Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Miami County: MORE BUSINESS BREAK-INS ATTRIBUTED TO SUSPECTS

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Jordan R. Ferguson, age 23, LKA Troy and James L. Oburn, age 22, LKA Greenville
Miami County Sheriff’s detectives, working collaboratively with Troy Police Department detectives, have tied the below listed county business break-ins to Jordan R. Ferguson, age 23, LKA Troy and James L. Oburn, age 22, LKA Greenville. Ferguson and Oburn were arrested last week by the Troy Police Department for several business break-ins in the city of Troy. Both remain incarcerated in the Miami County Jail.

  • Bob’s Automotive – 505 N. County Road 25A
  • Joe Johnson Chevrolet – 1375 S. Market St.
  • Milcon Concrete – 13360 S. County Road 25A
  • Independent Auto Sales – 1280 S. Market St.
  • Used Car Factory – 1322 S. Market St.
  • Miami County Fairgrounds – 650 N. County Road 25A

Some of the business locations had forced entry with nothing missing. The break-ins occurred over a several week period. Ferguson and Oburn are also suspects in the El Sombrero restaurant break-in on N. County Road 25A. Detectives are awaiting results of evidence recovered.

Detectives will be meeting with the Miami County Prosecutor’s Office and more charges will be forthcoming.

Letter to the Editor from Marilyn Delk, Fish Volunteer

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Dear friends,

Thanks to the generous spirit of the people of our community, the Fish Mitten Tree has once again provided mittens and gloves to warm the hands and hearts of children enrolled in Darke County Head Start programs. This hearty demonstration of the true spirit of Christmas which lingers long beyond December 25th is very much appreciated.

Special gratitude is extended to Aaron and Michele Cox and their staff at Montage Cafe in Greenville and Dawn Arnett and crew at Arcanum's Fourman’s Variety Store who watched over the trees in their places of business, as well as to Holly Hill and others at the Brethren's Retirement Community who looked after the Mitten Tree at that facility, and kudos to the staff at Greenville Public Library, who joyously took it upon themselves this holiday season to participate in this project collecting mittens and gloves (as well as scarves and hats) that will help protect dozens of youngsters from winter’s chill throughout the season ahead. Also, thanks to the Darke County Commissioners who took time from their busy schedule to kick off the project, hanging the first mittens on the tree at Montage.

Many local churches, clubs, and organizations donated mittens, gloves, and more to the Mitten Tree; sincere thanks goes to these groups and the individuals who coordinated this generous involvement. A shout-out goes to those industrious knitters and crocheters whose efforts created truly special one-of-a-kind items to be treasured by the lucky recipients. Also, special recognition should be given to the employees of King’s Command Foods in Versailles and EG Industries in New Madison, whose commitment to the project was essential to its ultimate success. Additionally, due to a significant monetary contribution from a generous Darke County native who now resides out-of-state but remains involved with helping others in her home community, each Head Start student received a copy of a winter tale by Jan Brett or The Little Snowman board book to take home for Christmas.

This successful project could not have been possible without the publicity provided by our local news outlets The Daily Advocate, The Early Bird, DarkeJournal.com, and County News Online; their assistance is greatly appreciated.


Sincerely,


Marilyn Delk, Fish volunteer

Wreath Matching Campaign for 2020 - 2 for 1 Special

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Fort GreeneVille Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution would like to thank everyone for another successful Wreaths Across American event that was held on Dec. 14th at the Greenville Union Cemetery.

As our way of saying "Thank You", Wreaths Across America and Fort GreeneVille Chapter DAR want to help kick off a great start to 2020 for everyone with a matching wreath campaign.

Now until January 15, 2020, you can order WAA wreaths for the Greenville Union Cemetery WAA event scheduled for December 19, 2020 and WAA will match your wreath order. It is a great opportunity to help Fort GreeneVille Chapter DAR reach the goal of placing a wreath at every Veteran's grave at the cemetery.

Wreaths can be ordered by contacting any Fort GreeneVille DAR member or sending your order to Chris Nehring, 250 Winter Creek Ct., Englewood, OH 45322 by January 10th in order to be processed by January 15th. Wreaths are $15 a piece and make your check out to Wreaths Across America. If you would like to specify a wreath to a designated Veteran's grave, also include that information.

Orders can also be ordered on the WAA website https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/ and click on the link "Local Fundraising Group". Once you select the number of wreaths to purchase, be sure to click on "select a group to support" and type in Fort GreeneVille DAR 4-038OH in order to get the matching wreath offer. If you want to specify a wreath to a designated Veteran's grave, please contact Chris Nehring (info above) to ensure your request.

Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland a Great Success

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Darke County Parks’ annual Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland holiday event saw one of its largest crowds in its 12 years on Saturday, December 7th. Around 1,200 people made their way through the trails of Shawnee Prairie Preserve lit with over 600 luminaries. Attendees also enjoyed decorating gingerbread men, delighted in the decorated Christmas trees, and constructing Christmas ornaments in the Nature Center. Guests were able to enjoy a tractor wagon ride through the woods, some even witnessing distant fairy lights. Good Ol’ St. Nick even stopped in to see what was going on and visit with some good little girls and boys.

At the log house, “200 year old” staff and volunteers welcomed the chilly travelers in true historic style with spiced cider warmed at the hearth and cookies. A mountain dulcimer filled the air with the sound of Christmas past. Outside at the blacksmith shop, the anvil rang, and the forged glowed bright. Guests were able to warm up around the campfire and toast marshmallows under the light of the moon.

Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland has proven time and again to be one of the staff’s favorite events, and this year was no exception.

If you missed it this year, join us annually on the first Saturday of December. The Darke County Park District staff wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

Darke County Republican Women’s Club hears Rustic Hope’s Connie McEldowney

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Members provide Christmas donations to Rustic Hope’s “Shed”

Director of Rustic Hope Connie McEldowney and the donations from Darke County Republican Women’s Club members.
GREENVILLE, OHIO – The Darke County Republican Women’s Club (DCRWC) recently ended its year with a heart-warming speaker, the giving spirit and lots of Christmas joy. Connie McEldowney, founder and Director of Rustic Hope told her story of God’s guidance in establishing a haven for pregnant women. She stated that mostly, God gets her out of the way!

McEldowney became motivated to start helping pregnant women 18 years ago, while praying at an abortion clinic in Dayton. She came to the conclusion that a viable option needed to be made available because too often women were made to believe abortion was the cheap and easy solution to an unplanned pregnancy. Since then, she has established Rustic Hope, The Shed and St. Paul’s Place.

Rustic Hope is a 501C3 non-profit organization that offers physical, emotional and spiritual support to mothers in need. It has housing for up to four teen mothers to be. It is located at 3350 Simon Road, outside of Russia. There are six additional families that also provide housing as needed.

Advice is provided for those moms who are considering private adoptions. The McEldowney’s are parents to five biological children and five adopted children. The most recent is the child of an autistic couple and is an open adoption where the biological parents are also a part of the child’s life.

“Connie had such an inspiring and motivating message for all women. The club members were proud to have been able to donate items that will help her as she helps area moms in need.” said Betty Hill, DCRWC President.

Over the years, Rustic Hope has added “The Shed”. It is a location where mothers in need of assistance can obtain free diapers, children’s clothing, household items, furniture, toys, food, etc. It is located at 3336 Simon Road, outside of Yorkshire. Each month, over 600 moms from Greenville, Troy, Piqua and Sidney are helped with supplies from The Shed. McEldowney said there are plans to enlarge The Shed next spring.

The most recent addition to Rustic Hope’s offerings is St. Paul’s Place. The previous Willowdale Church facility was donated to Rustic Hope. The downstairs of the building has been made into an education center and the upstairs has become an indoor playground for children to use while their mothers are attending classes. McEldowney said the playground takes away mom’s excuses for not taking advantage of the classes.

Classes provided to mothers include financial management, auto maintenance, cooking, Bible study, First Aid, C.P.R, and other life skills.

“Success is when moms get out on their own, get their family lives settled and come back to help.” said McEldowney.

“Who the Hell I’m Not” is the title of McEldowney’s upcoming book, detailing her life’s journey.

McEldowney may be reached at Rustic Hope by calling (937) 526-4336. The website is: http://rustichope.org. Rustic Hope may also be found on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/RusticHope/

DCRWC is a political group founded to provide political education and legislative information; provide a wider knowledge of the principles of the Republican Party; increase the number of registered Republicans; recruit, promote, and support qualified Republican women for political office; give exposure to and work actively for all Republican candidates; and lend support to the activities of other Republican organizations. The DCRWC is a multi-generational, multi-cultural organization providing the structure and support for political activists to learn, engage, and flourish. The Club is chartered by the National Federation of Republican Women and is a member of the Ohio Federation of Republican Women. For more information, visit: http://www.darkegop.org/womens-club.html or email President Betty Hill at: DCRWPresident@darkegop.org.

Darke County Republican Women’s Club Donates to Brethren Retirement Community

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Darke County Republican Women’s Club Assistant Treasurer Carol Ginn (L) and President Betty Hill (R) present a donation to Brethren Retirement Community Chief Financial Officer Carl Eubanks (C). The donation is a small thank you for the Club’s use of the Chestnut Center during the 2019 year.
GREENVILLE, OHIO – The Darke County Republican Women’s Club (DCRWC) recently donated funds to the Brethren Retirement Community (BRC) as a thank you for the use of the Chestnut Center. DCRWC has held its 2019 monthly meetings and some special events using the Chestnut Center.

“The BRC is a valuable resource in our community. This is just a small token of our appreciation for it being such a great host to us during the 2019 year.” said Betty Hill, DCRWC President.

The donation was presented to BRC’s Chief Financial Officer Carl Eubanks at the DCRWC’s most recent meeting.

DCRWC is a political group founded to provide political education and legislative information; provide a wider knowledge of the principles of the Republican Party; increase the number of registered Republicans; recruit, promote, and support qualified Republican women for political office; give exposure to and work actively for all Republican candidates; and lend support to the activities of other Republican organizations. The DCRWC is a multi-generational, multi-cultural organization providing the structure and support for political activists to learn, engage, and flourish. The Club is chartered by the National Federation of Republican Women and is a member of the Ohio Federation of Republican Women. For more information, visit: http://www.darkegop.org/womens-club.html or email President Betty Hill at: DCRWPresident@darkegop.org.

The RTI (Response to Intervention) process and its benefits

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By Clayton Westerbeck, Greenville High School Assistant Principal

The RTI (Response to Intervention) program is a program designed to identify at risk students grades K-12 who are struggling in school academically or behaviorally. Progress of these students is monitored, research-based interventions are applied and the frequency/intensity of these interventions are adjusted, as needed. If data is collected and interventions are provided, students with learning disabilities or other impairments are identified and can be moved to other appropriate programs and plans to fit their needs. Students are placed into three tiers based on the severity of their needs. Tier I- This tier consists of universal strategies, high quality core curriculum, research-based strategies and school wide screening to identify students at risk and the design is within their regular education classes.

Tier II-The second tier consists of instructional modifications and assessments that are developed for students who do not respond to Tier I strategies. The educational environment is evaluated along with the students’ skills. Specific interventions are designed and delivered, often times in a small group setting. Progress is measured frequently. Tier III- This tier is designed for students who have not responded to the interventions already in place.

Interventions at this level are further specialized and individualized. Students at this level may be further evaluated for special education services. Part of the assessment for this is the RTI data collected during Tiers 1-3.

At all three tiers the school must take into account the interventions that have been implemented, as well as the cultural backgrounds for students. Cultural backgrounds, for example, can have an impact on implementation of support structures such as in the case of English language learners. These conversations would include school psychologists, special education specialists and curriculum specialists. When problems are identified early, implementations can support the student and allow the school to meet the individual student learning needs.

Some schools offer various programs such as tutoring programs, pull out programs that allow for small group instruction or even less effective options, such as grade retention. If a student has spent time cycling through each tier within the RTI program with little or no improvement, then they would be assessed by a team of educational professionals to see if the student qualifies for special education services. The RTI program is a research- based intervention system that thrives on communication and collaboration within the school. Data on each students’ successes and failures must be tracked with supports put in place, as needed, for the student to grow academically.

Parent involvement within the program is paramount in reinforcing academic and behavioral interventions. Keep in mind that different age groups of students will require a different approach as far as strategies and needs. Elementary RTI increases the accountability for outcomes of identifying and circumventing risk for academic failure. At the Middle and High School level, the focus is on monitoring response to intervention to determine when academic benchmarks are made so that the student can be transitioned down the RTI pyramid. RTI is another tool to identify, monitor and teach our students of all ages who have difficulty in school, how to be successful.

Eikenberry’s IGA supports Empowering youth programs

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Mark Davis, President and General Manager of Eikenberry’s IGA Foodliners (right) presents check to Bob Robinson, Executive Director of Empowering Darke County Youth, following a recent Kiwanis of Greenville meeting.
GREENVILLE – Mark Davis, President and General Manager of Eikenberry’s IGA Foodliners, Greenville, recently presented a check to Bob Robinson, Executive Director of Empowering Darke County Youth, in support of its programs to help county youth succeed in their educational goals.

“We started this program in 2016,” said Robinson, “and we’ve been asking individuals, businesses and other organizations for support ever since. I personally have no problem begging on behalf of our kids.

“Mark came up to me and said it was time for them to help out,” Robinson continued. “I didn’t have to ask. I can’t tell you how great that feeling is. On behalf of our Board, our staff, volunteers and especially our kids, we would like to thank Mark and Eikenberry’s IGA for its generosity.”

Empowering programs focus on helping students who are struggling with the basics: reading and comprehension, and math. In addition to its Greenville and Ansonia After School Programs, Empowering tutors and volunteers this year have helped students in three additional school districts in the county.

Empowering Darke County Youth is a 501c3 United Way Partner Agency providing After School and Summer Tutoring programs to assist students in the areas of language arts and math with the goal of Strong Students for a Strong Community.

GREENVILLE BPW PUTS ON ‘BREAKFAST WITH SANTA’

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Greenville, OH The Greenville Business & Professional Women’s Club (BPW) held their annual Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 7st at the Greenville VFW to raise money to grant college scholarships to the young women of Darke County. A breakfast of eggs, sausage, donut holes, orange juice and milk were served to all those attending. Each child received a gift from Santa as well as a bag full of candy and apples and also a coloring page. There was also an assortment of Christmas books available to read while they were waiting to see Santa. Thank you to all of those that attended.

The event was a success due to member support and donations made by businesses in the community. Businesses donating to the Breakfast with Santa were: Greenville VFW, Weaver Brothers, Eikenberry’s IGA, and Downing Fruit Farms.

Once again the BPW Club had additional help from the students of the Supply Chain Management Class from Greenville High School who set up, cooked and served the breakfast and cleaned up afterwards. The group’s instructor/advisor is Dara Buchy. The Club wishes to thank all of the students from Supply Chain Management for their great contribution in this event. Also thank you to Aaron Buchy who assisted with the sound and music for the event.

The Greenville BPW Club’s mission is to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education, and information. 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 937/423-3657 or sonyacrist@gmail.com.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Details Released in Fatal Snowmobile Accident

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On December 17, 2019 at 8:45 p.m. Darke County Sheriff Deputies along with Ansonia Police Department, Ansonia Rescue Squad, Ansonia Fire Department and Rossburg Fire Department were dispatched to a snowmobile accident in the 11,000 block of State Route 118. 
 
Preliminary information revealed that a 1997 Red Ski Doo snowmobile driven by Jonathan Gehret (18), of Versailles, Ohio, was traveling westbound through a field.  Mr. Gehret drove off the east side embankment of the North Fork Stillwater River and struck the west embankment.  Mr. Gehret was pronounced deceased at the scene.  Darke County Coroner’s Office was requested to the scene by first responders.
 
This case will remain under investigation.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Students Making a Difference

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By Chris Mortensen, Greenville Middle School Principal

As educators engaged in making the school the best that we hope it can be, we are continually looking for ways to improve what we do. We have spent time over the past few years meeting with parents through a Parent-Teacher Partnership initiative for the Middle School. Through these conversations, we have been able to identify areas where parents from all walks of life see needs for improvement in the way we do business as a building. We also identified methods for improving these areas during these discussions.

As we continued to move forward with these efforts in improvement, we determined that we needed to hear from our students about how we might improve the building and the work we do daily for them. We decided on a theme for the year of being “All In” and determined to engage our students in similar conversations as the parents for school improvement. We decided to meet with students from different groups from within the building. The staff provided names of students who might be willing to participate. From this group, selections of diverse students were chosen.

Students have been met with individually to inquire as to whether they had an interest in participating. Letters were sent home to parents requesting permission for the students to participate with us. All of the students returned the forms and we were ready to begin discussions.

In November, we had our first meeting with this group that we decided to call the Student-Principal Advisory Council (SPAC) group. These students now represent the student population in providing information on how we can make the climate of the school better. At our first meeting, the students were provided pizza and drinks and participated in some ice breakers for us to get to know the students and for the students to get to know us better. We played some small games where students shared about aspects of their own lives and discussed why they were interested in being a part of the group.

Before the end of our first meeting, we had learned a great deal about the students and identified that they all had an interest in making the school a better place. We finished our discussions with having the students share ideas that they had in mind to help improve the climate and mood within the building for all students. One aspect that they brought to the discussion was that they would like for the passing periods to be longer, so that students were able to reach their classes without feeling so rushed. They discussed specifically that students on the second floor had difficulty in making it to specials classes at the core of the building. It was shared that students felt stressed because of being late to classes.

Other ideas were presented and as we were running tight on time we tabled the ideas for our next meeting asking the students to check with their peers in order to bring more ideas for discussion. The group left with a plan and ideas on who they wanted to get information from.

The administration shared this information with the Building Leadership and Positive Behavior Teams. It was discussed as to how this would impact the building class schedule. At this time, the discussion is still occurring on whether this adjustment will be able to be implemented in the future, but it was so impressive seeing young students engaged in leadership roles to improve the building community. They are gaining skills to identify needs and methods for seeking change to provide improvement for all and not just for themselves. Our students are “All In” for making Greenville Middle School the best place for students to learn every day and we are proud of each of them.

Sincerely,

Chris Mortensen
Principal @ Greenville Middle School 7/8

Annual Deer-Gun Week Concludes for Ohio Hunters

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio’s white-tailed deer hunters finished the weeklong gun season with 63,493 deer taken, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. During the 2018 season, 60,752 deer were harvested during the same period.

“Ohio hunters took full advantage of a great week of deer hunting,” said Mike Tonkovich, Ohio Division of Wildlife deer program administrator. “The fall weather has been the most hunter-friendly we’ve seen in a long time, and this year’s harvest is certainly proof of that. The deer harvest is a direct result of our ongoing efforts to align Ohio’s wild deer herd with the interests of the majority of Ohio’s farmers and hunters. This has been and will continue to be the backbone of Ohio’s deer program.”

Top 10 counties for deer harvest during the weeklong deer-gun season include: Coshocton (2,322), Tuscarawas (2,127), Muskingum (1,972), Ashtabula (1,901), Knox (1,771), Guernsey (1,734), Licking (1,514), Carroll (1,473), Holmes (1,465), and Washington (1,464).

Through Dec. 1, 2019, 76,822 deer were taken by Ohio archery hunters. Plus, Ohio’s youth hunters checked 6,234 white-tailed deer during the 2019 two-day youth gun season, Nov. 23-24.

Ohio offers many more opportunities for hunters to pursue deer. Deer-gun season resumes for two days, Dec. 21-22. Deer-muzzleloader season is Saturday, Jan. 4, through Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. Deer-archery season is open now through Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. Find complete details in the 2019-2020 Hunting and Trapping Regulations or at wildohio.gov. For summaries of past deer seasons, visit wildohio.gov/deerharvest.

Ohio is a popular hunting destination for many out-of-state hunters. To date in 2019, more than 34,000 nonresident Ohio hunting licenses have been sold. The top five states for purchasing a nonresident hunting license in Ohio include: Pennsylvania (6,490), Michigan (4,294), West Virginia (3,717), North Carolina (2,816) and New York (2,365).

The Ohio Division of Wildlife wants to provide you the tools to get started on a new hunting adventure. Anyone interested in learning to hunt or becoming a mentor to a new hunter can visit the Wild Ohio Harvest Community Page for information on how to get started, hunting-related workshops as well as special hunting opportunities for mentors and new hunters.

Each year, Ohioans take an estimated 171 million outdoor recreation trips and contribute $5.9 billion to the Buckeye State’s economy, according to a report entitled Economic Valuation of Natural Areas in Ohio, recently released by The Ohio State University.

The Division of Wildlife can help you take advantage of all the hunting opportunities Ohio has to offer. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for instant news stories, outdoor recreation ideas, local wildlife information and so much more. The Your Wild Ohio Hunter Facebook page provides hunting tips and useful information as you get outside this season. Visit wildohio.gov to find locations to hunt, fish, trap and view wildlife. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram to view the best of Ohio’s wildlife photography.

Note: A list of all white-tailed deer checked by hunters during the 2019 weeklong deer-gun hunting season is shown below. The first number following the county’s name shows the harvest numbers for 2019, and the 2018 harvest numbers are in parentheses. Harvest numbers below are raw data and subject to change.

Adams: 935 (960); Allen: 361 (250); Ashland: 1,272 (1,124); Ashtabula: 1,901 (2,028); Athens: 1,265 (1,326); Auglaize: 341 (269); Belmont: 1,196 (1,085); Brown: 797 (739); Butler: 294 (250); Carroll: 1,473 (1,454); Champaign: 376 (337); Clark: 182 (177); Clermont: 558 (554); Clinton: 257 (185); Columbiana: 1,173 (1,133); Coshocton: 2,322 (2,180); Crawford: 562 (497); Cuyahoga: 49 (39); Darke: 248 (215); Defiance: 768 (583); Delaware: 388 (352); Erie: 208 (224); Fairfield: 599 (620); Fayette: 139 (91); Franklin: 115 (143); Fulton: 308 (292); Gallia: 980 (1,150); Geauga: 526 (585); Greene: 232 (196); Guernsey: 1,734 (1,732); Hamilton: 136 (147); Hancock: 487 (405); Hardin: 554 (382); Harrison: 1,408 (1,290); Henry: 380 (258); Highland: 843 (803); Hocking: 1,196 (1,117); Holmes: 1,465 (1,290); Huron: 980 (865); Jackson: 987 (1,087); Jefferson: 786 (700); Knox: 1,771 (1,513); Lake: 149 (181); Lawrence: 685 (817); Licking: 1,514 (1,423); Logan: 699 (614); Lorain: 566 (628); Lucas: 115 (117); Madison: 165 (146); Mahoning: 493 (616); Marion: 384 (336); Medina: 568 (606); Meigs: 1,076 (1,238); Mercer: 302 (228); Miami: 217 (172); Monroe: 1,059 (1,103); Montgomery: 137 (122); Morgan: 1,244 (1,205); Morrow: 558 (551); Muskingum: 1,972 (1,924); Noble: 1,167 (1,264); Ottawa: 122 (113); Paulding: 480 (333); Perry: 1,016 (1,044); Pickaway: 306 (244); Pike: 631 (691); Portage: 584 (559); Preble: 284 (253); Putnam: 306 (232); Richland: 1,179 (1,142); Ross: 994 (940); Sandusky: 246 (216); Scioto: 667 (781); Seneca: 814 (736); Shelby: 388 (283); Stark: 813 (810); Summit: 146 (153); Trumbull: 1,116 (1,123); Tuscarawas: 2,127 (1,996); Union: 298 (281); Van Wert: 230 (175); Vinton: 900 (943); Warren: 286 (264); Washington: 1,464 (1,411); Wayne: 801 (696); Williams: 624 (546); Wood: 333 (273); Wyandot: 716 (596).

2019 total: 63,493
2018 total: (60,752)

December events at Bradford Public Library

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The Holidays are just around the corner, full of time to make memories with family and friends. We hope that a visit to Bradford Public Library will be a part of your families activities! Here is what we have planned for December!

Our Lego Village is complete and set up in our display case! Come in to admire the children’s hard work! Be sure to look for the “Imposter in the Village” while you are in. Find the Lego character that does not belong in the wintery scene and enter for a chance to win a Lego set the first of the New Year. A new “imposter” will be hidden each Monday in December. Contest is for children 12 and under, one entry per child each week please.

We have crafts set up for children too. Come in to make an ornament or help add to the paper chain that is growing around the tree in our Children’s area. Various crafts will be added thru the month.

Thursday, December 12 we will have our STEAM workshop for homeschoolers from 10:15-11:30. We will starting a new Dale Chihuly inspired light fixture for the Library….you won’t want to miss it!

Thursday, December 12 the US census Bureau will be at the library to answer questions about part time employment during the upcoming Census. Staff will be on hand to help you apply online that day.

Hannah Pennington will be offering a Holi-DIY workshop December 12 at 6:30. Participants will make oil infused scrubs, soaks and sprays, four items for $15 per person. Items will be gift ready!

Friday, December 13 Rush’s Rowdy Readers Bookclub will be watching a movie from 4-6:30. All are invited to watch along with them. Movie is rated PG. Snacks will be provided.

Monday, December 16 Girl scouts will have a recruiting event in the Community room from 6-7:00pm. For young ladies Kindergarten and up. Come see what scouting is all about!

Local author Larry Hamilton will be making stops at all Miami County Libraries to speak on the Randolph narrative. Mr. Hamilton will be at Bradford Public Library on Tuesday, December 17 from 6:30-8:00 to address specifically “Family History and the Randolph Narrative in Doing the RIGHT Thing.” He will be making presentations relating to the Randolph narrative and/or clarifying my proposal on The Community Benefit during the Q & A period following the program presentations. Please see our webpage for more information about his other library presentations.

Preschool Story Hour will be on a Christmas Break until January 7th.

Fit and Fab will continue to meet Mondays I December at 7:00, (no class December 30) and Wednesday mornings at 9:00. (no class Christmas and New Year’s Day)

The Library will be closed on Tuesday December 24-Thursday the 26 and Tuesday December 31 so staff can celebrate with family and friends. The staff at Bradford Public Library wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year…we hope to see you soon!

MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA DONATED TO THE DARKE COUNTY FRIENDS OF THE SHELTER

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GREENVILLE – Modern Woodmen of America made a generous donation to the Darke County Friends of the Shelter. The organization pledged to match the revenues of the 6th annual Scentral Park 5K that was held April 20 at the Darke County Fairgrounds up to a certain amount.

The Darke County Friends of the Shelter, a 501c3 organization, would like to thank the Modern Woodmen of America for their generous donation.

Modern Woodmen of America is a member-owned fraternal financial services organization.

We secure futures with financial guidance and products. We touch lives with fraternalism.

Since 1883, Modern Woodmen of America has brought people together, supporting families and strengthening communities nationwide. Modern Woodmen of America – touching lives, securing futures.

YMCA's Breakfast with Santa is this Saturday!

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Santa himself will be at the YMCA of Darke County’s Breakfast
with Santa! Don’t miss a chance to visit him!
DARKE COUNTY, OH - The Y’s Fifth Annual Breakfast With Santa is coming up on Saturday, December 14.

This year’s event will take place in Greenville, beginning at 8:00am and serving until 11:00am.

In past years, upwards of 150 people have attended the event, which features a pancake and sausage breakfast, holiday-themed crafts and games, story time with Mrs. Claus, and a visit with Santa. Remember to bring your camera for photos with Santa!

Tickets for this event are $5 for children and $7 for adults. Ticket includes breakfast and children’s activities. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the YMCA Welcome Center or at the YMCA Child Development Center, or at the door, space permitting.

New this year, the Y’s Child Development Center is hosting it’s first vendor/craft show in conjunction with Breakfast with Santa to make a Christmas Extravaganza! The Y hopes to provide an opportunity for local artists to showcase their arts, crafts and products. The vendor/craft show is open to the public and admittance is free and separate from Breakfast with Santa. Crafts include handmade home décor, jewelry, gifts, candy, sweets and snacks, stocking stuffers and baby items, and vendors include Thirty One, Pink Zebra, Crossroads Couture, Usborne books, Norwex, Young Living Essential Oils, and more. The vendor/craft show will run from 8:00am-1:00pm.

For more information about this event, contact the YMCA at 548-3777.

DCCA Selected to Receive Funding from Arts Midwest Touring Fund

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Darke County Center for the Arts (DCCA) has been selected to receive funding from Arts Midwest Touring Fund, to present award-winning a cappella quintet VoicePlay as a Special Holiday Event and as part of DCCA's Arts In Education programming and for the 2019-2020 Season.
Darke County Center for the Arts (DCCA) has been selected to receive funding from Arts Midwest Touring Fund, a program of Arts Midwest, generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional contributions from the Ohio Arts Council and the Crane Group.

Arts Midwest Touring Fund engages people in meaningful experiences with the fine arts of dance, music, theater, and other performing arts forms. Inter-state touring and the engagement of professional artists is central to the work of Arts Midwest.

Arts Midwest Executive Director David J. Fraher says, “Arts Midwest is proud to support Darke County Center for the Arts in their upcoming engagement of VoicePlay. Arts events like this not only provide uplifting experiences for audiences, they also create meaningful jobs for those employed in the arts industry – thus amplifying the effectiveness of our funding.”

Darke County Center for the Arts will present award-winning a cappella quintet VoicePlay in concert at Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall on Saturday, December 14; this special holiday event begins at 8 p.m. “Their hilarious on-stage theatrics and amazing musical skills combine to create inventive, unique, and memorable performances; that probably explains why our audience demanded that we bring VoicePlay back to our community,” said DCCA Artistic Director David Warner. “This holiday concert is like no other, but without doubt will inspire the joy of the season and spread holiday cheer,” he stated.

VoicePlay originally gained fame as a finalist on season four of NBC’s The Sing-Off, and has continued to win acclaim touring across the U.S. and around the world. According to Mr. Warner, the group’s members, Earl Elkins, Jr., Eli Jacobson, J. None, Geoff Castellucci, and Layne Stein, use only their own voices to create a fully orchestrated sound while performing songs from many eras in a broad variety of styles. “They have a lot of fun emoting and vocalizing and creating their own musical accompaniment, and that sense of fun is transmitted to the audience which can’t help but get caught up in the magic,” Mr. Warner commented.

Tickets for the VoicePlay Holiday Concert are $30, and can be obtained by contacting DCCA at 937-547-0908 or online at www.darkecountyarts.org. If any remain by show time, tickets can also be purchased at the door prior to the performance. Patrons are reminded that parking is now available at the new St. Clair Memorial Hall parking lot, which can be entered from Armstrong Street and Central Avenue.

Based in Minneapolis, Arts Midwest is one of six nonprofit regional arts organizations in the United States. Its mission is to promote creativity, nurture cultural leadership, and engage people in meaningful arts experiences, bringing vitality to Midwest communities and enriching people’s lives. Since its establishment more than 30 years ago, Arts Midwest has been serving audiences, arts organizations, and artists throughout the nine states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and beyond. For more information on ArtsMidwest please visit www.artsmidwest.org.

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.

Darke County Center for the Arts presents and promotes performing and fine arts encouraging cultural enrichment. For more information on their 2019-2020 Kaleidoscope season and to purchase tickets, contact the DCCA Office at (937) 547-0908 or visit their website at DarkeCountyArts.org.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

GREENVILLE AREA DOG CLUB OFFERS DOG TRAINING CLASSES STARTING JANUARY 7TH 2020

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GREENVILLE – The Greenville Area Dog Club will offer their obedience classes starting January 7th. 2020. Through the years more classes have been added to meet the growing interest in dog training and many people like the variety of classes available.

The Dog Club will be offering classes at their new training facility located at 940 Front Street. They are looking forward to serving the public with classes in the newly obtained buildings on the former site of McClain’s Inc.

Obedience classes begin Tuesday January 7th. They will include, Puppy (12 weeks to 6 months), and Beginner Obedience. For those who have completed the beginner class and wish to continue on with their training, Obedience 2 will be offered. World Cynopsport Rally obedience classes will also be offered this 9 weeks. There are two levels of this Rally class. Level 1 will be for the beginner and novice student and dog. Level 2 is for more advanced students and dogs that have competed in trials or want to compete and have taken past classes.

She also added that the rally classes will be offered to those who have completed beginner or have some past training in classes and want to continue with training. The requirement for Rally Level 1 class is that the dog and handler be able to execute all the basic obedience commands without much difficulty. Off lead work will be attempted in Rally Level 2.

The goal of the Rally class is to introduce students to a new form of Obedience which involves walking a course with your dog and performing the exercises as illustrated on numbered signs along the path of the course. This class also preps the team of dog and handler to work towards a Level 1 Title in World Cynopsport Rally.

GADC had their first sanctioned trial Sept. 29th. at their buildings for World Cynopsport Rally. The members were excited to be hosting this trial at our new buildings and drew many competitors from far and wide. Club members also competed with their dogs to earn titles with WCRL.

GREENVILLE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

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The Greenville Church of the Brethren, 421 Central Ave., invites everyone to a Christmas Eve service on December 24 at 8:00 PM.

This special service includes “Christmas Through Children’s Eyes” - a multi-media presentation of the Christmas story featuring artwork created by children who have been a part of our children’s ministry. The service will also include some special music, a meditation and candle lighting. A nursery is available.

Contact 548-3583 for more information.

COMMISSIONER’S CORNER - November 2019

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The Commissioners hope you all had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends. Except for some wind and a little rain (that we needed in July and August!) Thanksgiving and the weekend turned out fairly well. Now, we can all get ready for St. Nick to visit later this month.

This has been a busy month in our office and in the Courthouse. This time of year always means budget time, and we have been meeting with all departments this month. So far, the budgets look decent, and we are cautiously optimistic. We want to congratulate all of our departments for doing a great job in getting the most out of what they have. We have said for a long time that the people working for Darke County are the best around, and their hard work and dedication make things possible. We have just a few more meetings this month and our budget will be set.

One of the outside departments, Developmental Disabilities, has their remodeling project moving forward, and they seem to be on schedule for a grand opening in a couple of months. Congratulations to their board for having a place that will also be a haven for our senior citizens. This has been a long time coming, and will be well worth the wait.

The Courthouse Security Entrance project is moving along. So far, the weather has not been a concern, but we are hoping that the outside work will be done before really bad weather sets in. We have been lucky so far, and we hope this luck will continue. We are still hopeful to be open by the first of the year.

In other county news, Osgood has their 5 projects moving along, and one of them just recently opened, The Do Good restaurant and Ministry. This new establishment is on the location of the old Silver Spur Restaurant. This is the work of Karen Homan, who said her inspiration came from the Holy Spirit. Congratulations to Karen and the entire Osgood community for their continued progress.

Along with Osgood, some of our other communities have plans Arcanum, Ansonia, New Madison, and Greenville all have plans for improvements. It is nice to see slow, steady growth throughout the County!

December and Christmas are upon us, and soon the new year will be here filled with new hope and promise. Stop in sometime to one of our public sessions and see what is going on and where your money goes. We meet every Monday and Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. in the Commissioner’s office, just south of the Courthouse. Hope to see you there!

The Darke County Commissioners

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE SCHEDULE

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Inspirational Warm Uplifting Personal

All Welcome!

Piano Recital 6:30 p.m.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 7:00 pm.

An Evening of Lessons, Carols and Special Music

Nursery Provided

Pastor Andrew Gilman


Cable Channel 5 @ 10:00 p.m. & Midnight

114 East Fourth Street, Greenville, Ohio

www.facebook.com/greenvillepres

info@greenvillepres.org

937-548-3188

FRAM DONATES TO DARKE COUNTY’S WARM WINTER WEAR

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On November 12, 2019, Fram donated $1,000.00 to the Darke County Sheriff’s Office Warm Winter Wear Program. Thanks to Fram and other donors, the Warm Winter Wear project has given over 300 children warm winter coats.

The donation will be used to purchase coats for children in need in Darke County. The Warm Winter Wear program appreciates all of the donations and contributions throughout the year.

The Darke County Sheriff’s Office is excited about this new partnership with Fram and believes giving coats to children in need, in the latest styles and colors, boosts self-esteem, and keeps them warm and protected from the cold winter weather.

Friends of the Library Holiday Open House

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Mark your calendars for Saturday December 14th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for the Greenville Public Library annual Friends of the Library cookie extravaganza and Holiday Open House! As always there will be tables-long offerings of every kind of Christmas cookie imaginable, live holiday music, special books for sale, and two new treats for the kids!

The schedule: from 10:00 to 10:30 and again from 12:00 to 12:30 kids can “Meet the Grinch” up close and personal. Also from 11:00 to 11:30 and again from 1:00 to 1:30 a hilarious “Holiday Puppet Show” will be presented by the GPL Puppeteers. Don’t miss these fun events!

The Friends are a volunteer group of staunch supporters of the Library whose generosity allows us to go above and beyond what the budget can cover: extra items, the summer reading entertainment, authors nights, and much more. Please shop their continuous book sale on the second floor for like-new volumes. They make great gifts! Officers Brenda Ballengee, and Craig and Vicky Stickle (pictured) wish you a Merry Holidays!

Farmland Preservation Applications Available for Darke County Landowners

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GREENVILLE – Darke Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is pleased to announce that applications for the Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP) are now available.

The LAEPP provides funding to farmland owners for placing a perpetual agricultural easement on their property. This permanent, voluntary easement is a legally binding restriction placed on a farm that will forever protect your farmland from development. LAEPP is a very competitive program that allows the current owners to continue to own the land as well as preserve the productivity of their farm for future generations.

The LAEPP easement requires the farm remain permanently in agriculture production. Selected farms must be 40 acres or more, actively engaged in farming, participate in the Current Agricultural Use Valuation program, demonstrate good stewardship of the land, have the support of their local government and not lay directly in the path of development. Landowners may use the proceeds of the easement in any way they wish, but most reinvest it in their farm operations.

If you own a farm in Darke County and are interested in preserving the farmland, you can visit www.darkeswcd.com to learn more about the program and request an application. For additional information and questions call the Darke SWCD office at 937-548-1715, extension 3. The local deadline to apply is January 31, 2020.

Pre-Apprenticeships as a Pathway to Graduation and a Career

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by Andrea D. Townsend, Director of Career Technical and Special Education - Greenville City Schools

I have said many times that Greenville is so lucky to have a Career Technical Education Center as a part of Greenville High School. It is true! Career Technical Education has many positive effects on students and the community. The recently released Career Tech report card for Greenville shows that students at Greenville CTEC graduated at higher rates (98.4%) and were engaged in college, career or the military within 6 months of graduating at high rates as well (94.4%)! These benefits are realized by students and their families, but also by our community and economy. It is such an honor to be a part of Greenville Career Technical Education.

Recently Career Technical Education has moved into the spotlight of the graduation debate in Ohio. Ohio’s graduation requirements have become something of a challenge to law-makers, educational leaders, schools, students and families. Graduation is so important to the future of high school students. The economical impact and opportunities that come with a high school diploma can make life changing impacts on students. Yet, it is important that a high school diploma is the result of rigorous learning that ensures that graduates are prepared for the challenges of college and career. Over the last 4 years law-makers in Ohio have struggled to find the correct balance of rigor and impact.

One option for graduation that seems to answer this argument is the Pre-Apprenticeship option. For many years, the apprenticeship model has been successful in preparing individuals in the skilled trades for highly successful careers in high demand fields. Pre-Apprenticeship is an opportunity to provide a similar learning structure to high school students so that they can combine traditional classroom learning with invaluable onthe-job training resulting in a student who has academic skills and work experience. Now Pre-Apprenticeships are also a part of Ohio’s New Graduation Requirements.

A Pre-Apprenticeship Program is a formalized training program that combines on-the-job training and related classroom instruction under the supervision of Career and Technical Educators and skilled professionals that result in the acquisition of skills and experience preparing students for an occupation and further training.

According to the US Department of Labor, “Pre-apprenticeships are valuable work-based learning opportunities that can provide high school students with academic and workplace skills that lead to postsecondary education opportunities and careers.” Approved Pre-apprenticeship programs have been registered and recognized by the Ohio State Apprenticeship Council for well over a decade. The PreApprenticeship program teaches basic technical and job-readiness skills for a designated apprentice occupation or sector to prepare students for a formal Registered Apprenticeship training program.

Historically, Apprenticeship has been a highly desirable form of training for workers because it is learning job skills while earning an income often with wage progression. Most of the time, apprentices earn a widely recognized and portable certificate of completion and proficiency. Currently, both the public and private sectors operate apprenticeship programs. Recent changes to the policies for Pre-Apprenticeships have allowed community colleges to take on the leadership role for Pre-Apprenticeships and Apprenticeships but employers, employer associations and labor-management committees can also sponsor and operate apprenticeship programs.

Apprenticeship sponsors typically pay the training costs, but recently funding and tax credits have been offered for employers as financial incentives.

There are two major components of a pre-apprenticeship. First is related instruction. Related instruction is commonly provided in the classroom, but other types of instruction, such as on-line learning and individualized instruction are also permitted. Federal rules recommend that apprentices complete at least 144 hours of related instruction per year, which many apprenticeship programs choose to require. In many apprenticeship programs, the related instruction can also lead to a college degree, thereby providing the individual with an opportunity to earn both academic and occupational credentials simultaneously, including college credit. Greenville is so lucky, because we have related instruction happening in our Career Technical Education Center each day.

The second component of a pre-apprenticeship is on-the-job training. Businesses can benefit from the work of the student while they offer them learning experiences that build skills outlined in the training plan. This is commonly achieved by offering a mentor to the student worker. The US Department of Labor lists the benefits of the Pre-Apprenticeship to businesses by helping to recruit and develop a highly skilled workforce, improve productivity and the bottom line, provides opportunities for tax credits and employee tuition benefits in some states, reduces turnover costs and increases employee retention, and creates industry-driven and flexible training solution to meet national and local needs.

Both of these components of a pre-apprenticeship are outlined in a plan that both the employer and the educational entity agree upon. The plan is important to ensure that the instructional design is aligned with prevailing industry standards for the targeted occupation and presents an evaluation methodology detailing the selection and use of skill assessment tools to be used before, during, and at the end of training. This plan is then approved by Ohio Apprenticeship Council.

Pre-apprenticeship experiences empower young people to start on their career while finishing up high school. They reap the benefits of increased graduation rates, increased post program placement and higher earning potential over their career. “Individuals enjoy an 8% to 22% ROI (Return on Investment) in their apprenticeship programs based on the time and the occupational path,” according to the Ohio Apprenticeship Council. Employers get to recruit and retain employees with technical skills and interest in the career field. The model is time tested and can be replicated. Research indicates that businesses enjoy profitable outcomes as well. According to The Ohio Apprenticeship Council, “For every $1 an industry invests in an apprentice, the company receives over $4 back in production after the first year.”

Pre-apprenticeship as a pathway to graduation is a win-win for our students, local businesses and our community. If you would like to learn more about pre-apprenticeship experiences to build your business or support student success or both, please reach out to Andrea Townsend at Greenville City Schools at atownsend@gcswave.com or research more at apprentice.ohio.gov.

Jean Louise Thieme Fund supports DCCA Family Theatre Series

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Darke County Center for the Arts recognizes The Jean Louise Thieme Children’s Theatre Fund of the Darke County Foundation and for their support of DCCA’s Family Theatre Series. “DCCA is pleased to receive continual generous support from community organizations such as The Jean Louise Thieme Children’s Theatre Fund of the Darke County Foundation. With their assistance we are able to fulfill our mission of cultural enrichment for the community,” stated Andrea Jordan, DCCA Executive Director. Jean Louise Thieme started DCCA’s Family Theatre Series, in 1997; this series provides young children, their parents, grandparents & great grandparents the opportunity to enjoy professional live theater in Memorial Hall.

Thanks to strong community support, DCCA has been able to keep a $5 ticket price for professional, high quality, artistic, Family Theatre Series performances, for two decades. According to Jordan, “the goal of DCCA’s Family Theatre Series is to inspire the imaginations of the young and young at heart, encouraging the expression of creativity. The series attracts a wide-ranging audience that includes many preschool children enjoying their first theater experience, as well as senior citizens who enjoy the shows’ strong depiction of traditional values.”

Productions in the 2019-2020 season include the recent presentation of the beloved classic The Velveteen Rabbit on November 17. Lightwire Theatre’s glowing production of Dino-Light, praised for its cutting edge blend of puppetry, technology and dance, on Sunday, January 19, and on Sunday, March 22 Llama Llama Live! from Bay Area Children's Theatre, a hilarious new musical based on the bestselling books by Anna Dewdney.

Additional sponsors for DCCA’s Family Theatre Series include Second National Bank, Greenville Federal, Greyson James Steyer Fund of the Darke County Foundation, Edison State Community College, Gordon Orthodontics, Jordan Insurance Agency, Wayne HealthCare, Greenville Rotary Club, and Family Health. The series also receives support from DCCA memberships. The Ohio Arts Council, John R. and Miriam H. Knick Fund, Harry D. and Esther Stephens Memorial, Ketrow Foundation, and Lydia Schaurer Memorial also provide operating support for DCCA.

Darke County Center for the Arts presents and promotes performing and fine art encouraging cultural enrichment. DCCA is also committed to the preservation of Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall as an important cultural center in the community.

For more information on DCCA, the and the 2019-2020 KALEIDOSCOPE season or to purchase tickets for an upcoming event, contact the DCCA office at (937) 547-0908 or visit us online at www.DarkeCountyArts.org.

Wreaths Across America Announces 2019 Theme: “Everyone Plays a Part”

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MAINE and Greenville, Ohio — Nov. 18, 2019 — Each year, millions of Americans - a third of whom are children - come together to REMEMBER the fallen, HONOR those that serve and their families, and TEACH the next generation about the value of freedom. This gathering of individuals and communities takes place in local and national cemeteries in all 50 states as part of National Wreaths Across America Day. Locally, Fort GreeneVille Chapter DAR will be coordinating Wreaths Across America at the Greenville Union Cemetery on December 14th at noon. Each year, a new theme is chosen to help volunteers and supporters focus their messaging and outreach in their own communities. Today, the national nonprofit announces the theme for 2019 is “Everyone Plays a Part.”

The inspiration for this year’s theme was a recommendation made by ten-year-old “Mighty” Miles Worcester, the grandson of the founders of Wreaths Across America. Last May, while in Washington D.C. for an event, Miles saw a U.S. Service member in uniform at the hotel where he was staying. As he always does, Miles walked up to the gentleman, reached out to shake his hand and thanked him for his service. And his response was simple and impactful: “Thank you…everyone plays a part.” Miles went directly to his grandmother, WAA Executive Director Karen Worcester, to tell her that he believed this statement would be the perfect theme because, as he said, “those serving in the military are doing their part, but it is our part as Americans to remember and honor them, and that’s what Wreaths Across America does.”

The millions of volunteers and supporters – from schoolchildren and educators, professional truck drivers, first responders, veterans, Gold Star and Blue Star families, to corporations and other nonprofits – devote so much of themselves to the mission to Remember, Honor, Teach, in their own communities. Each of them, playing a part in helping to plan and participate in local events and fundraising activities, sponsor and transport wreaths, and raise awareness.

When asked how he feels to know so many people across the country come together each December to Remember, Honor and Teach, Miles said without hesitation, “It makes me feel proud to be an American.”

In 2018, nearly 1.8 million veteran wreaths were placed on headstones at 1,640 participating cemeteries around the country in honor of the service and sacrifices made for our freedoms, with each name said out loud.

This year, National Wreaths Across America Day is Saturday, December 14, 2019. It is always a free event and open to all people. For more information on Wreaths Across America, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

DARKE COUNTY DEPUTIES INVESTIGATE INJURY ACCIDENT

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On December 2, 2019 at 4:03 p.m. Darke County Sheriff’s Deputies along with Versailles Rescue and Versailles Fire Department responded to the intersection of State Route 121 & Beamsville-Webster road in reference to a two vehicle accident with injury.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2005 Chevrolet 3500, driven by Patrick Schmitmeyer (22), of Greenville, was traveling westbound on Beamsville-Webster road. Mr. Schmitmeyer stopped at the intersection of State Route 121 & Beamsville-Webster, before continuing into the intersection. A 1997 Honda CR-V, driven by David Bell (30), of Versailles was traveling northbound on State Route 121 at Beamsville-Webster road. Mr. Schmitmeyer's vehicle was struck by Mr. Bell's vehicle when it entered into the intersection.

Mr. Bell and the occupants of his vehicle were treated on scene, then later transported to Wayne Hospital to be further evaluated. Mr. Schmitmeyer was not injured as a result of the accident.

This accident remains under investigation.

Single Car Accident Knocks Down Power Lines on 121

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On December 3, 2019 at approximately 7:46 PM Darke County Deputies along with New Madison Fire and Tri-Village Rescue were dispatched to the intersection of State Route 121 and Preble County Butler Township Road in reference to a vehicle into a utility pole with power lines down.

Preliminary investigation revealed a black 2001 GMC truck driven by Brickton Ginger, 44 of Greenville was traveling northbound on Preble County Butler Township Road approaching the intersection of State Route 121. Mr. Ginger advised he was reaching for an item inside the cab of the truck when he realized the stop sign was there. Mr. Ginger locked up the brakes causing him to traveling off the right side of the roadway striking a utility pole. Mr. Ginger remained inside the vehicle until DP&L and New Madison Fire removed the downed power lines from the vehicle.

Mr. Ginger was transported to Wayne Healthcare by Tri-Village rescue where he was treated and released. Mr. Ginger was cited for failure to maintain reasonable control of his motor vehicle.

DCP Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland Coming Soon

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This holiday season join Darke County Parks for an evening stroll through our winter wonderland at Shawnee Prairie Preserve! On Saturday, December 7th from 6-9pm, there will be over 450 luminaries lighting your way along the wooded trails, allowing for a peaceful winter’s night in nature. As you travel along the illuminated path toward the log house and blacksmith shop, you can enjoy the crisp air, the bright stars, and perhaps the light crunch of snow on this early December evening. In the log house, the fire will warm you while enjoying pioneer music of Christmas past. Sip on a beverage or snack as you cozy up by the campfire and visit with the Parks Director. Santa will once again pay us a visit from the North Pole!

New for 2019: Due to its overwhelming popularity, online registration is required for this event. If you do not have internet access, call the Nature Center at 548-0165. A “winter wagon ride” will offer participants a new experience through the winter woods traveling from the new parking area. Don’t forget to visit with our regional partner, Historic Bear’s Mill, during their luminary walk (held Dec 6th) to receive your coupon card for both giftshop locations (details at our website)!

Don’t forget about our Snowman Decorating Contest! Local businesses and non-profits decorate their own “snowman” to compete in a people’s choice award! Call the Nature Center today to participate in this great way to advertise your business/non-profit to our estimated 1,000 luminary visitors!

Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland is the perfect FREE event for the whole family to celebrate the winter season. Please bring a votive candle (or two) as a donation for next year’s path!

For information on this event or to register your family today, check out our website www.darkecountyparks.org, find us on facebook or call the Nature Center at 937-548-0165.

Donations made to Blue Star Mothers

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Darke County Republican Women’s Club provides supplies

DCRWC members with items to be donated for the Blue Star Mothers Holiday Hugs project are (l to r): Anna May James, Wavelene Denniston, Pat Showalter, President Betty Hill, Lyn Bliss, Jaime LeVeck, Delores Ely and Katie Grow.
GREENVILLE, OHIO – As part of the Darke County Republican Women’s Club’s (DCRWC) recognition of President Trump’s designation of November as Veterans and Military Families Month, members contributed items for the Blue Star Mothers “Holiday Hugs” project.

“Even though our November meeting was cancelled, we were still able to collect quite a lot of supplies for the Blue Star Mothers’ Holiday Hugs project. It is such a wonderful program, we were happy to help.” said Betty Hill, DCRWC President.

Due to the early snow storm, the Club’s November meeting was cancelled. However, members brought their donations to the Quarter Auction held to benefit the Darke County Veterans Washington DC Trip.

DCRWC members not only donated supplies, but several members traveled to Eaton to help at the packing party where the Christmas gift boxes were assembled and made ready for mailing.

DCRWC is a political group founded to provide political education and legislative information; provide a wider knowledge of the principles of the Republican Party; increase the number of registered Republicans; recruit, promote, and support qualified Republican women for political office; give exposure to and work actively for all Republican candidates; and lend support to the activities of other Republican organizations. The DCRWC is a multi-generational, multi-cultural organization providing the structure and support for political activists to learn, engage, and flourish. The Club is chartered by the National Federation of Republican Women and is a member of the Ohio Federation of Republican Women. For more information, visit: http://www.darkegop.org/womens-club.html or email President Betty Hill at: DCRWPresident@darkegop.org.

Versailles Oldest and Youngest Announced

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As part of the Versailles Bicentennial, the committee sought the oldest and youngest Versailles residents as of the 200th anniversary. Based on submissions the Bicentennial Committee has identified the following two notable residents.

On July 2nd at 11:53 am, Mr. Theodore Jay was born and became the youngest resident of the village. The son of Tatiania & Russell Jay and sister of Alexis Jay, Versailles turned 200 years old on August 28th and Theo was just seven weeks old. In recognition of Theo’s significant place in Versailles history the Bicentennial Committee has named him an honorary member of the committee for the 250th anniversary of the village on August 28, 2069.

In 1913, Europe was still ruled by kings and queens, this included Great Britain, Russia and Germany which were ruled by Emperors who happened to be cousins. During 1913 tensions were building and armies were growing as the world was less than a year from the outbreak of the “Great War”, now known as World War One. The United States wouldn’t join the war until 1917 the results of which would change the face of Europe and catapult the United States a world power. In the United Stated there were celebrations over completion of the nation’s first paved coast to coast highway, the Lincoln Highway even passed through Ohio 50 miles north of Versailles. The 16th Amendment passed which gave the federal government the right to levy income taxes, the temperance movement was forming which and would eventually lead to Prohibition. In March of 1913, Ohio experienced the worst natural disaster in its history. The Great Dayton Flood killed 360 people and destroyed 20,000 homes with waters reaching 20 feet deep in downtown Dayton. Many notable people were born in 1913; On the political front Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford were born. In sports Vince Lombardi, Bear Bryant, and Ohio State’s Jesse Owens were born. Burt Lancaster, Lloyd Bridges, Irwin Shaw would become entertainers while Rosa Parks would join the world and later refuse to take the back seat.

Amid all this change on September 10, 1913, Mildred Miller was born in Fontana, Kansas to Isaac and Nora Miller. Mildred’s mother died when she was 9 and she was the oldest of five children. Her father remarried and had five more children. All siblings are deceased. Mildred originally moved to Lima and married Noah Leichty in 1932. Noah was a farmer and lived near Bluffton Ohio until 1945, when they moved to Versailles. In 1945 Mildred lived just outside of Versailles near Webster and Jamison Road on 185 and farmed with her husband. By this time Mildred and Noah had five children: Forest, Evan, Lester, Rochelle and Keenan. Forest and Lester are deceased. Noah died in 1979 and Mildred married Joe Dill and lived in Greenville for 7 years. When Joe passed away Mildred moved back to Versailles.

Mildred worked for 25 years at G.C. Murphy in Greenville and volunteered at Wayne Hospital for another 25 years until she was 95. Mildred was 105 years old on the Versailles Bicentennial and has since reached 106. Mildred resides in Versailles and last summer was the oldest attendee at the Great Darke County Fair.

We want to recognize several additional Versailles residents. Annabel Subler is 102 years old and with her late husband Basil contributed to Versailles as a leader in transportation. Earl Grilliot was born in 1921 near Frenchtown and after serving in World War II purchased a farm outside of Versailles before moving to town in 1996. Virginia Goubeaux was 96 on the Bicentennial and is the daughter of Paul Gasson who started the poultry industry in Versailles by ordering Leghorn chicks from Europe and starting Gasson Poultry Farms.

Mildred has experienced a tremendous amount of history and we can only imagine the changes Theo will witness. In addition to this prestigious recognition, both received congratulations from Congressmen Warren Davidson and commemorative carvings donated by Ron Marshal. Please extend your congratulations to both.

Photos of Mildred and Theodore will be included in a time capsule to mark the bicentennial which will be placed by the Bicentennial Committee with the assistance of Edwin F. Nichol Monument and the Village of Versailles. The capsule will be identified with a granite marker donated by Edwin Nichol Monuments and kept safe by the Village to be opened in August of 2069.

DECORATE THE MITTEN TREE

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Darke County Commissioners Mike Rhoades, Matt Aultman,
and Mike Stegal ready to donate to the Fish Mitten Tree,
with Head Start participants Lincoln and Maddox Griffith and
Fish Mitten Tree coordinator Marilyn Delk.
The Fish Mitten Tree once again needs donated gloves and mittens to decorate its branches; these donations will be distributed to the children enrolled in Darke County Head Start programs. In addition to the Mitten Tree located at Montage, 525 South Broadway in Greenville, a Mitten Tree also will stand inside the Brethren Retirement Community, 750 Chestnut Street, Greenville, and in Fourman’s Variety Store, 4 West George Street, Arcanum. Many churches and organizations also erect trees which collect gloves and mittens from their members; these donations are then passed on to Fish to be given to the little Head Start participants. The Mitten Tree has been an annual holiday project of the local Fish organization for over fifty years.

“The Mitten Tree provides the opportunity for people of all ages and incomes to participate in the true spirit of the season,” said Marilyn Delk, the Fish volunteer coordinating the Mitten Tree project. “We sincerely hope that our generous neighbors will once again this year be able to spare the relatively small amount required to purchase a pair of mittens or gloves and bring joy and warmth to local children who may not receive many other gifts this Christmas,” Mrs. Delk concluded.

To best meet the needs of children directly served by Head Start programs, donated gloves and mittens should fit boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 5; however, donated items in larger or smaller sizes will be shared with Head Start families. So that the mittens and gloves can be distributed prior to Christmas, contributions should be made by December 16. For more information regarding the Mitten Tree, contact Mrs. Delk at 937-548-2482.

Fish is an ecumenical volunteer organization which responds to emergency food needs; the Fish Choice Food Pantry, located at 400 Markwith Avenue, is open on Mondays from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesdays from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m., and on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. No appointment is necessary to visit the Food Pantry; clients are eligible for help once every four weeks. For more information, call the Fish phone number, 548-2000; a volunteer will return your call.

Rachel Carlisle Featured Speaker for Greenville BPW

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November 20, 2019- Greenville, OH. Edison State Director of Enrollment and Student Services Rachel Carlisle was the guest speaker at The Greenville Business & Professional Women’s (BPW) Club November 14th meeting. The meeting was hosted by the Individual Development Program (IDP) Committee with chair Leigh Fletcher and members Karen Sink, Kathy O’Dell, Diana Frazier and Annette Sanders and held at the Brethren Retirement Center.

Leigh Fletcher re-visited the Club’s mission to learn and develop our personal missions and introduced Rachel Carlisle to expound on the quest. She feels learning goes on for all of our lives. We need to stay marketable and keep learning. She spoke a little on the history of Edison State Community College with the main campus in Piqua, and other campuses located in Greenville, Eaton and Troy. The on-line classes continue to grow in numbers. Their student population covers all demographics and ages. The college credit plus program allows high school students to take classes and potentially earn their Associates degree at no cost. Transfer degree pathways and Technical degree pathways are offered. Building a skilled workforce is a big demand at present. Carlisle stated they are working with local businesses and industry on providing skilled workers with non-credit classes and certificates. Also available are STNA and insurance apprenticeships. There are currently a total of 4,000 students enrolled, 3,000 at the main campus and on line with the remaining at the other campuses. Rachel said it is thrilling to work with the youth of our community. She thanked the Greenville BPW Club for their support of the scholarship that is granted each year to a young woman continuing her education. Delores Fox was awarded the 2019 Sheryl Brinley Edison State scholarship sponsored by the Club and is in the nursing program.

The Club is working on their Breakfast with Santa fundraiser. It is scheduled for Saturday, December 7th at the Greenville VFW from 9-11AM. There will be limited reservations, taken on a first come, first served basis. Reservations must be made by December 2nd. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The cost for this event will be $5 for each person attending. Reservations, along with payment, should be sent to Greenville BPW, c/o Susan Fowble, 130 Willow Dr., Greenville, OH 45331. RESERVATIONS MUST INCLUDE a list of the first and last name, age, and indicate whether a boy or girl of each child who will be attending, along with the first and last name of each other person attending. If you have questions concerning this event, phone 937/548-1414. Please plan to join us for this fun morning. There will be presents for each child and lots of fun. Follow “Greenville BPW Club” on Facebook for more information!

The Greenville BPW Club’s mission is to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education, and information. The Club holds fund raisers throughout the year to raise money to grant scholarships to Darke County senior high school girls and young women furthering their career. 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 Christ at 937/423-3657 or sonyacrist@gmail.com.

GREENVILLE BPW HOLDS SUPER RAFFLE

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Necklace and Earrings donated by Wieland Jewelers
Greenville, OH. The Greenville BPW is holding their Super Raffle. All proceeds from the raffle go towards the club’s scholarship fund for Darke County young women. Last year the club awarded five $750 scholarships. This year, the club will offer seven $750 scholarships, one $500 (Anna Britton) scholarship and the club also sponsors a $250 (Sheryl Brinley) Scholarship which is awarded through the Edison College Scholarship Foundation.

Prizes are: 1st place - a 14 Karat White Gold Necklace and Earrings with Crystals donated by Wieland Jewelers, 2nd place - a 39” Element Smart TV donated by Performance Mortgage, 3rd place - a 5 Speed Blender donated by KitchenAid, 4th place - $100 of Dining Gift Cards donated by Deb & Gene Niekamp, and 5th place - a Relaxation Massage donated by Escape Spa LLC.

Tickets are $2 each or 6 for $10 and are available at Merle Norman downtown Greenville or contact Debbie Niekamp at 419-305-2178 or any BPW Club member. Drawing will be held at the club’s meeting December 12th and winner does not need to be present to win. The club would like express their appreciation to the raffle prize donors.

Fort GreeneVille DAR Donates to Scholarship

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Fort GreeneVille Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution donated $1,000 to the Darke County Foundation DAR-Ft. GreeneVille Chapter Scholarship. The donation was made possible due to the proceeds raised from the 100th anniversary of Ohio Ratifying the 19th Amendment event in June.

Honoring its pledge to support historic preservation, patriotism and education, the Daughters of the American Revolution chapter started a fund to reward a female student who exemplifies the characteristics of DAR: “Daughters are vibrant, active women who are passionate about community service, preserving history, educating children, and honoring those who serve our nation”. More information can be found at https://www.darkecountyfoundation.org/listofscholarshipfunds

(Pictured: DAR member Kathie Evans, Christy Prakel, Executive Director, and DAR member Helen Wright. Not pictured: DAR Regent Brenda Arnett)

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