving, managing and distributing charitable gifts. For more information, call 548-4673 or visit www.darkecountyfoundation.org.

Little Miss and Mr returns to Annie Oakley Festival

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Western Ohio Precision Ag Field Day Planned

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Western Ohio Precision Ag Field Day is planned for July 16, 2018 beginning at 8 a.m. at 9060 Versailles, Southeastern Road, Versailles.

This event will feature field demonstrations on nutrient placement, management, and utilizing field data to make decisions. Credits will be available for fertilizer applicator re-certification, certified crop consultants, and certified livestock managers.

Several agribusinesses will be participating in the trade show. Those currently include Integrated Ag Services, Apple Farm Service, Green Field Ag, Precision Agri-Service, Fennig Equipment, Crop Production Services, Southwest Automation, Ohio Ag Equipment, Koenig Equipment, Bumper Crop Imagery, Otte Ag, Rogers Grain, Ohio Soybean Council, Graves-Fearon Agency, Ebberts Field Seed, and Heritage Cooperative.

This event is open to the public and was organized by OSU Extension Darke and Miami County. Thank you to Koverman Dickerson Insurance and Nationwide - Matthew Jordan Agency for sponsoring breakfast and snacks for the day. For full details and a flyer, please visit http://go.osu.edu/westohioagevents . While the event is free, RSVPs are required by July 2 for a lunch count. Register online at go.osu.edu/westernohiofieldday or call 937.548.5215.

Local Artists Wanted for First Friday Event

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Main Street Greenville’s First Friday event will once again feature the Artisan Stroll! The goal of this event is to create a temporary “gallery” throughout our historic downtown district as well as curate interactive experiences to foster community involvement and support of the arts. The event will take place on Friday, August 3rd from 6:00 - 9:00 pm in the downtown district.

The committee is looking for artisans and crafters to display, demonstrate, and sell their work at this interactive event designed to promote the local art community.

All local artists and talented creative individuals are invited to sell and/or demonstrate their craft. The artists will join many downtown businesses who will be staying open late and other activities that will be planned for the event.

Main Street Greenville is also pleased to announce the incorporation of a brand new art contest to the Artisan Stroll! This juried contest is open to all accepted participants of the Artisan Stroll, although participation in the contest is not a requirement to display your work at the Artisan Stroll.

The theme of the contest is “Shades of Summer.” Artists are encouraged to submit pieces which celebrate the variety of hues, intense saturations, and unique light quality that the summer season brings. Pieces of all mediums will be accepted for participation in the contest and artists will have a chance to win cash prizes of up to $200! The art contest has been generously sponsored by the Rotary Club of Greenville, Ohio.

The mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. The Greenville Ohio Rotary Club meets every Tuesday afternoon for lunch from 12:00- 1:00 PM in the Community Center at BRC's Chestnut Village.

Registration to showcase and sell your items is $20.00 per space, which is a donation to Main Street Greenville (a non-profit organization). The deadline to sign-up is July 20th, 2018. The vendor application can be found on Main Street Greenville’s website at www.mainstreetgreenville.org. For more information or to receive a vendor application, contact committee member Susan Fowble at 937-548-1414 or fowble51@gmail.com.

Main Street Greenville is a non-profit organization committed to stimulating and supporting revitalization efforts, historic preservation and economic growth in Historic Downtown Greenville. To learn more about the organization, visit www.mainstreetgreenville.org or call 937-548-4998. You can also like the organization on Facebook to receive updates on a regular basis (www.facebook.com/mainstreetgreenville).

ONE MILLIONTH CHICKEN DINNER SOLD IN VERSAILLES

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The One Millionth Chicken Dinner has been sold! With the first dinner sold in 1952, Versailles Poultry Days sold its One Millionth Dinner Saturday shortly after 5:00pm. Ryan Stoneberger of Columbus purchased this dinner and was presented with gifts including a trip for two to Las Vegas from Zechar Bailey Funeral Homes, a supply of Platinum Chicken dinner tickets from Nelsons, and a One Year supply of MikeSells snacks.

This Ohio State graduate, originally from Cincinnati, wasn’t held back by a rain shower and in his raincoat stood in line for that delicious chicken dinner. Along with his fiancé this is Ryan’s second year traveling to Versailles to complete in the Ultimate frisbee tournament.

Placed end to end One Million Dinners reaches ½ way around the earth. 2018 Festival Chairman, Jeff Lyme remarked with the continued support of festival goers and the Versailles community the festival will keep moving forward. Last year the festival sold record 27,620 dinners and in 2018 there are 28,500 dinners on the grounds.

For details and the full festival schedule go to www.versaillespoultrydays.com.

Greenville Girls Softball Association, Zechar Bailey Funeral Home and the Butterflies Junior Garden Club Beautify Stebbins Field

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Greg Zechar looks over the project of “Hero” marigolds
and “Red thread” alternanthera with junior members Kate Rehmert, Saige Fellers,
Brianna Fellers, Grace Spect, Kendall Cromwell
The Greenville Girls Softball Association, Zechar Bailey Funeral Home and the Butterflies Junior Garden Club teamed together to add a new landscaping flower bed to the Stebbins Field softball complex located just north of Greenville. Eric Fellers, President of the GGSA, was interested in creating some additional landscaping and called upon his daughters, Brianna and Saige, to present the idea to their junior Garden Club. It was decided to incorporate a 6ft. W x 2 ft. H. X 6 ft large galvanized round end stock tank to get a raised bed that would not be trampled. Eric enlisted members of GGSA to assist the Garden Club. Jason Hupman provided mulch, Daniel Myers helped with digging out the area, hauling in dirt and Sam Stebbins assisted with gravel and sand. Greg Zechar of Zechar Bailey Funeral became interested in the youth project by providing the flowers planted in the raised bed. The Garden club received a grant from the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs Foundation to cover the cost of the tank, fertilizer, compost, and other supplies.

Shown with the finished project is Jason and Brody Hupman, Kyle Cromwell GGSA trustee and flower bed caretaker, Daniel Myers and daughter Kenzie, Greg Zechar, GGSA President Eric Fellers, Jason Christian GGSA tournament director, Kim Cromwell leader of the Butterflies and Charlene Thornhill, leader of the club and trustee of OAGC Foundation, Inc. Seated in front are Butterflies members Brianna Fellers, Saige Fellers, Grace Specht, Kendall Cromwell and Kate Rehmert.

The junior club will maintain the flower bed throughout the summer as well as large containers planted near the concession stand.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Awards Scholarships

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Left to right Jennifer Bruns (BBBS Executive Director), Mikayla Bailey, Stevie Allen, Emme Farley, Linda Perkins, Paige Barker (BBBS After-School Program Coordinator), Chad Beanblossom (BBBS Board President)
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke recently awarded high school graduates with scholarships as part of their Big Buddies Scholarship program. To be eligible, students must have maintained at least a 2.5 GPA, be a high-school senior enrolled in a Shelby or Darke County school, be a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters for two full academic years, have at least 75% attendance participation with the Big Buddies program, and plan to pursue an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in any field of study at an accredited two- or four-year college or university or technical school.

Every year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County awards scholarships to both Shelby and Darke County graduates. This year’s $500 scholarships were awarded to Emme Farley, Linda Perkins, Stevie Allen, and Mikayla Bailey. Emme and Linda are the Shelby County recipients, and Stevie and Mikayla are the Darke County recipients. Emme is a Jackson Center High School graduate, and she plans to attend Wright State University majoring in biochemistry and minoring in Spanish. Upon completing college, Emme would like to be a pediatrician. Linda is an Anna High School graduate, and she plans to attend Wright State University – Lake Campus and major in Nursing. Stevie is a graduate of Versailles High School she will be attending college majoring in biomedical science. Mikayla is a graduate of Greenville High School, and she plans to attend Kent State University or Ball State majoring in Advertising.

Six scholarship applications were received from Shelby County students, and eight from Darke County students. All of the applicants had to complete an application, provide two personal references, and submit an essay on why volunteering is important in the community. The essay had to include factual information about the impact of volunteering and helping in the community, as well as personal reasons for volunteering. All of the applicants mentioned the Big Buddies program in their essays and the impact the program has on our community. Big Buddies is a nine-month commitment where high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors volunteer two times per month to mentor elementary students. During these meetings, high school students work with one or two children on different educational and recreational activities. Big Buddies helps promote social and emotional development through various staff-guided activities.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a non-profit United Way member agency. If you would like to become an event sponsor, donor, volunteer, or learn more about how you can make a difference in a child’s life, contact our local agency at 937-492-7611, 937-547-9622, or go to www.bigbrobigsis-shelbydarke.org for more information.

Friday, June 15, 2018

Soybean Tariff: How Much Could it Cost an Ohio Farmer?

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio farmer could lose more than half of his or her annual net income if the threatened 25 percent tariff is imposed on U.S. soybeans and corn in China, a study from The Ohio State University has found.

Researchers with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) have projected a 59 percent loss in annual net farm income based on historical trends in yields on corn and soybeans and projections for price drops in both commodities.

For the study, the researchers compiled data from six Ohio corn and soybean farms of similar size and created a representative Ohio farm comprised of 1,100 acres split evenly between corn and soybeans. They used the representative farm to determine the financial toll a tariff could take on an Ohio farm.

Net annual income on that representative Ohio farm was projected to drop from $63,577 to $26,107 under the proposed tariff, according to the study performed by Ben Brown, manager of CFAES’s farm management program and Ian Sheldon an agricultural economist, who serves as the Andersons Chair in Agricultural Marketing, Trade and Policy in CFAES.

Across Ohio, the loss of soybean exports to China would be an estimated $241 million annually.

The study is the first to show the financial impact a 25 percent tariff on China’s imports of U.S. soybeans and corn could have on an Ohio farmer and on the entire state.

“There are farmers who are struggling across the state,” Brown said. “If the proposed tariffs go into effect, we’re going to have farmers who will have to exit the industry.”

The financial losses stem from an expected drop in Chinese demand for U.S. soybeans and corn and in the world price for both crops.

“The biggest impact will be on profits from soybeans, however corn is affected too,” Brown said.

Soybeans are Ohio’s largest crop and the state’s top agricultural export. In April, China announced it would impose a 25 percent tariff on U.S. soybeans, corn and over 100 other American products. That was in response to the tariffs that the administration proposed on a range of Chinese imports valued at $50 billion. Other international trading partners, including Canada, the European Union, and Mexico have recently announced retaliatory tariffs in response to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports as well, that could also dip into the profits of Ohio farmers.

The losses from soybeans sales are projected to be far greater than for corn. Every year, 31 percent of the soybeans and 2 percent of the corn Ohio produces are exported to China.

China is the largest buyer of soybeans in the world, and Brazil is its top supplier with the United States being second. If China imposes the threatened 25 percent tariff on U.S. soybeans that will drive up the price that Chinese companies have to pay for U.S. soybeans and encourage them to buy even more soybeans from Brazil, Brown said.

“The U.S. remains the largest producers of soybeans, but it is safe to say that Brazil could become the number one producer of soybeans in the world with increased demand for their products,” said Brown, who along with Sheldon are in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics within CFAES.

The United States may not be able to regain its share in selling soybeans to China, Sheldon said.

He pointed to how the United States lost market share for its beef beginning in 2003 following Japan’s ban on imports of U.S. beef due to cases of mad cow disease in the United States. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Australia was able to increase its exports of beef to Japan, and the United States has not regained its share in that market, Sheldon said.

“Why lose market share when you’re competing as well as you can,” Sheldon said of U.S. exports of soybeans and the prospect of a trade war with China. “It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.”

For more information about OSU Extension, Darke County, visit the Darke County OSU Extension web site at www.darke.osu.edu, the OSU Extension Darke County Facebook page or contact Sam Custer, at 937.548.5215.

Wuebker Joins Marchal and Marchal as Associate

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Marchal and Marchal, Ltd. is pleased to announce the addition of attorney Matthew J. Wuebker as an associate to the firm. Wuebker is a native of the Maria Stein area. He is a graduate of Wright State University and University of Dayton School of Law where he interned with the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Wuebker comes to the Marchal law firm with five years of legal experience in the areas of real estate, estate planning, probate administration, Medicaid, small business planning, and landlord-tenant law. Wuebker is also a licensed real estate title insurance agent.

Marchal & Marchal, Ltd. was founded in 1947. The firm is engaged in general practice with concentrations in the areas of probate, estate planning, business law and real estate law.

Edison State Students Join National Society of Leadership and Success

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Back Row (From Left): William Loudermilk, Jeremy Schutte, Kyle Jackson, Megan Kinnison, Jailyn Thwaits, Boz Howard, Joshua Walker, Andrew Young, Justin Seger, Kayla Tullis, Dr. Paul Heintz. Front Row (From Left): Amber Schoen, Kayla Seman, Jodi Hughes, Erica Hicks, Kelsey Kirchner, Christy Hughes, Kenzie Maxton, Kiley Grilliot, Christ Ramos, Abigail Harvey, Shelby Rodgers, Olivia Newman.
The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) welcomed twenty-five inductees from Edison State Community College during the spring semester. Edison State Chapter Advisor and faculty member William Loudermilk led the induction ceremony and Dr. Paul Heintz, Dean of Arts and Sciences delivered a keynote address.

Those inducted into the Society included, Danielle Adams, of Covington, Ashley Cross, of West Milton, Kiley Grilliot, of Greenville, Abigail Harvey, of Urbana, Erica Hicks, of Piqua, Boz Howard, of Russia, Christy Hughes, of Sidney, Jodi Hughes, of Piqua, Kyle Jackson, of St. Paris, Carrie Kautz, of Greenville, Megan Kinnison, of Piqua, Kelsey Kirchner, of Conover, Kenzie Maxton, of Tipp City, Danielle Nelson, of Maplewood, Olivia Newman, of Troy, Christ Ramos, of Piqua, Shelby Rodgers, of Troy, Amber Schoen, of Greenville, Jeremy Schutte, of Minster, Justin Seger, of Russia, Kayla Seman, of Bradford, Jailyn Thwaits, of Ansonia, Kayla Tullis, of Urbana, Joshua Walker, of Sidney, and Andrew Young, of Piqua.

Students are initially invited to join the Society based on academic criteria. To achieve induction into the Society, members must attend Orientation, Leadership Training Day, 3 Speaker Broadcasts, and 3 Success Networking Team meetings. Members have until they graduate from Edison State to acquire the minimum of twelve hours of leadership training required for induction.

Advisor and Associate Professor William is confident that the newly inducted members will give participants a leading edge in the workforce.

“It was great to see these students learn about success and leadership throughout the past year,” said Loudermilk. “They all completed the rigorous five step program which included accepting nomination, attending orientation, attending leadership training, attending at least three lectures, and meeting with a smaller group of fellow students multiple times.”

“The NSLS program does an excellent job of teaching about setting and achieving goals and a great job building community and relationships among Edison State students.”

The Edison State Chapter honored Administrative Assistant Helen Willcox and Academic Project Specialist Karen Baker with NSLS service awards for their support throughout the year. Dean of Arts and Sciences Dr. Paul Heintz was made an honorary member of the NSLS. Associate Professor William Loudermilk was honored by NSLS for the Excellence in Teaching Award.

The mission of the National Society of Leadership and Success is to build leaders who make a better world. The Society is an organization that helps people discover and achieve their goals. The Society offers life-changing lectures from the nation's leading presenters and a community where like-minded, success-oriented individuals come together and help one another succeed. The Society also serves as a powerful force of good in the greater community by encouraging and organizing action to better the world.

For more information about the Edison State Chapter Society, contact William Loudermilk at wloudermilk@edisonohio.edu.

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