Darke County Ohio Community News

VHCC celebrates National Healthcare Volunteer Week
In celebration of National Healthcare Volunteer Week, Versailles Health Care Center recognized and thanked volunteers for their hard work and dedication at a recent luncheon held at the health care center. Tokens of appreciation were given in the form of gift bags filled with goodies. Special recognition of volunteer service years was... read more

Bluebag Media… ACES Program graduates 30 students for 2015
GREENVILLE – “These kids are doing things they didn’t think was possible,” said Jeff Vaughn, Gateway Program Coordinator for Darke County. He looked at the students sitting together at the graduation celebration at Romer’s Catering May 20. “It is great seeing these kids succeed. Some of them came to us with little hope... read more

Community Events Photo Gallery… Four years of CNO favorites
This project was started in December… Favorites of 2014, then 2012-2013. It didn’t take long to realize there were many photos missed from 2012, in addition to a boatload of photos from 2011. There were enough that 2011-2012 had to be broken into three parts. All three have now been completed and are in the Community Events Photo Gallery. That’s over 500 photos from CNO volunteers... read more

Greenville Federal supports Darke County Special Olympics
Greenville Federal, represented here with their Chief Fiscal officer Susan Barker, is presenting a check to Cindy Rose, director of Darke County Special Olympics. Donations are used to pay for uniforms, state entry fees, travel costs, meals, rental fees, softball field maintenance and other expenses through the year. All donations support athletes from Darke County. The Darke County... read more

Marilyn Robbins—All things Annie Oakley
The Garst Museum and the National Annie Oakley Center want to thank Marilyn Robbins, who was recently honored by the Darke County Historical Society with the 2015 Heritage Award, for her continued support of Annie’s Star Spangled Gala. Marilyn is the museum’s expert source on all things Annie Oakley and has authored several books on Annie Oakley Butler and Frank Butler... read more

Pets of the week
GREENVILLE - The Darke County Animal Shelter has many pets available for adoption, including several breeds of dogs, as well as cats and kittens. The Shelter chooses pets to feature each week, this week they've selected: Asap is a 7 month old Lab mix pup. He is mostly black with a little white on his chest. He has short hair. He is a sweet little guy and will grow to around 50 pounds... read more

VHCC celebrates National Nursing Home Week
Versailles Health Care Center was among thousands of nursing facilities throughout the nation that celebrated National Nursing Home Week, May 11th through the 15th. The week-long celebration featured the theme “Bring on the Fiesta”. Special activities for staff members, volunteers, patients, residents, and family members included staff door decorating contest, margarita happy hour... read more

DCCA Representatives Meet with First Lady Kasich at Ohio Arts Day
Local arts council representatives met with elected officials as part of Ohio Arts Day, May 13th at the State Capital, to thank them for their support of the arts and share Darke County Center for the Arts story of encouraging cultural enrichment. Darke County Center for the Arts representatives met with Karen Kasich, First Lady of Ohio... read more

Bluebag Media… Ressler named AAA Safety Patroller of the Year
ANSONIA – Ansonia sixth grader Leann Ressler was shy and modest about her accomplishment… being named the AAA School Safety Patroller of the Year. How did she do it? “I guess I did my job,” she said. According to Rick Kies, Ansonia Safety Patrol Advisor, Leann was one of only two students to whom he had given the... read more

GJHS Band Program Ends Successful Year in Columbus
The Greenville Junior High Jazz Band, under the direction of Mr. Brian McKibben, recently traveled to Columbus, Ohio as guests of Representative Jim Buchy. The Jazz Band, made up of 7th and 8th grade band students, performed in concert at the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower. Following their performance the students were treated to lunch and then took part in a wonderful... read more

Edison Students Receive High Honors
Two Edison Community College students have been named to the 2015 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-Ohio Academic Team. Kerrie Josefovsky of Piqua and Lucas Purdin of Greenville have been selected as two of this year’s fifty-one statewide recipients. To be eligible for the All-Ohio Academic Team, students are first nominated by their college president and must be eligible for graduation... read more

DCCA Recognizes RSVP Volunteer Ushers
Darke County Center for the Arts recognizes RSVP Artists Series Volunteer Ushers and would like to thank them for their help in the 2014-2015 Season. “The volunteer ushers are a vital part of the success of our Artists Series performances. We are grateful for their time and expertise, shared Andrea Jordan, DCCA Executive Director.” Darke County Center for the Arts presents and promotes... read more

VHS senior Wenig creates clever way to recruit blood donors
DAYTON, Ohio – It was her final week at Versailles High School, but senior Hannah Wenig remembered to donate at the May 18 Versailles Knights of Columbus blood drive. She hopes to continue reminding classmates to donate with the “Get Out of Class Free” campaign that helped her win a Community Blood Center/Vectren Lead The Way Creative Scholarship. Also awarded Lead The Way... read more

Bluebag Media… Little Mr. & Miss Yesteryear 2015
ARCANUM – Little Mr. Yesteryear plans to be a cowboy when he grows up; Little Miss Yesteryear is going to be a superhero. Her favorite food is a tuna noodle casserole; his is hot dogs. About the only thing the two youngsters agree on is blue is their favorite color. Brayden Barnes, 4, wearing an old-fashioned golfing outfit, the son of Scott Barnes and Melissa Gaspar, was crowned... read more

Sisters Travel to Every Ohio County Courthouse in Seven Days, By Jenna Gant
May 20, 2015 - For two sisters, traveling to all 88 county courthouses in Ohio was a lifelong dream. “We planned the trip unofficially since we were little kids,” Jessica Daniels said. So last year they packed their bags, buckled up, and drove across the state. “Basically printed off a map of Ohio, kind of took a pencil, sketched in a map that we think would work,” Daniels said. They did it in seven days... read more

Red Cross offers five key water safety tips
May 20, 2015 – With swimming pools opening this weekend and summer vacations on the horizon, people will be flocking to pools and beaches. That can be a great way to beat the heat. But it can also be disastrous without the proper precautions. “Water is fun to be around and everybody loves it, but it also has a dangerous side to it,” says Jill Toennis, the Red Cross’s aquatics specialist for the Northern Miami Valley. “An average... read more

Special Olympics supported by Gettysburg Masonic Lodge
Gettysburg Masonic Lodge #477, represented on the left by Chuck Rue, Worshipful Master and Keith Hocker, Secretary on the right are shown after presenting ribbons to student athletes at the May 15 Track and Field Event for Darke Co. Special Olympics. Pictured left to right are some of the many athletes in the 4 x 100 Unified Relay... read more

Edison’s Library Tackles Hunger and Overdue Materials
Edison Community College’s Library will attempt to solve two problems with one can of peas when it launches its new “Food for Fines” program this summer. The new program offers amnesty for long-overdue materials. The catch is that instead of digging into their pockets for fines, students and other library patrons can search their cupboards for donations of food that the library will turn over to the Bethany Center in Piqua, Ohio. Each item donated equates to $1... read more

Bluebag Media… Annual Health Fair teaches 5th graders good habits
GREENVILLE – “If all the blood vessels in your body were stretched out, they’d go around the world two and a half times.” Volunteer from the Community Blood Center. “Let’s see how good you are at following instructions.” Volunteer from Recovery & Wellness. “Who wants to be the surgeon? The anesthesiologist… the patient?” Volunteer from surgery. “You have to eat right... read more

MVCTC… Diesel Power Tech Students Finish 3rd in State FFA Contest
Wooster, Ohio – Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) Diesel Power Technology students competed in the FFA State Outdoor Power and Equipment Career Development Event (CDE) at The Ohio State University ATI campus in Wooster, Ohio on April 28, 2015. The team of senior, Alex McMonigle (Valley View) and juniors, Walker James (Vandalia-Butler) and Austin Campbell... read more

Hunter Hayes Box Office Pre-Registration Info
May 18, 2015 – Greenville OH -- In an effort to shorten the online ticket purchase process, effective today you can create an account in the Great Darke County Fair Box Office software without having to purchase a ticket by following this link. If an account already exists for the e-mail address you are attempting to use or create, you will receive a message stating an account already exists for the e-mail address you are attempting to use... read more

Foundations Award Honor Society Students with scholarships
Englewood, Ohio – Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) inducted 66 students into National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) on Sunday, March 22, 2015. The NTHS students as well as their honored educators from MVCTC and their partner school district, were recognized in a ceremony at MVCTC in front of family and friends. Students are selected for NTHS based... read more

Bluebag Media… Edison students ‘adjourn’ a successful semester
GREENVILLE – “It’s amazing what some students can do given the opportunity,” said one Edison Community College professor. He was referring to a student who barely spoke a word in his class, but had become much more socialized and outgoing after 16 weeks in a public speaking class. Another student hardly said a word for the first eight weeks of the term; seldom smiled... read more

Five seniors named CBC/Vectren 'Lead the Way' scholars
DAYTON, Ohio - Five area high school seniors have earned $1,000 scholarships for their creative approach to encouraging classmates to donate blood in the annual Community Blood Center/Vectren Lead The Way Creative Scholarship competition. The 2015 Lead The Way Scholarship winners represented high schools in Montgomery, Shelby, and Darke County. The five seniors awarded... read more

ODJFS Recognizes Ohio’s Foster Parents
COLUMBUS, OHIO – Governor Kasich has recognized May 2015 as Foster Care Month in Ohio, and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) is encouraging all Ohioans to do something positive for children and teens in foster care. “Ohio’s foster parents provide a safe, loving environment for children in need,” said ODJFS Director Cynthia C. Dungey. “These families make a full-time commitment to help children who... read more

MVCTC students receive State FFA degrees
Englewood, Ohio – The Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) had six students from the Agriculture and Livestock Production program receive their State FFA Degree May 1, 2015, in Columbus, Ohio at the last session of the Ohio FFA State Convention. Receiving their degrees were: Hunter Alsip, Valley View, the son of Brenda Alsip... read more

VHS Senior Wenig campaign has serious message
DAYTON, Ohio – Versailles High School senior Hannah Wenig has earned a $1,000 scholarship for her creative approach to encouraging classmates to donate blood in the annual Community Blood Center/Vectren Lead The Way Creative Scholarship competition. Hannah is among five 2015 Lead The Way Scholarship winners from high... read more

Bluebag Media… All kids winners at Fish & Game Club derby
NEW MADISON – The weather couldn’t have been better – sunny, not too hot – for a great morning of fishing. At least that’s what 60 youngsters and their parents and grandparents thought on May 9. It was the annual Darke County Fish & Game Club Fishing Derby. The lake had just been re-stocked with about 600 fish in a variety of sizes; the largest about... read more

St. Marys School May Newsletter
Once again we have come to the end of another school year. As I type this letter, we have eleven school days left. Over the past nine months I have written about holidays, retreats, field trips, Christmas around the World and the Spring Spectacular, and that just scratches the surface. It really is amazing how much we manage to cram into one school year! On May 3 the seventh and eighth graders received the sacrament of Confirmation... read more

Wheat crop, beef cattle, avian influenza updates
Wheat Update -- After seemingly being behind throughout the month of April, the wheat crop in Ohio has “changed gears” and in now heading out in some areas – do not be deceived by the fact that plants still look short in some fields. Heading in early-mid May is not uncommon for southern Ohio, but is early for northern counties. The forecast is for cool conditions over the next two days (60s and lower 70s), which could potentially slow down the progress... read more

Bluebag Media… Preschoolers get taste of pioneer life
GREENVILLE – “Does this house look like your house?” Eight EUM Preschool students responded with a loud “No!” Laura Schwieterman, Darke County Parks Naturalist, asked what’s different. Several students noted there were no lights, just candles. “Because they had no electricity,” Schwieterman said. “No stove… just a fireplace to make your food.” Naturalist Rob Clifford brought in his group... read more

Nextstep Ministries annual Bike Blessing
NextStep Ministries of EUM Church in Greenville will be holding their annual Blessing of the Bikes on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at the EUM Worship Center, located at 1451 Sater St, Greenville, OH. This benefit ride supports NextStep Helps Ministry, a benevolent ministry helping Darke County households with emergency needs. Registration is $15 for a single rider or $20 for double... read more

2016/17 Official Visitors Guide for Darke County
Put your business in the hands of visitors to Darke County, literally -- GREENVILLE, OH – The Darke County Visitors Bureau is pleased to offer advertising space in its AWARD WINNING magazine focusing on travel to and life in Darke County. The Official Visitors Guide for Darke County has been recognized by The Ohio Travel Association with The RUBY (Recognizing Uncommon Brilliance) Awards... read more

MVCTC Senior Spotlight – Emily Weaver
Englewood, Ohio – Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) senior, Emily Weaver a Business Academy student from Franklin Monroe, is already employed with Greenville National Bank as part of the MVCTC Advanced Placement/Internship Program and will be attending Indiana University East in the fall majoring in Accounting. Emily shared, “I knew I wanted to pursue a career in business... read more

Bluebag Media… Bluebag Webmaster receives community service award
GREENVILLE – Early Bird/Bluebag Media webmaster Clinton Randall was recognized for service to the community by the Darke County Grange, along with Waldo L. Fine, recognized for his service during WWII. Randall was awarded for his service as Non-Granger of the Year, Public Service through the News Media. Randall, in addition to his position as reporter and webmaster for the local... read more

MVCTC Senior Spotlight – Morgan Ellis
Englewood, Ohio – Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) senior, Morgan Ellis a Dental Assisting student from Arcanum, will be using the Tech Prep Scholarship she earned at MVCTC to continue her education at Sinclair Community College in the fall. Morgan has already earned her license to be a Certified Ohio Dental Assistant (CODA) while attending MVCTC and is currently working... read more

Junior High Band and Choir Earn Top Ratings at O.M.E.A Contest
April 11, 2015 turned out to be a very successful day for Greenville Junior High School’s band and choir students. Students who participated prepared solos and/or ensembles to be adjudicated by Ohio Music Education Association adjudicators on a five point scale with a 1 (Superior) rating being the highest rating possible. Fifty-two band students performed... read more

MVCTC Students Place 3rd in Envirothon
Englewood, Ohio – The Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) Natural Resource Management Junior team competed in the Area IV Envirothon at Camp Friedlander in Loveland, Ohio. The team of Nick Wheeler (Milton-Union) Logan Dickison (Milton-Union), Zak Peele (Franklin Monroe), and Aaron Abner (Eaton) placed third out of over... read more

MVCTC Business Students attend BPA National Leadership Conference
Anaheim, CA –– Top students from Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) attended the Business Professionals of America (BPA) 2015 National Leadership Conference, “Imagine, Believe, Become” in Anaheim, CA, May 6-10, 2015. MVCTC chapter members, Kelsey Glaze (Northmont); Reggie Steele (Jefferson); Spencer Haney (Brookville); Dylan Clark (West Carrollton)... read more

Pets of the week
GREENVILLE - The Darke County Animal Shelter has many pets available for adoption, including several breeds of dogs, as well as cats and kittens. The Shelter chooses pets to feature each week, this week they've selected: Dotti is a 2 year old Blue Tick coondog mix. She is tri-color, spotted and with short hair. She is a sweet girl and loves people. She has big brown eyes which will melt your heart... read more

Kinesio Taping for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at VHCC
Dr. Stephen Winner, Physical Therapist at Versailles Health Care Center, recently received training in Kinesio Taping with an emphasis on Orthopedic and Sports Medicine. Dr. Winner is now certified in this effective method of treatment. Kinesio Taping is a definitive rehabilitative taping technique that is designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing process while providing support and stability... read more

Bluebag Media… Parade Marshalls shocked, but appreciative
ARCANUM – Trudy Kirkpatrick was surprised, but deeply thankful and appreciative she and her husband, Claude, had been named Arcanum Old Fashioned Days Parade Marshalls. Claude was shocked. “It’s really an honor being in that position,” he said. He added there are a lot more people worthy of it than they were. “I appreciate what Arcanum and the people in this community have... read more

Franklin Monroe-MVCTC Business Satellite Program Year in Review
Englewood, Ohio – The Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) in partnership with Franklin Monroe schools offered satellite business programs starting the 2014-2015 school year at Franklin Monroe High School. The program taught by Carrie Wiant, offered students business and computer classes and the opportunity to participate in the Career Technical Student Organization Business... read more

MVCTC Senior Spotlight – Rachel Marker
Englewood, Ohio – Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) senior,
Rachel Marker, a Dental Assistant student from Tri-Village, will be graduating with her Certified Ohio Dental Assistant license, a job and big dreams. Rachel completed the testing in the fall to earn the title of Certified Ohio Dental Assistant (CODA)... read more

Kids Learning Place… Christening Buses
With the expectation of adding five new buses to the fleet, the staff at Kids Learning Place decided to get the kids involved in the excitement too. The kids were invited to a christening ceremony of the buses with a “pretend” breaking of a bottle of milk over the bumper of the bus as they are launched into service. The ritual of this kind of christening... read more

Edison Holds 40th Commencement Ceremony
Edison Community College honored nearly 450 students during its 40th commencement ceremony Friday night before a packed house of family, friends, faculty and staff at the Piqua campus. To kick off the ceremony, Student Senate President Chelseá Thompson, of Piqua, gave an impactful speech about how Edison gave her a second chance to make a better future for herself. Thompson... read more

Edison nursing students honored with pinning ceremony
Edison Community College honored its most recent nursing graduates on Wednesday, May 6, with a pinning ceremony held before a gymnasium filled with family and friends at the Piqua campus. The pinning ceremony is a time-honored tradition in which the graduate nurse is presented to family and friends as a professional who is about to practice nursing and the graduate is usually... read more

MVCTC Senior Spotlight – Jordan Stickley
Englewood, Ohio – Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) senior, Jordan Stickley, a Sports Medicine student from Franklin Monroe, was named one of the MVCTC Class of 2015 Valedictorians. Jordan will be attending The Ohio State University in the fall majoring in Nutrition/Dietetics. Jordan shared, I decided to attend MVCTC to study the field that I was really interested in. I love that... read more

Emrick at Leadership Conference
BPA National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California!! Logan Emrick is representing... read more

Darke Soil & Water Conservation District… Understanding Best Management Practices for Manure Application, by Janell Weiss - As part of Darke Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) commitment to outreach on the Ohio agricultural pollution abatement program, we are continuing our series of monthly articles on agricultural topics. Be on the lookout for future columns from Darke SWCD staff on manure storage and stockpiling, cover crops, nutrient management plans and other related topics. All articles will be... read more

Poultry Days Theme
Versailles Poultry Days is a volunteer based organization dedicated to serving the Versailles community by supporting community projects and activities that improve quality of life and create an inviting environment for people of all ages. Poultry Days recently recognized 2014-2015 donation recipients. In the last ten years... read more

Senior Scribes Scholarship Fund… SSSF presents eight local students with scholarships
GREENVILLE – The Senior Scribes Scholarship Fund held its annual banquet April 23 at Bistro Off Broadway. The committee celebrated another successful year as it presented checks to five students to help with their college tuition expenses. Three additional recipients were unable to attend, for a total of eight scholarships to Darke County youth. Tara Guillozet, a sophomore... read more

Annie’s Star Spangled Gala… Maid Rite Sandwich Shop is a Gold Star Donor
The Garst Museum and the National Annie Oakley Center wants to publicly thank the Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop for its Gold Star sponsorship to Annie’s Star Spangled Gala. Annie’s Star Spangled Gala will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2015. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at the Garst Museum. This is a fundraiser for the Garst Museum and The National Annie Oakley Center. Come and join in... read more

2015 Students of Integrity Winners… BBB’s Center For Business & Consumer Ethics Announces
DAYTON, OHIO, April 16, 2015 – Your Better Business Bureau’s Center for Business and Consumer Ethics, Inc. (CBCE) announces the winners of its Students of Integrity, sponsored by Dayton Dental Collaborative and Reynolds and Reynolds. This is the thirteenth year your BBB has recognized Miami Valley high school seniors who exemplify strong ethics and integrity. The award includes... read more

Versailles Varsity V students to fellow special athletes
The Versailles H.S. Varsity V student athletic group is shown making a donation to members of the Darke County Slammers basketball team who attend VHS. Shown from left to right are: Murphy Grow and Courtney Lyons (Varsity V officers), Sheyenne Shimp, Ryan Burnett, and David Ault (Slammers team members). The team is part of the Darke County Special Olympics Program... read more

North Star Hardware supports Special Olympics
Darke County Special Olympics representative Steve Litchfield is shown receiving a check from Jeff Stammen of North Star Hardware and Implement. Darke County Special Olympics program provides athletic opportunities for students and adults with varying types of disabilities throughout Darke County in basketball, cheerleading, bowling, softball, Unified golf, swimming, and track & field... read more

American Red Cross helps community stay safe
From disaster training to CPR classes to teaching children fire safety, the Chapter has had a busy week in the community. May 1, 2015 - While the Red Cross has gotten a lot of attention for the rescue and recovery efforts it’s leading in Nepal, it hasn’t lost its primary focus locally—helping the people of the Northern Miami Valley area stay healthy and safe. Consider, in the past weekend the Red Cross has: Taught Stop, Drop and Roll Fire Safety courses... read more

Bluebag Media… Inclement weather doesn’t deter Nature Day visitors
GREENVILLE – “There are more organisms in a teaspoon of soil than there are people on earth.” That was just one of the fascinating facts visitors to the Darke County Parks Nature Day learned April 25. They also discovered soil is, in fact, a limited resource… “It takes 1,000 years to make one inch of soil, so think twice before polluting it.” Approximately 200 visitors of all ages descended... read more

Pets of the week
GREENVILLE - The Darke County Animal Shelter has many pets available for adoption, including several breeds of dogs, as well as cats and kittens. The Shelter chooses pets to feature each week, this week they've selected: Shelly is a 5 year old Dachshund mix. She is brown with a little white. She has short hair. She is a friendly girl and wants to be a lap dog. She loves to play and is looking for a good home... read more

Edison and Greenville High School renew articulation agreements
Officials from Edison Community College and Greenville High School recently renewed four early college credit articulation agreements. According to these updated agreements, students in engineering, information technology, financial services, and supply chain management can earn college credit for their work through Greenville High School’s Career-Tech Education program... read more

Two juniors, 32 seniors earn Associate Degrees from Edison
It’s not everyday that you meet high school students equipped with the aptitude to successfully complete an associate degree, let alone high school juniors. A first in Edison Community College’s history, two high school juniors will walk amongst their associate degree-earning peers during the College’s 40th spring commencement ceremony on Friday, May 8, 2015. Alyssa Roberts of Bradford High School... read more

Bluebag Media… Lincoln Funeral Train part of Darke County history
GETTYSBURG – “What’s all this going on in little ole’ Gettysburg,” said one gentleman. He was preparing for the traffic that would soon be coming. “Haven’t you heard? The Lincoln Funeral Train is coming through.” He grinned. “They gotta build a track here first.” His friend said, “I knew they never shoulda tore those tracks out.” Spirits were... read more

Lower crop prices and changes to formula point to lower CAUV values in the future
By Larry R. Gearhardt, Assistant Professor and Field Specialist, Taxation -- Owners of Agricultural land enrolled in the Current Agricultural Use Valuation (CAUV) property tax program in the twenty-four counties that are experiencing a reappraisal or triennial update in 2015 (payable in 2016) will see the highest CAUV values in history, based on preliminary numbers from the Ohio Department of Taxation. Similar to prior years, increases... read more

Bluebag Media… Key Club members learn about the homeless, sleep on cardboard
GREENVILLE – For the fifth time in as many years, Key Club members from Greenville and Piqua High Schools built ‘box cities’ and shelters for the night. While a fun event, it was also a learning event for the 27 students as they discovered the meaning of homelessness and the plight of the homeless in their communities. They built their shelters from boxes donated by Hansbarger... read more

OSU vs. Penn State Tickets Donated to Annie’s Star Spangled Gala
The Garst Museum and the National Annie Oakley Center wants to publicly thank Ohio State Representative, Jim Buchy for his donation of OSU vs. Penn State football tickets to Annie’s Star Spangled Gala. The tickets are for October 17, 2015 and include parking passes. The tickets will be part of the live auction. You can view the many auction and raffle prizes at this link... read more

2015 Darke County Junior High Honor Band
The annual performance of the Darke County Junior High Band was successfully held this year on February 26 and February 27 at Memorial Hall in Greenville. Selected students from Ansonia, Arcanum, Bradford, Franklin Monroe, Greenville, Mississinawa Valley, and Versailles combined to form the ninety piece concert band. The group was conducted and assisted by each school’s band director... read more

Lydia E. Schaurer Memorial Trust Sponsors DCCA programs
Darke County Center for the Arts recognizes the Lydia E. Schaurer Memorial Trust for their support of the arts in Darke County. DCCA thanks the Lydia E. Schaurer Memorial Trust for their contribution to the 2014-2015 season and forwarding DCCA’s mission to encourage cultural enrichment in the community. The Lydia E. Schaurer Memorial Trust“ is a sponsor for “A Night at the Oscars” performance by Toledo Symphony Orchestra, at Henry St. Clair... read more

The Friends of the Animal Shelter say “Thank You”
GREENVILLE - As part of the Darke County Wellness Challenge, formerly known as Wayne Healthcare Challenge, the Darke County Friends of the Shelter had their second 5K race on April 11 to benefit the Scentral Park dog park. It was again a HUGE success for everyone and a great event! There was a large number of participants for this... read more

Annie’s Star Spangled Raffle Prize Highlight
Annie’s Star Spangled Raffle features a wonderful prize. Tom and Cindy Scott/Scott Seed Service have donated accommodations for a two-night stay at their beautiful luxury log cabin close to Gatlinburg in Black Bear Falls Resort. The cabin has three bedrooms, all with queen size beds. Most of the interior décor features items from local... read more

Bluebag Media… Student driven Hollywood Night a success
GREENVILLE – It was an event that was “all about them.” The Special Olympics superstars. On April 18 a dozen stars entered the Greenville High School gymnasium on a red carpet with paparazzi snapping photos in a star-spangled event. They were entertained by the Greenville High School Jazz Band and the GHS Wavaires. When it was their turn, some superstars entered the stage... read more

Court News Ohio… Farm Animals Take the Stand at Mock Trial, By Stephanie Beougher
April 17, 2015 -- It was an unusual sight to see costumed animal characters in the courtroom. More than 300 middle school students, some dressed as pigs and other farm animals, descended on the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center for the three-day Ohio Center for Law-Related Education Middle School Mock Trial State Showcase. Teams from 24 middle schools across Ohio participated... read more

Montessori students volunteer at the Parks!
Spring is a wonderful time to complete service projects within the community. With the grass starting to turn green, some of the trees and bushes are starting to bud, it makes everyone want to be outdoors to enjoy the beautiful weather. DeColores Montessori 7th graders reach out to the community to help with a service project at least once a month. On April 1st the students came to the Darke... read more

BBBS announces new after school program at Emerson Elementary
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County is excited to announce a new after school program at Emerson elementary school in Sidney. “Starting a partnership with Emerson Elementary school is exciting. We are now in all 4 elementary school located in Sidney City school district” reports Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Jennifer Bruns. The High School mentoring program... read more

MVCTC EBIT Students of the Month March 2015
Englewood, Ohio - The Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC), in order to honor outstanding accomplishments and leadership in Career Tech Education, is proud to announce the March 2015 Career Tech Students of the Month honorees from the Electives, Business, and Information Technology Department. Brittany Howell, member of the Medical Office program taught... read more

2015 Poultry Days Parade Marshals Bob and Kathy Frey
Bob and Kathy (York) Frey are pleased to be selected as Parade Marshals for the 2015 Poultry Days Parade. The parade will begin at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 13, as part of the three-day festival to be held June 12-14. Bob has recently retired as Chief of the Versailles Fire Department, a position he held for 18 years. He served the Village... read more

The Winery at Versailles supports BBBS
The Versailles Winery located on State Route 47 in Versailles hosted their annual fund-raising for charity event called the Adult Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 11 from 6:00-8:00 pm with proceeds from the tickets sales and live auction items benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby and Darke County and non-perishable canned food donations... read more

Third Annual Drill Demonstration Open House
The Daughters of American Revolution Fort Greenville Chapter in conjunction with Greenville Senior High School NJROTC hosted the Third Annual Drill Demonstration Open House. The Cadets demonstrated all the elements required for a competition minus Inspection, Physical Fitness, marksmanship and Academic. They demonstrated Color Guard... read more

St. Mary’s School - April Newsletter
There are signs of Easter and new life all around the school. After the solemnity of Lent I must say it is a delightful change. Several weeks before Easter, we had some extra time during music, so we decided to go over some Easter hymns. Somehow I managed to choose the hymns with the maximum amount of Alleluias possible. After assuring the children that it was OK to sing Alleluia during Lent if you were practicing for Easter, they sang with gusto... read more

Bluebag Media… Chain Cutting marks Didier Hardware reopening
UNION CITY, IND – It went off without a hitch. Didier Do It Best Hardware owner Mark Didier grinned, saying he did a test run ahead of time to make sure. With dozens of employees, local officials and customers on hand, Didier completed the promised “Chain Cutting” to mark the store’s Grand Reopening on April 11. “I thought it was much more appropriate (than the traditional ribbon cutting)... read more

Bluebag Media… Edison students hear from two local officials
GREENVILLE – “To be liberal was to favor free enterprise and property rights… and possess a grave skepticism toward government management of anything.” Darke County Engineer Jim Surber said this approach, which he attributed to Mark Twain, was what he believed. He also felt capital flow works best from bottom to top, not top to bottom. Surber recently made a presentation to Edison... read more

Bluebag Media… New grant could reach more ‘at risk’ kids
GREENVILLE – “These kids are not necessarily bad,” said Jeff Vaughn, Alternative School Program Coordinator for Darke County Council on Rural Services. “They just don’t have a lot of guidance.” Noting he works with youth, ages seven to 17, he told members and guests of Kiwanis of Greenville recently about a Community Connectors Grant application to the Governor’s Office to help him reach... read more

Bluebag Media… Scavenger Hunt a success despite weather
GREENVILLE – “One down and 18 to go!” said Tamera McNulty and Mindy Steyer. They chronicled Michael McMahon’s discovery of the cow (actually it was a horse) at Readmore’s Hallmark. Nineteen items had been set up in local businesses for Main Street Greenville’s April First Friday Scavenger Hunt. It was a drizzling and chilly... read more

Dr. Harry G. Thomas Medical Scholarship Awarded
The Darke County Historical Society is pleased to announce that the Harry G. Thomas Medical Scholarship award for the 2014-2015 academic year has been presented to John Sullenbarger, Bradley Subler, Amy Wilcox, Patrick Mescher, and Melanie Stall. All receipients are graduates of Darke County high schools and are currently attending... read more

Bluebag Media… Edison students educate 4th, 6th graders on bullying
GREENVILLE – “Bullies are often bullies themselves because they’ve been bullied,” said team members from Edison Community College. Fundamentals of Communication public speaking students were talking to fourth graders at Greenville East (Intermediate) School about the problem. Approximately 45 students from two classes crowded into... read more

Bluebag Media… Child Protective Services has tough but necessary job
GREENVILLE – “When I see these pinwheels I think of the healthy kids that planted them,” said Child Protective Services Director Becky James. “But it makes me sad we even have to have them.” It is child abuse awareness month (search Child Abuse Awareness at Bluebag Media) and the pinwheels are on the front lawn of the Darke County Courthouse. The woman who has spent... read more

Ami McClurkin sponsors Toledo Symphony event
Verd and Gini Stuckey have donated funds in the name of their daughter, Ami McClurkin, sponsoring the Saturday, April 25 “A Night at the Oscars” performance by the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. Darke County Center for the Arts presents an orchestral performance annually as part of its Artists Series. DCCA Executive Director Andrea Jordan stated, “DCCA counts itself very fortunate to have... read more

Darke County Friends of the Shelter… K9 Eric gets a new bullet proof vest
The “Darke County Friends of the Shelter” recently purchased a new bullet proof vest for K9 Eric. Eric is the Darke County Sheriff’s Office K9. He is a 4 year old Shepherd and is trained in drug work, search and rescue and protection. He is State certified and is the partner of Deputy Pearson. K9 Eric has been on the job for a year and has been deployed in numerous situations. He and his Handler... read more

Heritage Award presented to Marilyn Robbins
Marilyn Robbins, a.k.a. “Garst’s Annie Oakley” truly epitomizes the Heritage Award. Established in 2004, the Darke County Historical Society’s Heritage Award was created to recognize outstanding citizens or organizations for their distinguished contributions or actions of unusual excellence that help connect people to Darke County’s past. Marilyn’s volunteering in the community connects... read more

Bluebag Media… The 3 Musketeers, biggest ‘flash’ experience in years
GREENVILLE – “Welcome to chaos!” said Greenville High School Theatre Company advisor and director Tom Nader. It was dress rehearsal time for their production of The Three Musketeers. The play opened the next night, April 3, at Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall. “What kind of idiot would attempt this,” he quipped, then… “Oh. That was me... read more

Easter Bunnies from Versailles Elementary visit VHCC
Versailles Health Care Center patients and residents enjoyed a recent visit by “Easter bunnies” from the first grade at Versailles Elementary School. The first graders participated in a Coloring Contest held by VHCC. Patients and residents chose from many pictures and picked the top three winners of their choice. First place winner was Eli Dirksen, second place was Lauren Prenger, and third place winner was... read more

Bluebag Media… Annual pinwheel display creates Child Abuse Awareness
GREENVILLE – “This is more of a problem than people realize,” said Banner Bound 4-H Club advisor Melanie Stikeleather. “Involving kids in things like this helps make them more aware that not everyone has someone to care about them no matter what.” She watched as Banner Bound 4-H President Skyler Marker handed out pinwheels to the volunteers measuring distances and ‘planting’... read more

Greenville Auto Take First Place in Columbus
Congratulations to the 2015 Automotive Technology presenting team for earning first place in the category of transportation at the Career Pathways Showcase held in Columbus, OH on April 14-15. Presenters Kelsey McClure, Dylan Kolb, and John Crowell have worked hard to earn first place at the state competition. This year's project represents a team effort from students in the... read more

Pike receives award for fair service
Findlay OH - Jason Pike with Bud’s Electric received a Special Appreciation Award from the Greater Ohio Showmen’s Association for his outstanding service to The Great Darke County Fair at the District 1&2 Spring Meeting in Findlay OH on April 11th. Jason was presented the award by Carmi Kissel-Engler with Darke County Board Members Russ Bennett, Richard Delk... read more

Bluebag Media… Over 300 kids collect 6,000 plus eggs
ANSONIA – It was an ‘eggtastic’ egg hunt the previous year, said FFA volunteer Andrea Barga. Only the FFA was involved. This year was an ‘eggstravaganza!’ “It was so eggstravagant,” she said. This year, she estimated 6 to 8,000 eggs were placed around the Ansonia Schools playgrounds and front lawn. They were set up for as many as 300 to 500 kids in four age groups: 2 and under... read more

VHCC Nursing Staff Receives COPD Certification Training
The nursing staff at Versailles Health Care Center, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, recently received specialized training and is now certified by the Covenant HealthCare COPD Advanced Assessment Program and currently assuring CEU’s through the Department of Human and Health Services. In March 2015, Kim Scharf, RN, MNSc, APRN, taught the two-day program... read more

Bluebag Media… STNA grad says set high goals that scare you
ANSONIA – “I want to be a physician’s assistant,” Ansonia senior Hannah Barga said. “If I want to get into that program, I need to get as much experience as possible. There are usually 500 applications for the 40 spaces that are available.” There are currently two physician assistant programs available in the area: Kettering and University... read more

Deputies receive Sharps containers
Deputies say the discovery of improperly discarded needles has risen dramatically in recent years as intravenous drug use has increased. It’s a major problem for officers who have to search drug users and the hiding places in their cars and homes. Last year, Trash Bash 2014 volunteers discovered approximately nine used syringes/needles... read more

Red Cross shows there’s more than one way to serve
One employee is called into active duty with the Army, while two others are promoted from from within -- April 9, 2015 — The American Red Cross has always had a close relationship with the military, dating back to when founder Clara Barton provided aid to soldiers during the Civil War. And sometimes, that relationship overlaps, which is the case with the American Red Cross’s Northern Miami Valley Ohio Chapter. Disaster Program Manager Kevan... read more

Ohio First Lady Spring 2015 “Spotlight” Program
Celebrates Northeast Ohio Artist’s Work at Governor’s Residence in Bexley -- COLUMBUS – Ohio First Lady Karen W. Kasich, along with artists and other special guests from across the state, celebrated the spring installment of Spotlight: Featured Artists at the Ohio Governor’s Residence. This quarter’s featured artist, JoAnn DePolo of North Olmsted (Cuyahoga Co.), and Mrs. Kasich provided remarks... read more

Court News Ohio… Court Employees and Jail Inmates Team Up to Support Kids, By Jenna Gant -- April 8, 2015 -- Orient Correctional Complex inmates can stitch more stuffed animals for children thanks to court employees who hosted a fundraiser to pay for new sewing machines. It’s for a community service program that has inmates constructing stuffed bunnies and bears for children who come before the Delaware County Probate and Juvenile Court for reasons including... read more

Council on Rural Services… Week of the Young Child
April is the time each year that Kids Learning Place centers celebrate “Week of the Young Child” by planning special activities along with recognizing and re-committing to the goal of improving early learning in the lives of our children and their families. Kids Learning Place uses this week of April 13 - 18 as a way to focus the public’s attention on young children and their families and the... read more

Pets of the week
GREENVILLE - The Darke County Animal Shelter has many pets available for adoption, including several breeds of dogs, as well as cats and kittens. The Shelter chooses pets to feature each week, this week they've selected: Maria is a 1 year old Lab/Husky mix. She is blond with short hair. She is a sweetheart. She is very friendly and loves to be at your side. She walks well on a leash and doesn’t mind cats... read more

Edison sponsors DCCA programs
Darke County Center for the Arts recognizes the Edison Community College for their support of the arts in Darke County. DCCA thanks Edison Community College for their contribution to the 2014-2015 Arts in Education and Family Theatre Series programs. Family Theater Series programs are presented at St. Clair Memorial Hall and are open to the public. Programs are generally based... read more

Ketrow Foundation Sponsors DCCA Programs
Darke County Center for the Arts recognizes the Ketrow foundation for their support of the arts in Darke County. DCCA thanks the Ketrow foundation for their contribution to the 2014-2015 season and forwarding DCCA’s mission to encourage cultural enrichment in the community. “A Night at the Oscars” performance by Toledo Symphony Orchestra, at Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall, Saturday, April 25 as the final show in... read more

Manure Science Review Program receives $5,000 Ohio EPA Grant
The annual Manure Science Review educates Ohio farmers on manure nutrient management. To further this effort, Ohio EPA awarded Ohio State University Extension a $5,000 environmental education grant to help fund this year’s event. Conducted by The Ohio State University Extension, this year’s Manure Science Review (MSR) will be held in Darke County in August. MSR provides an educational field day with science-based information on best... read more

Edison receives Reaffirmation of Accreditation
Edison Community College recently received formal notification and official record of Reaffirmation of Accreditation from its accrediting body, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). This process is implemented to ensure that students who graduate with a degree, certificate or look to transfer credits to another institution will be successful. Reaffirmation is based upon evaluation through the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP). In the... read more

Counting the homeless in Darke County
On January 27, 2015, with wind-chill factors of below 0°, members of the Darke County Continuum of Care (COC), led by staff from Community Action Partnership (CAP) and the Dayton VA, completed its ninth Point-In-Time (PIT) count. One of the positive outcomes of the study is the awareness to our community and the response it brings to the homeless plight. Work done by the COC has... read more

Greenville Auto Tech Prep Showcase Champion
The Greenville Career Tech Center Automotive Technology Presenting Team took the Championship title in the Techprep Showcase of 2015. The competition was held March 26th at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. The team consists of John Crowell, Dylan Kolb, Kelsey McClure, and their alternates, Hunter George and Collin Jennings. The students have been preparing for this... read more

Beef and Dairy News released, From Sam Custer
The March 25, issue # 928 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter is now posted to the web at: http://beef.osu.edu/beef/beefMar2515.html. If you’ve calved any cows in the past three weeks, chances are you’ve complained about the mud at least once. This week we take a look at two different ways for creating a more mud free environment for the cow herd. Articles this week include: Grass Tetany Prevention, Improving the Odds of Successfully Stockpiling Fescue... read more

Greenville Federal Sponsors DCCA Programs
Darke County Center for the Arts recognizes Greenville Federal as an Impresario sponsor of the upcoming “A Night at the Oscars” performance by Toledo Symphony Orchestra, at Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall, Saturday, April 25 as the final show in DCCA’s 2014-2015 Artists Series. Greenville Federal also supports DCCA’s Family Theatre Series... read more

Bluebag Media… Workforce Development’s STNA boasts 98 percent placement
GREENVILLE – “We had a surprise survey in January… the Ohio Department of Health gave us a 100 percent! No red flags! No dings!” That isn’t the only accomplishment Emily Powers, Coordinator for Darke County Workforce Development’s Adult STNA (State Tested Nursing Assistant) program, is proud of. “We have trained 78 students... read more

Community Events Photos… Treasure trove of memories from 2011-2012
While most of us are caught up in our daily routines or plans for the future, sometimes it’s nice to take a journey having little or nothing to do with either mindset. For some it might be a trip to the seashore; for others it might be spending some time with a good friend or reading that book you’ve been planning to get to for months… maybe even years. Or for some a little more advanced in age it might... read more

Trash Bash 2015 T-Shirt Contest Winners Announced
The Darke County Solid Waste District and 1 Shot Services recently sponsored a t-shirt design contest for Trash Bash 2015. Students in grades 7-12 were eligible to enter the contest. the Darke County Solid Waste Policy Committee selected Shayla Stephan’s entry as the winner. Shayla’s design will be put onto t-shirts that will be distributed to all participants of Trash Bash 2015... read more

MVCTC SkillsUSA students qualify to compete at state contest
Englewood, Ohio -- Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) SkillsUSA students performed well, with 40 students qualifying for the state competition. In the past, MVCTC students have excelled at SkillsUSA competitions often making it past the regional and state levels to either win or place in the top three at the national competition. The national competition, held in the summer, brings together more than 14,000 students, teachers, education... read more

MVCTC Students Semi-Finalists in 2015 Governor’s Youth Art Exhibit
Englewood, Ohio – Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) Digital Design, Graphic Commercial Art and Photography programs had 10 works of art selected as Ohio Governor's Youth Art Exhibit Semi-Finalists from hundreds of entries on March 7, at Stivers School for the Arts (Southwest Regional judging location). The semi-finalists advanced to Columbus where state... read more

Take a #PinwheelSelfie and Take a Stand against Child Abuse
COLUMBUS, Ohio –April is Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month, and the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund (OCTF) encourages all individuals to show their support by taking a photo of themselves holding a pinwheel and posting it to Facebook, Twitter or other social media sites using the #PinwheelSelfie hashtag. Blue and... read more

Helping Students Plan for Success! By Rhonda Schaar, Principal, South Middle School
Many 6th grade students aren’t thinking about graduation and beyond. However as adults, one of our responsibilities is to lead them in a direction that will prepare them for the best possible future. This involves early planning and guidance that continues into their High School career and beyond. At Greenville Middle School we have quite a variety of opportunities to help guide students into possible career... read more

Pets of the week
GREENVILLE - The Darke County Animal Shelter has many pets available for adoption, including several breeds of dogs, as well as cats and kittens. The Shelter chooses pets to feature each week, this week they've selected: Jake is a 5 year old Puggles, Pug/Beagle mix. He is brown and tan with short hair. He is housebroken, current on shots and has been altered. He is a very friendly and playful dog... read more

MVCTC Culinary Art Students Succeed at Regional FCCLA Competition
Clayton, Ohio – Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) Culinary Art students recently competed in the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) regional competition. MVCTC students brought home 15 medals and had eight students qualify to compete in the State FCCLA Contest April 22-24, in Columbus. MVCTC students winning awards at the regional competition... read more

Child Abuse and Neglect Awareness Month
On March 25, 2015, April was declared Child Abuse and Neglect Awareness Month by the Darke County Commissioners. Several public officials representing Children Services, Juvenile Court, law enforcement, community services, health, education, Prosecutor’s office, and CASA participated in the signing of the proclamation. During 2014, Children Services... read more

Bluebag Media… New Tecumseh Room additions coming soon
GREENVILLE – “Tecumseh walked the grounds of Shawnee Prairie. He was right here,” Darke County Parks Director Roger Van Frank said. The Tecumseh Room at Shawnee Prairie Nature Preserve with its Native American teepee, deer hide and more could even be located in the same spot used by Tecumseh or his brother the Prophet... read more

Bluebag Media… Braund retires, marking 46 years and counting
NEW MADISON – Forty-six years and counting… Delbert Braund, former military, former funeral home owner, former EMS volunteer, is retiring as the New Madison Fire Department’s Public Information Officer, but not from service to his community. “Oh, I’m still going to be around,” he said. “I’m still chairman of the board (New Madison Fire Company).” Fire Company President Randy Mikesell... read more

Cargill Cares Awards Funding to BBBS
Cargill has recently made a generous monetary donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby and Darke County. This funding will help fund the after-school mentoring program that pairs high school sophomore, juniors, and seniors with elementary students twice a month. The High School Mentoring program, known as “Big Buddies”, is a nine-month commitment where volunteer high school... read more

Bluebag Media… Annual pancake breakfast funds community services
GREENVILLE – “I’ve been coming here for a long time,” said Ohio Representative Jim Buchy at the Kiwanis of Greenville annual pancake breakfast. He was one of about 400 people enjoying the pancakes and sausage in Greenville High School’s cafeteria March 21. “I’m heading out to (U.S. Rep. John) Boehner’s Agricultural Luncheon,” he said, “but I couldn’t miss out on my pancakes... read more

Pets of the week
GREENVILLE - The Darke County Animal Shelter has many pets available for adoption, including several breeds of dogs, as well as cats and kittens. The Shelter choose pets to feature each week, this week they've selected: Tucker is a 10 month old Beagle/Terrier mix. He is tan and white with short hair. He is current on his shots and very playful. He is a happy little guy who loves to play. He is ready... read more

VHCC achieves Best-In-Class
Over the course of 2014, Pinnacle Quality Insight, a nationally recognized customer satisfaction firm, has interviewed patients, residents and families of Versailles Health Care Center regarding their satisfaction levels. They were asked to evaluate several aspects of their received services. From the results of these interviews, Pinnacle has determined that Versailles Health Care... read more

Bowl for Kids Sake 2015 generates $37,000
The Bowl For Kids Sake bowling event that was held on Friday, March 6th & Saturday, March 8 at Bel-Mar Lanes in Sidney Treaty Lanes in Greenville with nearly 75 bowling teams consisting of 4 to 5 people in attendance. The agency would like to thank all the businesses and individuals who supported their biggest fundraiser of the year. The money raised will go towards establishing one-to-one... read more

Bluebag Media… Biddlestones continue support for local teens
GREENVILLE – This made five… the fifth year Debbie and Darrell Biddlestone took time out of their trucking business schedules – one that takes them across the country, from Florida to Nebraska to Arizona – to meet with Senior Scribes Scholarship Fund President Elaine Bailey and SSSF Board Member Gary Young. They presented their fifth annual check to sponsor a scholarship to a deserving... read more

Bluebag Media… Dickey display brings memories to fellow Marines
GREENVILLE – “Doug was a true hero… I see his face all the time; I hope it never ends.” Two of Pfc. Douglas Dickey’s platoon members were looking at the Medal of Honor display at Garst Museum for the first time… “When I look at this group of guys, I see a unity, a group of courageous Marines…” A pause, then “When I look at Doug… he was one of the greatest Marines I’ve ever known... read more

Visitors Bureau partners with Greenville Career Tech Hospitality
GREENVILLE, OH (March 24, 2015) – The Darke County Visitors Bureau announces partnership with the Greenville High School Career Tech Hospitality Program to offer an internship to a high school senior. “This is the first year for the internship with the Hospitality Program,” stated Deanna York, Executive Director of the Visitors Bureau. “Over the past few years, I’ve enjoyed the partnership created... read more

Bluebag Media… Library offers a lesson in organic seed growth
GREENVILLE – “If something doesn’t grow, it doesn’t mean you don’t have a green thumb,” said Edward Flora of Richland Gardens. “It only means you found a way that didn’t work. Try again.” About 30 people filled the Greenville Public Library third floor meeting room March 12 for a presentation on “Starting Seeds.” Flora was invited to make the... read more

IMTV students compete in BPA Regional
The junior and senior Interactive Media (IMTV) students in the Career Tech Center at Greenville Senior High School recently competed at the Regional Business Professional’s of America Competition at Miami Valley CTC. Congratulations are in order for the following Interactive Media students for their accomplishments: Tyler Landis, Senior, 1st Place in Fundamentals of Desktop Publishing. Tyler qualifies and will be competing at the BPA... read more

Bluebag Media… Edison Darke Co. director to focus on community needs
GREENVILLE – The Edison Community College Darke County Center has a new director with a new challenge. The new director is Darke County native and 2001 Mississinawa Valley graduate Chad Beanblossom. The new challenge is helping the campus grow. Effective this fall, PSEOP (Post Secondary Education Opportunity) will be replaced with CCP (College Credit Plus), a program that will move... read more

Dr. Thomas & Suzanne Brown Sponsor Successful Irish Wave 2015
Darke County Center for the Arts recognizes Dr. Thomas & Suzanne Brown for their sponsorship of the recent St. Patrick’s Day fundraising event Irish Wave 2015. DCCA’s Executive Director Andrea Jordan stated, “Darke County Center for the Arts is grateful for the generosity of sponsors, like Dr. Thomas & Suzanne Brown, who value and are willing to support the arts in our community... read more

Bluebag Media… Burkett the re-enactor; also a naturalist
GREENVILLE – “I put it together over a period of months,” said J. Burkett, Naturalist, also known locally as John Burkett, President of the Greenville City Council (among other things). He pointed out the detail of the George Washington Field Kitchen replica he’d built from scratch. “The original,” he added, “is really beat up, but it’s beautiful.” Burkett noted his version is a little larger... read more

Zechar Bailey Funeral Home Sponsors DCCA Fundraising Event
Darke County Center for the Arts recognizes Zechar Bailey Funeral Home for their sponsorship of the recent St. Patrick’s Day fundraising event Irish Wave 2015. DCCA’s Executive Director Andrea Jordan stated, “Darke County Center for the Arts is grateful for the generosity of sponsors, like Zechar Bailey Funeral Home, who value and are willing to support the arts in our community.” The 3rd annual... read more

MVCTC Students Excel at BPA Contest
Englewood, Ohio -- Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) Business Professionals of America (BPA) students performed well at the recent BPA Region 3 Contests with 129 students winning or placing in the top six for their contest. Of the regional winners, 52 qualified to compete at the State BPA Contest in Columbus March 12-13, 2015... read more

VHCC celebrates Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day
Versailles Health Care Center and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics celebrated Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. As the nation's food and nutrition experts, registered dietitian nutritionists are committed to improving the health of their patients and community. Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day... read more

February GCTC Students of the Month
Congratulations to Jessica Landis of the Hospitality Program and Dannielle Leibherr of the CIS Program for being selected as the February GCTC students of the month. The Hospitality Program is directed by Mrs.Toni Shellabarger and the CIS Program is directed by Mr. Nathan Sharp and Mr. Bob Warner. The standards to be selected as the student of the month include: Service... read more

Bluebag Media… Ploch on the Prairie
GREENVILLE – “This is a time I would like to be living in,” said Sam Ploch, noting he thought it would be a better fit for him than living in today’s world. Ploch was a volunteer at the Darke County Parks Shawnee Prairie Maple Festival March 7. As with other volunteers over the two-day weekend, he was dressed in nineteenth century attire. When in character, Ploch said he prefers being addressed... read more

Invest in the Best of SE Ohio's Nature Preserves
CUTLER, OH - Diverse landscapes offer a variety of habitats for unique plants and animals in southeast Ohio. A number of rare species are protected in the region’s 26 state nature preserves because of the generosity of Ohioans who donated a portion of their tax refunds to the State Nature Preserves Fund. Donations to the State Nature Preserves Fund help protect the best of Ohio’s natural... read more

Big Brothers Big Sisters Partner Up With Girl Scouts
March 13, 2015 -- A group of Bigs and Littles recently partnered up with Girl Scouts of America to provide female Littles and Bigs in the Shelby County Big Brothers Big Sisters with the opportunity to participate in the Girl Scout program. There were 25 participants in the program ranging in different ages. The Bigs and Littles met from 6:00P.M. to 7:00P.M. for 5 sessions starting in January... read more

Edison’s Child Development Center earns Five-Star Rating
Edison Community College’s Child Development Center earned a Five-Star Step Up To Quality award from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Bureau of Child Care and Development, the state agency responsible for licensing and promoting high standards among Ohio’s child care centers. “Our ultimate goal was to ensure that we were able to provide our children with a learning environment... read more

Blood donor Cassell tells secrets to a long life
GREENVILLE, Ohio - “What kind of button can you never unbutton?” Greenville’s Jesse Cassell is a warm-hearted and sharp-witted 93-year-old, and he was quick to deliver a corny punchline (“A belly button!”) when he arrived at the Women of the Moose blood drive, held Tuesday, March 10 at the Greenville Church of the Brethren. It’s his way of saying “hello.” “That’s Jesse! He’s such a sweet man... read more

Premier Health highlights partnership with Edison
Premier Health Vice President and System Chief Nursing Officer, Dr. Sylvain Trepanier, visited Edison Community College on February 27 to review the sustained academic relationship between Premier Health and the College. Terry Fry, Chief Nursing Officer for Upper Valley Medical Center, accompanied Dr. Trepanier. Together they... read more

Pets of the week
GREENVILLE - The Darke County Animal Shelter has many pets available for adoption, including several breeds of dogs, as well as cats and kittens. The Friends of the Shelter choose pets to feature each week, this week they've selected: AJ is a 4 year old Australian Shepherd. He is gray, white and black with long hair. He is a friendly guy who loves to be around people. He is current on his shots and weighs around 50 pounds. He will make a great friend and companion... read more

Bluebag Media… Visitors fill up on waffles; learn about frontier life
GREENVILLE – The tables were full; the waffles huge and dozens of volunteers kept the food flowing as approximately 400 visitors had breakfast at Shawnee Prairie before heading out to see how the maple syrup they enjoyed was being made. According to Laura Schwieterman, Darke County Parks Coordinator, their weekend total was about 650 visitors. The annual Maple Festival... read more

St. Marys March Newsletter
I have a picture of a lion and one of a lamb that I use when I set up the classroom calendar for March. We like to test out the old proverb about March coming in like a lion and leaving like a lamb or vice versa. So every year my class decides whether March has come in like a lion or a lamb. Usually there is some discussion, however this year the vote was unanimous. March definitely came roaring in with the heavy snow and bitter cold. The weather... read more

Bluebag Media… 4H clubs recruit, announce program at open house
GREENVILLE – “I want to explore the outdoors,” said 8-year-old Carley Timmerman. Is she interested in cows or pigs? She wrinkled her nose as she thought about it. “No,” she said, finally. This will be Carley’s first year in 4H. She just turned eight. The outdoors captures her interest because there are “a lot of fun things to do.” Her big sister, Brooke, was a State Alternate in the Safe Use of Guns... read more

EUM Church builds homes in Guatemala
Destination Known, mission ministry at EUM Church in Greenville, is in their tenth year building homes for families living in the garbage dump communities in Guatemala. Partnering with Potter’s House Association International in Guatemala, a team of eleven people from EUM travelled to Guatemala in February to build two more homes. During this week-long mission trip, the team works attentively... read more

Changing Requirements for New Teachers, By Laura Bemus, Assistant Superintendent, Greenville City School District -- For the past four years, there has been a change for new teachers. Prior to that time, when a teacher graduated from a college or university, meeting the education requirements to become a teacher, they applied for and were issued a two year provisional teaching license from the Ohio Department of Education. Now, upon graduation a prospective teacher is issued a Resident Educator license... read more

CAP offers bargains in the Clothing Bank
Community Action Partnership (CAP) of Darke County wants to remind residents that the Clothing Bank has many articles of clothing, including baby and children’s clothes, coats, shoes, and miscellaneous household items available at bargain prices. The Clothing Bank is located in the basement of the CAP building at 1469 Sweitzer St. Hours of operation are 9 to 3 on Wednesdays and Fridays. The CAP... read more

March is Social Work Month
The month of March is Social Work Month! Since its inception, the social work profession has worked to improve life for millions every day. Social workers operate from values that recognize each person as relevant to society and believe that, when needed, society should help each person achieve his or her fullest potential. People choose careers in the social work profession because they believe... read more

MVCTC FFA Students Perform Well at District Speaking Contest
Englewood, Ohio - Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) FFA members from the Hoke Road Campus and many of the MVCTC Agriculture satellite programs participated in the District 5 FFA Speaking Contest recently. The contest included five speech categories and contestants from Anna, Ansonia, Botkins, Coldwater, Covington, Eaton-MVCTC... read more

Karen Kasich announces donations to Ohio Children Charities
COLUMBUS – Ohio First Lady Karen Waldbillig Kasich today announced that charities across the state committed to the health and wellness of Ohio’s children will receive more than $182,000 in funds remaining from the Kasich-Taylor New Day inauguration committee. “Ohio wouldn’t be the wonderful place it is without the passion of those who work hard every day to support the health and welfare of some of Ohio’s most at-risk children... read more

Summer Youth Employers Needed
Would you and your company like to make a difference in the life of a young person this summer in Darke County? Many of today’s youth face the obstacle of obtaining experience and work in our community. You can help by becoming a partner host employment site this summer for the WIA Summer Work Program. The Council on Rural Services (CORS) along with Gateway Youth Programs... read more

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown… U.S. Military Service Academy Applications Now Online
Applications for Ohioans interested in seeking a nomination to U.S. Military Service Academies for 2016 admission are now available on U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s (D-OH) website. Each year, Sen. Brown nominates up to 10 students for each service academy requiring congressional recommendations: the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point... read more

DP&L Foundation sponsors DCCA Arts in Education, Family Theatre
The Dayton Power and Light Company Foundation has once again given a very generous donation to Darke County Center for the Arts in support of Family Theatre Series and Arts In Education programs. Family Theater Series programs are presented at St. Clair Memorial Hall and are open to the public. Programs are generally based on children’s literature; ticket prices are just $5. Through Arts In Education, and in conjunction... read more

Bluebag Media… Allais Paradox, Alzheimer’s & Nickel were the focus of Science Day winners - GREENVILLE – Are agreeable people more prone to make detrimental decisions involving selections with negative consequences than their conscientious counterparts? Greenville High School junior Francesca Masso-Rivetti wanted to find out. While she was able to substantiate that conscientious individuals were less likely to make detrimental... read more

Greenville CTC CIS Region 3 BPA Contest Results
The CIS 11 class recently competed in the Region 3 Business Professionals of America Skills Contest. Craig Cable 1st in Advanced Spreadsheet Applications, Nick Buckingham 1st place C++ programming, Tyler Netzley 1st place in Network Administration using Microsoft, Caleb Poston 1st place in Computer Security, Zach Baughman 2nd place in Extemporaneous Speech, Eric Pence 2nd place in C++ programming, William Massie 2nd place in Java, and Randy Blakeley 5th place in PC Servicing and Troubleshooting.

Bluebag Media… A Special Olympics event that’s “all about them”
GREENVILLE – “We did lots of brainstorming… different ideas… this one kind of fell into place,” said the Greenville High School juniors. “We did something that’s going to have an impact. It’s definitely unique… there’s never been a fundraiser like this to honor Special Olympics.” The fundraiser? A Night in Hollywood to Benefit Special Olympics. While that is one purpose... read more

Greenville Federal Becomes an Annie Oakley Festival Sponsor Again
Hannah Linebaugh, sponsorship committee chairman of the Annie Oakley Festival Committee, met with Jeff D. Kniese, President and CEO of Greenville Federal, to receive their sponsorship on behalf of the 2015 festival. Greenville Federal has helped sponsor this county tradition for many years. Though the midwinter chill dominated outside, indoors the excitement and anticipation... read more

41 MVCTC Students Place in Regional BPA Contest
Englewood, Ohio -- Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) Business Professionals of America (BPA) students recently competed in Region 3 Open Contests. Students from MVCTC, Greenville, Wayne-MVCTC Business Satellite, Milton Union-MVCTC Business Satellite, Valley View-MVCTC Business Satellite, and Franklin Monroe-MVCTC Business Satellite participated in contests to showcase the skills they have learned in their career technical program... read more

Greenville CTC Careers with Children Compete at FCCLA
Congratulations to Careers with Children students who competed at the Regional FCCLA competition. The students competed at Miami Valley CTC on Saturday, February 28th in various Early Childhood events. The following students received a gold medal: Amber Mead, Macayla Mendoza, Elizabeth Pressler, Samarra Sucharda, Kayla Worrell, Seryn Crawford, Caitlin Beasecker... read more

Edward Jones Representatives Sponsor DCCA IRISH WAVE
Darke County Center for the Arts (DCCA) recognizes Edward Jones Investment Representatives Dave Connelly, Todd Subler, Andria Haworth, Bill Wolke and Ryan Carpe for their sponsorship of the Irish Wave fundraiser, set for Friday, March 13, 6:30 P.M. at Montage Cafe. As well as, the recent sold out A Taste of Wine & Jazz held in January. According to DCCA Executive Director... read more

MVCTC Students Tapped for National Technical Honor Society
Englewood, Ohio – Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) tapped 66 students on Wednesday, February 25, 2015, to be inducted into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS). The students will be inducted on Sunday, March 22, 2015, during a ceremony held in the MVCTC Student Activity Center. Students are selected for NTHS based on the following requirements: a 3.75 grade point average or higher, 97 percent attendance... read more

Court News Ohio… Students Participate in New Supreme Court Civics Education Program, By Jenna Gant - February 26, 2015 -- Students from Westland High School in Galloway and London High School participated in the first Courtroom to Classroom program with the Ohio Supreme Court. The innovative civics education program allows students to watch live stream video of Supreme Court oral arguments online in their government classes while working with local attorneys to learn more about the judicial system through a Supreme Court case. Last week... read more

Poultry Days pays tribute to spring and baseball
In advance of the upcoming festival, and in an effort to allow parade and festival goers to prepare, the Poultry Days Board is proud to announce the 2015 theme, which pays tribute to the spirit of spring and baseball. The 2015 theme is “Take Me Out To The Poultry Days Festival”. The 64th annual festival will be held June 12, 13, and 14th in Versailles Ohio. One of Ohio’s oldest festivals... read more

Read Across America Day at Woodland Primary, By Jodi Harter, Assistant Principal
Here at Woodland Primary, we work very hard everyday teaching kindergarten through 2nd graders how to read. It is an amazing transformation watching the students become readers. GCS Superintendent Mr. Doug Fries once said, “In K-2 we learn to read, in grades 3 through 12 we read to learn.” We are giving our students a solid foundation in literacy to ensure that our children grow... read more

Bluebag Media… East students raise money and build ‘healthy hearts’
GREENVILLE – “I floss my teeth, eat black beans (causes gas), scarf down the oatmeal, spinach and flax…” And the poem continues. East Intermediate teacher Mrs. Flora was one of six contestants competing for the title of “Why I am a Heart Hero!” Throughout the week third and fourth grade students went through a series of exercises during gym. Gym teacher Miss (Cindy) Rose had them rotate... read more

GCTC Students of the Month
Congratulations to Gunnar Fustos of the Engineering Program and Tanika Ray of the Supply Chain Management Program for being selected as the January GCTC students of the month. The Engineering program is directed by Mr. Chris Sykes and the Supply Chain Management Program is directed by Mrs. Dara Buchy. The standards to be selected... read more

Pets of the week
GREENVILLE - The Darke County Animal Shelter has many pets available for adoption, including several breeds of dogs, as well as cats and kittens. The Friends of the Shelter choose pets to feature each week, this week they've selected: Trooper is a 6 year old Golden Retriever/Husky mix. He is tan and white with short hair. He is a playful guy who loves... read more

Wayne HealthCare Welcomes New Hospital Foundation Director
(Greenville, OH) February 25, 2015 - Wayne HealthCare is pleased to announce that Lauren Henry, MBA, PHR has been appointed as the Wayne Hospital Foundation Director. Ms. Henry comes to Wayne with great relationship-building experience having led the Darke County United Way for 8 years. Prior to serving as director, Lauren served on the United... read more

Court News Ohio… Court’s Mentoring Program Changing Lives, By Jenna Gant
February 23, 2015 -- Spencer Kirksey and Noah Mirando are two friends bowling after school. “Oh, my goodness – come on, come on. So close,” Mirando laughs. They’ve only been hanging out since September, but already Kirksey says he’s good pals with 14-year-old Mirando. “He’s really opened up. He was really shy in the beginning, and now it’s like I’m hanging out with one of my buddies... read more

BPA Region 3 State Qualifiers
Congratulations to the Greenville Career Tech Center Region 3 State Qualifiers. Students will be competing at the state BPA competition on March 12, 2015 in Columbus, Ohio. Sydney Alcaraz, Michaela Colby, Jade Anthony, Anai Gutierrez, Keisha Warner, Tanika Ray, Clay Guillozet, Nicole Sheery, Terin Ellis, Chelsea Stout, Addison Hart, Deon Adkins, Victoria Nader, Tyler Landis , Craig Cable, Tyler Netzley, Caleb Poston, Darin Gusek, Danielle Liebherr, Mathew Oiler, Allen Burden, Joseph Miller, Nicholas Buckingham, Eric Pence, William Massey, Devyn Jones, Logan Emrick

2015 Tree Sale Underway
The Darke Soil & Water Conservation District is conducting its annual tree seedling sale until March 27. The 2-3 year seedlings are bare root stock and each tree is dipped into a preservative gel to keep roots moist. Our seedlings are packaged in groups of five. An assortment of tree packets are offered for sale to urban and rural landowners. The plant varieties are selected for their popularity and hardiness in the Darke County area. This is an economical... read more

Bluebag Media… Edison DCC to participate in workforce education
GREENVILLE – “We are aggressively pursuing Workforce Development training as part of diversifying our offerings to the community,” said Rhonda Rich, Edison Darke County Campus Coordinator and Success Advisor. “At the same time we’ll continue to serve the needs of traditional and CCP (College Credit Plus) students,” she added, noting this will allow the college to serve the overall... read more

GCTC FFA Members Participate in Public Speaking
Sydney Lawson, Kody Purvis, Chad Harter, Victoria Nader and Olivia McDade represented Greenville FFA in the District 5, Sub-District Public Speaking Contest on February 10, 2015 at Brookville High School. Sydney Lawson, a freshman, participated in the Creed speaking contest and Kody Purvis and Chad Harter participated in the Advanced Creed speaking contest. The FFA creed consists... read more

State Senator Keith Faber… Ohio Legislative Service Commission Accepting Fellowship Applications -- Each year college graduates set out to begin their professional lives armed with new degrees, great enthusiasm and high expectations. Many, however, quickly realize that getting a foot in the door can be a difficult challenge, even for the most qualified candidates. It is an under-appreciated fact that employers must often choose between several academically successful candidates, making... read more

Annie Oakley Festival Parade returns
Downtown Greenville – July 25 – 10 a.m. -- The Annie Oakley Festival Committee proudly announces the return of the Annie Oakley Parade. We are looking forward to providing an exciting, family and community oriented parade, for the entire Darke County area. We are grateful for the overwhelming support and words of encouragement for the return of this wonderful parade. To make this parade an enormous success, we need your help... read more

Bluebag Media… Student achievement recognized in East awards assembly
GREENVILLE – Feb. 13 was awards time at East Intermediate School, but before the gymnasium had filled and East Principal Kitty Zumbrink got to the business at hand, a “young” lady, Cindi Koontz, stole the show. She wore a huge heart with the message “East – I’m back” with lots of small hearts in different sizes and colors, rose-tinted heart-shaped glasses, braided hair... read more

The Perfect Wingman, By Will McCabe
Hey single guys, have you ever been in a social situation where you needed someone to help you sort through all of the people and find a girl to talk to? Have you been trying to find the nerve to talk to that cute girl in the corner but don’t have the strength or encouragement to do so? Is that girl you were hoping to talk to by yourself actually with other people at the moment? Well, then you need a wingman... read more

Dayton Business Journal… Dayton-area college scores for producing CEOs
Feb 17, 2015 -- A local university is churning out some notable leaders. That's the finding from Equilar, which studies executive compensation. The report looked at CEOs of new public companies that had their IPOs in 2014. Only companies that raised at least $100 million were considered for the list. And Miami University produced leaders for two of the companies last year... read more

Bluebag Media… Three Versailles students in top 5 at district POP
BOTKINS – Your best friend collapses; rushed to the hospital. For the next year the youngster supports her friend… they will get through it together. At some point, however, the child begins to see her friend losing ground. At some point, she has to accept reality and say good-bye… “I love you, mom.” Two students shared a bond… that of being unpopular in their school. Then they meet a girl who... read more

Bluebag Media… House of Hope for girls planned for August
GREENVILLE – The question was… “Since most of the girls will not want to be there…” The response was… “ALL of the girls will not want to be there.” Amy Raynes, MA, President and CEO of House of Hope Dayton, was at Kiwanis of Greenville Feb. 11 to continue her campaign for support for an alternative to juvenile detention for unruly and delinquent girls. She noted while Dayton... read more

Tenant Based Rental Subsidy
Community Action Partnership has received funding from the Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) in partnership with Darke County Commissioners for tenant based rental subsidy (TBRA) throughout Darke County. Preference will be given to those who are homeless, veterans, and whose income... read more

American Legion donates to Special Olympics
Darke County Special Olympics is beginning the 38th year of providing athletic opportunities for students and adults with varying types of disabilities from the Darke County and Greenville City Schools and Wayne Industries. Volunteer director of Darke County Special Olympics Cindy Rose, on the left, is shown receiving a check from... read more

Faber, Buchy Recognize State Champion Football Teams
COLUMBUS – Ohio Senate President Keith Faber (R-Celina) and State Representative Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) yesterday recognized the the Marion Local and Minster High School football teams for capturing the Ohio High School Athletic Association's 2014 state titles. “The Midwest Athletic Conference once again delivered two more state football championships,” Buchy said... read more

Edison’s Medical Assistant Program Exceeds Standards
Edison Community College’s Medical Assistant (MA) program recently received high commends. The program has once again exceeded the thresholds held by its accrediting body, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs (CAAHEP). Reviewed annually by the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB), Edison’s MA program is measured against such standards... read more

Company Recognized for Exemplary Approach to Delivery of Managed IT Services
Lima, OH, February 17, 2015 – PERRY proTECH today announced it has earned recognition on The Channel Company’s 2015 CRN Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list as one of the MSP Elite 150. This annual list distinguishes the top technology providers and consultants in North America whose leading approach to managed services enables their customers to improve operational efficiencies, elicit greater value from their IT investments... read more

Bluebag Media… Interest huge in Keiser Longtown presentation
GREENVILLE – “This is the largest response we have ever had,” said Greenville librarian Deb Cameron as she looked upon a crowd of about 100 people filling every vacant seat in the room and overflowing into the lobby. She was introducing Connor Keiser, who was there to talk about “Longtown: A Reason to Celebrate African History Month.” Earlier she said people started coming... read more

Tutoring With A Twist, By Kayli Duncan, We Are the Majority Peer Leader
Does your child need after school help? We Are the Majority, a group founded by Recovery and Wellness Centers of Midwest Ohio, is now offering study sessions after school. These study sessions are held for students third through sixth grade at Gateway Youth Programs. Gateway is located at 116 East Third Street in downtown Greenville. Study Sessions begin at approximately 3:45 and end at 5:15... read more

Bluebag Media… Federal Reserve VP says economy better than 6 years ago
GREENVILLE – “The projection for real estate is looking good,” said local Realtor and Past President of the Darke County Board of Realtors Aleene Cromwell. “2015-2016 are good times!” Her comment Feb. 6 at the 8th Annual Darke County Chamber of Commerce Ground Hog Day Breakfast was echoed by the event’s featured speaker, LaVaughn M. Henry, Ph.D., vice president and senior... read more

Edison Community College… Minnich is new SBDC Director and Workforce Sales Development
Edison Community College is pleased to announce and welcome Lori Minnich as the Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and workforce sales development. Minnich will be responsible for providing consultation for small business start-ups and growing businesses throughout the Upper Miami Valley. Additionally, she joins the Edison’s Business and Industry sales team... read more

Sidney-Shelby Cty Chamber Foundation Awards Funding to BBBS
The Sidney-Shelby County Chamber Foundation recently awarded $500.00 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby and Darke County. Big Brothers Big Sisters was chosen to receive funding because of its continued efforts to make a positive impact in “at risk” children. The funding will be used towards technology devices to be used in the STEM curriculm for the school mentoring program that pairs high... read more

Bluebag Media… ACES gets support for grant to help at-risk youth
GREENVILLE – The Community Connectors Grant requires partnering with at least one school district with a high percentage of students living in poverty and not graduating on time… done. It requires a faith based organization in each district to work in the program… done. And it requires partnering with at least one local business. That was accomplished... read more

DP&L Donates to BBBS
Dayton Power & Light Foundation has recently donated $7,000.00 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby and Darke County. The donation was awarded as a grant to help fund the after-school Buddies program. “The support we receive from DP&L Foundation goes a long way with helping Big Brothers Big Sisters with supplies, recruitment, and professionally supporting our six after school programs. We are very excited and appreciative of all the support... read more

Bluebag Media… Arcanum’s CCP goal is a year and a half of college credit
ARCANUM – Arcanum-Butler School District will be offering 13 classes in the CCP program this fall. “We have teachers in virtually every department who are qualified,” said Superintendent John Stephens. He said most of his students are still on campus using Arcanum teachers through the district’s Dual Enrollment Option with Urbana University. He added they had 12 or 13 students... read more

Break the Blahs of Winter! Save a Life!
Are you ready to break the blahs of winter with a life saving party? It is a party that may actually benefit you, your family and the community. Learn CitizensCPR, the hands-on only CPR, in just 30 minutes and then kick off the party. What a great way to get together a regular group of friends, your organization, your staff, a Sunday school class, a family reunion or your clients. Most people... read more

Fort GreeneVille DAR donates to Library
Fort GreeneVille Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution recently donated two genealogy books to the Greenville Public Library’s Genealogy Room. The books, Mercer County Deaths Vol. 1 and 2, list Mercer County obituaries which will aid in local genealogy research. The books were donated in memorial to chapter members Martha Labig, Zerma Weiss, Anabelle Stamper... read more

Sorghum Press Needed
Can you help us? The Darke County Park District is looking for a 19th century sorghum or cane mill. We are interested in expanding our historical programming and would like to venture into making sorghum syrup... read more

SNB presents original Ackley print to fair
February 10. Second National Bank President John Swallow presents Great Darke County Fair Manager Daryl Riffle a Paul Ackley original print for display... read more

St. Marys School February Newsletter
Last Thursday my first graders were really excited. We finally got to put up a snowy tag on the weather graph during math meeting time. The snow never seemed to be falling at the time we did the weather graph, which is pretty frustrating for first graders. I made sure we moved the math meeting along at a fair clip in order to be able to graph the falling snow. Later that day we had a snow squall and my second graders were... read more

Bluebag Media… CCP on a high school campus is a complex issue
PITSBURG – “Bizarre,” said a teacher at Franklin Monroe High School about College Credit Plus (CCP). He later shrugged his shoulders and said, “I’m a teacher. I do what they tell me.” Jim Gish, counselor at Franklin Monroe, was more vocal about it. “We were just flabbergasted when we heard about it,” he said. He added an ODE (Ohio Department... read more

Revised Fairboard petition requirements
February 3, 2015 - Greenville OH - The Directors for The Great Darke County Fair have revised the Darke County Agricultural Society’s Fairboard Member Board petition requirements. Per the October 1, 2014 Board Meeting Minutes, effective immediately, all future Fairboard candidates will be required to attend two Fairboard meetings prior to picking up a Fairboard petition. This requirement goes with the existing requirements of: Must be a minimum... read more

Bluebag Media… ESC, Light Foundation get families outside to explore
GREENVILLE – It was 24 degrees outside and about 30 families showed up… Angie McMurry, Educational Service Center (ESC) Science Curriculum Coordinator was delighted. “It exceeded my expectations,” she said. The Light Project, a pilot program being funded by the Light Foundation and conducted by ESC, brought first graders and their families to Matt Light’s Chenoweth Trails for the first... read more

Pets of the week
GREENVILLE - The Darke County Animal Shelter has many pets available for adoption, including several breeds of dogs, as well as cats and kittens. The Friends of the Shelter choose pets to feature each week, this week they've selected: Sissy is a 7 year old Husky mix. She is white with long hair. She is friendly girl and knows some commands. She isn’t fond of cats. She will make... read more

Greenville High School… How Did Greenville High School’s Auto-Tech Program Become a Crown Jewel, By Carl Brown, Assistant Principal -- What makes the Automobile Technology program of Greenville High School to be one of national recognition? Certainly eight National Championships in the Skills USA Competition (2001-2003 & 2005-2009) draws a special light on the program. It goes without saying that over the years the program has attracted developed and produced some... read more

Bluebag Media… GSD’s K-8 delayed a semester, high school on schedule
GREENVILLE – Weather and budget control has delayed the finished construction of the K-8 facility on North Ohio Street a semester; renovation of Greenville Senior High School, however, is a little ahead of schedule. “We will start moving in (to the K-8 facility) during Christmas break of 2016,” said Greenville City Schools Superintendent Doug Fries. “Classes will start in January 2017.” He... read more

Great Darke County Fair… Wambold's Amazing Animals Show
For more than thirty years Robert and Diane Moyer have been training and caring for our animal companions of many species, from Horses to Dogs to Ponies, Camels, Llamas, Tigers, Lions and Elephants. After performing on almost every major American Circus, they proudly present their most accomplished presentation, “WAMBOLDS AMAZING ANIMALS”. A 30-minute educational... read more

Another Successful DCCA A Taste of Wine & Jazz XXVIII; Sponsored by Kent & Melinda Myers
Darke County Center for the Arts (DCCA) recognizes Kent & Melinda Myers for their sponsorship of the recent A Taste Of Wine & Jazz XXVIII, held January 16, at Montage Cafe. According to DCCA Executive Director Andrea Jordan, DCCA thanks Kent & Melinda Myers for their continued support of the arts in Darke County, their commitment ensures continuing the party that... read more

CBC celebrates Vectren for 10 years of scholarships
DAYTON, Ohio – Community Blood Center (CBC) is celebrating 10 years of partnering with Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio (Vectren) to award college scholarships to high school seniors who creatively challenge their peers to be blood donors. Vectren has provided $50,000 in tuition assistance since first sponsoring the original CBC “Save Our Supply” scholarship in 2005. Vectren’s $5,000 pledge... read more

Bluebag Media… Patrick wants more students staying on campus
PITSBURG – “We want our role models on campus,” said Franklin Monroe Superintendent Jeff Patrick. “I have very few juniors and seniors here… we lose them when they take Post Secondary (Enrollment Opportunity Program, PSEOP) classes.” Many students will take their Edison Community College classes in the early afternoon and... read more

James Sommer earns OSBA award
COLUMBUS – James A. Sommer, a board member of the Greenville City School Board, will be presented with the Ohio School Boards Association’s Award of Achievement at one of the association’s regional spring conferences to be held in Clayton on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. The Award of Achievement is given to school board members... read more

Great Darke County Fair… Velma Campbell 2015 Parade Marshall
The Directors for The Great Darke County Fair are pleased to announce that Velma Campbell has been selected as the 2015 Parade Marshall. Velma was elected in August of 1998 for a 1-year term. The Fairboard expanded to 11 members in 1999 and Velma was re-elected in August of 1999 for a full 3-year term, making 1999 her... read more

County News Online… 2014 Favorite Photos now in a slideshow
The County News Online Favorite Photos of 2014 are now available to viewers in a slideshow format… actually two sets of 130 each. Your math is correct… there are a total of 260 photos picked as favorites for last year. All attempts at trimming them down failed and a single set lasting 13 minutes would try the patience of most viewers. The majority of these photos were taken on assignment... read more

Bluebag Media… EUM Preschool promotes fall enrollment with Frozen
GREENVILLE – “We brainstormed ideas on how to promote the preschool to the community,” said EUM Christian Preschool Director Elaine Snyder. “We wanted to come up with something to attract families; offer a fun thing for families on a Friday night.” They decided on a movie. Despite the possibility the movie might already be in the homes of most – if not all – of their intended audience... read more

Greenville CBI and Playing the Game of Life, By David Sykes, CBI Coordinator Greenville High School -- Students of the Greenville CBI class played the game of Life for two weeks in December. Not the classic board game but a dice-based simulation that mimics random events in a person’s life. Students begin by rolling dice to be assigned careers. By allowing chance to decide their careers, students are forced to make choices and manage resources based on chance... read more

Hash Joins Recovery and Wellness Centers as CMO
Dr. Phillip A.K. Hash, DO, PhD, will join the staff of Recovery and Wellness Centers of Midwest Ohio as Chief Medical Officer full time March 16. He began part time Jan. 27. In his role as Chief Medical Officer, primary goals will include enhancing timely, high quality care at RWC, significantly reducing wait times, and providing families more rapid access to improve care and decreasing the burden on our... read more

Farm Power of the Past set for July 9-12
Greenville Farm Power of the Past will hold its annual show at the Darke County Fairgrounds July 9-12. The show was organized in 1999 to preserve and educate others about the historical, educational, and mechanical aspects of farming and/or agricultural activities as conducted in earlier times; utilizing machinery, implements and equipment propelled or powered by animals, steam and internal... read more

Pets of the week
GREENVILLE - The Darke County Animal Shelter has many pets available for adoption, including several breeds of dogs, as well as cats and kittens. The Friends of the Shelter choose pets to feature each week, this week they've selected: Hank is a 2 year old Beagle. He is red and white with short hair. He is a friendly little guy who loves to play. He will make a great companion and friend. He is looking... read more

Great Darke County Fair… Old Man Hits Chickens and Hits it Big ! !
Greenville OH - Just this past week local oldster/prankster Granpa Cratchet lost control, again, of his old truck coming down Big Haller Road. Those first on the scene thought the big landing had occurred and space aliens were taking over. What first appeared to be little white fluffy tuffs were seen falling out of the sky. An out of control vehicle of some... read more

Wayne Healthcare Endoscopy unit recognized for quality and safety
GREENVILLE, OH. – February 3 – The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), a leading gastrointestinal medical society, has recently granted a three-year renewal recognition for quality and safety to Wayne HealthCare Endoscopy Unit in Greenville, Ohio as part of its program specifically dedicated to promoting quality in endoscopy in all settings where it is practiced in the United States Wayne HealthCare Endoscopy Unit is one... read more

Bluebag Media… CCP not always possible for small districts
ANSONIA – Responding to the recent ODE criteria change for College Credit Plus (CCP) classes, Superintendent for Mississinawa Valley and Ansonia Local Schools Jim Atchley said he still wasn’t sure how that would impact his districts. Earlier he had said the requirement that a student must be registered both as a college student and a high school student was unrealistic for small districts like his... read more

SSSF thanks sponsors
The Senior Scribes Scholarship Fund Committee is a little know entity in the Darke County Community but one that has made a big difference in the lives of many of our young people. Originating as the scholarship arm of the Senior Scribes, an organization of writers who wanted to encourage young people to pursue careers in the field of communications, the Senior Scribes Scholarship Fund... read more

Toastmasters active 44 years and counting
The Greenville Toastmasters #1238 “The Can Do Club” recently met with the following members and guests present: Everett Hart, Lucas Smith, Connie Stoller, Dr. Julia Bowlin, Bob Farmer, Ross Gruber, Jim Sink, Zachary Riley, Christy Riley and Diane Delaplane. Bob Farmer served as Toastmaster for the evening. Dr. Julia Bowlin gave a speech on “emPawar your resolution” and Diane Delaplane speech title was “Who Called the Sheriff”... read more

Bluebag Media… Andersons gives $50,001 grant for new Beef & Dairy Barn
GREENVILLE – The Andersons Inc. presented a gift of $25,001 to The Darke County Agricultural Society on Jan. 23 and provided the community with an opportunity to help turn the total amount into $75,001. “We are extremely thankful to The Andersons for their gift of $50,001,” said Daryl Riffle, Darke County Fair Manager. “We’ve received $25,001 and can get the community involved for... read more

DCHHA honors the best on 2014; Riegle Memorial receives donation, By George Starks
GREENVILLE- The Darke County Harness Horseman’s Association (DCHHA) honored its best from the 2014 racing season Saturday night at the Elks Lodge in Greenville. Early in the evening, DCHHA president Kerby Wilcox made a $1,000 check presentation to Richard Delk with the fairboard in attendance from a donation made by Fitzwater Tree & Lawn Care. It was a huge shot in the arm for the Riegle... read more

MVCTC Electives, Business, and Information Technology SOM January
Englewood, Ohio - The Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC), in order to honor outstanding accomplishments and leadership in Career Tech Education, is proud to announce the January 2015 Career Tech Students of the Month honorees from the Electives, Business, and Information Technology Department. Paige Binder, member of the Clerical Services program... read more

Bluebag Media… Winter Reading event attracts ‘children’ of all ages
GREENVILLE – What do Flash Boxes, chair massages, toilet paper, a movie, wedding cookies and Frozen cardboard figures have in common? They could all be found at the Greenville Public Library Jan. 24. The library kicked off its third annual Adult Winter Reading Program when the staff decided to add a new twist… their first Children’s and Young Adult Winter... read more

PARCC, Ohio Achievement and Third Grade Reading, Kitty Zumbrink, East Principal
The second semester began on January 27 and is in full swing with Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) testing awaiting the fourth grade students in the areas of language arts and mathematics. They will also take a State social studies test. Fourth grade students will take a total of six... read more

Buchy Earns Cattlemen’s Industry Service Award
(MARYSVILLE, Ohio) – The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) awarded Representative Jim Buchy of the Ohio House District 84, the Industry Service Award at the OCA awards banquet held Jan. 24, 2015, at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference center in Lewis Center, Ohio. OCA and Ohio’s Country Journal jointly sponsor this award to recognize... read more

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