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Empowering program seeks assistant coordinator, tutors Empowering Darke County Youth is seeking an assistant program coordinator, as well as two licensed or experienced tutors, to assist with its After School and Summer Tutoring Programs. “We’ve had tremendous support from the community, but the demand for help still exceeded our ability to provide it,” said program coordinator Bob Robinson... read more. SR 49 Accident injures three On December,25 2017 at approximately  6:38 pm Darke County Deputies along with Arcanum Rescue, Pitsburg Fire, Greenville Twp Rescue, and Careflight responded to an injury accident at State Route 49 and Red River West Grove Road. Preliminary investigation revealed a Maroon, 2013 Chevrolet Equinox, driven by Keagan Fair , 28, of Piqua was traveling Southeast on State Route 49.  Fair missed... read more. Pilot Counties Chosen for Foster Care Recruitment Program  (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that eight counties hit hard by the opioid epidemic have been chosen to participate in a family finding and foster family recruitment program DeWine announced in August. "Ohio still has a great need for families to help children in foster care. These can be biological family members or those who... read more. “The Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act” Delivered to Governor As the chair of the House Health Committee and co-sponsor of “The Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act,” it was my pleasure to work with Representatives Sarah LaTourette and Derek Merrin to pass this important piece of legislation. The passage of this act, House Bill 214, through both the House and the Senate is a step closer towards ending discriminatory abortions... read more. 2018 Tourism grants available to local events & festivals GREENVILLE, Ohio (December 19th, 2017) – Funds are available to non-profit organizations sponsoring special events in Darke County through the Darke County Visitors Bureau in 2018. Four grants are available for 2018: two $1,000 grants and two $500 grants. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis, with primary consideration given to events... read more. Assistance Available to Protect Wetlands, Agriculture & Grasslands Sign-up Deadline is January 19, 2018 - COLUMBUS, OH, OH, Dec. 18, 2017 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages people and groups wanting to protect critical wetlands, agricultural lands and grasslands to consider enrolling their property into conservation easements. This year, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation... read more. GMS Robotics Team Competes in LEGO Regional Qualifier Members of Greenville Middle School Robotics team recently competed at West Carrolton Middle School in the 2017-18 FIRST LEGO League Regional Qualifier. Team GRIP (Greenville Robotics Innovative Programmers) was scored on their performance in The Robot Games, presentation of a project creating an innovative solution to the human water cycle, and representation of FIRST LEGO... read more. Edison State nursing students honored with pinning ceremony Edison State Community College honored its most recent nursing graduates on Thursday, December 14, with a pinning ceremony held in 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. Edison Foundation Raises Over $56K for Student Scholarships The Edison Foundation held the 20th annual Holiday Evening at Edison State on Wednesday, November 29, to help raise money for student scholarships. The evening featured John Tesh as the headlining entertainment for the night’s festivities. Nearly 450 guests attended the annual gala, where they enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and the company... read more. FBI… 2016 NIBRS Crime Data Released Report Contains New Data Including Animal Cruelty - Today, the FBI released information on more than 6 million criminal offenses that were submitted to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program’s National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) in 2016—and for the first time last year, the annual NIBRS report included data on animal cruelty. Additionally... read more. New Bakery Opens in Downtown Greenville! Kathy’s Cookies & Pies Owner Kathy Jarrett, of Arcanum, said she has beautiful memories of her grandma baking. “She was pretty fluffy,” Jarrett said. “All you would see is her sitting at the table, because she couldn’t stand a lot to do it, and her hands folding that dough and rolling and kneading it, and flour flying in her beautiful puffy hands. I just loved... read more. Inside Higher Education… California Fires Close Colleges, By Nick Roll December 11, 2017 - Institutions affected by California wildfires juggle logistics of finals, move-out, assignment deadlines. Colleges across Southern California are suspending or canceling classes -- and, in some case, final exams -- as wildfires continue to ravage the region and disrupt daily life for affected residents. In addition to keeping their... read more. Edison State Names Employees of the Semester Edison State Community College recognized outstanding employee performance during the most recent all-campus meeting in the Robinson Theater at the Piqua Campus. The Employee of the Semester award speaks to Edison State’s commitment to quality and sustaining positive employee engagement. “These employees make a difference to Edison State and members of the campus community... read more. Darke County Sheriff… Weather-related injury accident on Staudt Road On December 12, 2017 at 5:14 PM Darke County Deputies along with Union City, Ohio Fire Dept., Union City, Ohio Rescue, and Union City, Indiana Rescue responded to an injury accident in the 11400 block of Staudt Road. Preliminary investigation revealed that 16 year old Kyler Guillozet, of Rossburg, driving a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix, was traveling southbound on Staudt Road when he lost control... read more. Constitutional Amendment Petitions on Drug Crime Penalties Certified  (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—The Ohio Attorney General’s Office today certified a petition for a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution regarding penalties associated with drug crimes. On December 1, 2017, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office received a written petition to amend the Ohio Constitution, entitled "The Neighborhood Safety, Drug Treatment, and Rehabilitation Amendment" from... read more. Edison State Faculty Honored with Excellence in Teaching Awards Edison State Community College faculty members Vickie Kirk and Dr. T.R. Ruddick have been named recipients of the 2017 Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award from the Southwestern Ohio Council for High Education (SOCHE). The instructors were honored at Faculty Excellence Awards luncheon on Friday, November 3, 2017, at the Dayton... read more. Tech Repair Service Opens in Downtown Greenville GREENVILLE, Ohio - Downtown Greenville has a pair of fresh faces standing by to fix your phone, tablet, or game system. Ryan Wintrow and Trevor Brumbaugh opened iSelect Cellular Solutions in downtown Greenville on November 4th, 2017. The two are no strangers to running a business, however. Some may remember Go Go Gamers, a business... read more. Jury Finds Illegal Immigrant Not Guilty in Killing of Kate Steinle, Will Racke November 30, 2017 - A San Francisco jury found the illegal immigrant accused of killing Kate Steinle not guilty of murder Thursday, a stunning result in a case that ignited a nationwide debate over illegal immigration and sanctuary cities. Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, 45, was found not guilty on all counts in the 2015 shooting, except for felony... read more. Drug Threat ‘Unprecedented’ says National Forensic Group Ohio’s Crime Lab Stats Mirror Trends - (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Today Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s Office released preliminary numbers of drug cases that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) has received to date in 2017. This follows the recent release by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) about the dangers... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… Petitions for Constitutional Amendments Certified (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—The Ohio Attorney General’s Office today certified two petitions for  proposed amendments to the Ohio Constitution. On November 17, 2017, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office received two written petitions to amend the Ohio Constitution, entitled "The Initiative and Referendum Amendment for Counties and Townships" and "The Ohio Community Rights Amendment," from a petitioning... read more. Council on Rural Services… New Early Childhood Director announced Council on Rural Services (CORS) welcomed Karin Somers as Early Childhood Director (ECD) this month. Ms. Somers will direct the Early Head Start and Head Start services provided to more than 1300 children in 22 locations throughout Miami, Auglaize, Champaign, Preble, Darke, Van Wert, Shelby, Greene, and Logan counties.  Ms. Somers previously held... read more. DeWine offers Consumer Protection Tips for Black Friday  (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today offered consumer protection tips ahead of Thanksgiving weekend, one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. Last year, the Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section received over 3,700 complaints in November and December. This year, the National Retail Federation expects holiday retail sales... read more. State Board of Education Awards High Performing Schools Darke County has two Momentum schools! The State Board of Education of Ohio today recognized one district and four schools with the All A Award for earning straight A’s on their 2016-2017 Ohio School Report Cards. In addition, 64 districts and 214 schools received the Momentum Award for exceeding expectations in student growth for the year. Butler... read more. Whirlpool Announces Plans for Wind Turbines in Greenville BENTON HARBOR, Mich., Nov 15, 2017 -- Whirlpool Corporation today announced plans for three wind turbines to power its manufacturing facility in Greenville, Ohio and further build on the company’s 46-year commitment to sustainable manufacturing. Beginning construction in early 2018, the turbines will be the same as those developed for Whirlpool Corporation... read more. MVCTC Students Attend National FFA Convention INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 27, 2017/National FFA Organization) – The 90th National FFA Convention & Expo was held in Indianapolis, IN, on October 25-28, 2017.  As one of the largest providers of agriculture education in the state, MVCTC had over 250 FFA students attend the National Convention.  MVCTC provides agriculture education to over... read more. Midmark Announces New Office for Corporate Headquarters Relocating headquarters to Austin Landing - DAYTON, Ohio, Nov. 14, 2017 — Midmark Corporation, a leading provider of medical, dental and veterinary healthcare equipment solutions, today announced it has finalized lease negotiations and will move its headquarters to Austin Landing by Oct. 1, 2018. Midmark will move approximately 20 – 25 positions... read more. FBI releases 2016 Hate Crime Statistics Report Details Offenses, Victims, Offenders, and Locations of Crimes - Today, the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program released Hate Crime Statistics, 2016, its latest annual compilation of bias-motivated incidents reported throughout the U.S. The newest report—which provides information about the offenses, victims, offenders, and locations of hate crimes... read more. Help us celebrate a week of Wonder! 11/13/2017 - This week, the Ohio Department of Education is celebrating the release of the film Wonder, based on the best-selling book by R.J. Palacio. Counting down to the film’s nationwide premiere on Friday, Nov. 17, the Department asks Ohio’s educators and students to share their stories and activities each day based on a theme from the book. Wonder... read more. Attorney General DeWine… 100 Suspects Charged in 756-Count Drug Trafficking Indictment Charges Include Trafficking of Fentanyl, Carfentanil, Heroin, and Cocaine - (EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine joined members of the Columbiana County Drug Task Force in East Liverpool today to announce details of a 756-count indictment filed against 100 people in connection with a large-scale fentanyl, carfentanil, heroin, and cocaine trafficking ring... read more. FBI… Father/Son Tutoring Company Executives Sentenced for Fraud Although financial fraudsters target all sort of victims, perhaps the worst type of financial criminals are the ones who go after the most vulnerable. A prime example of those types of criminals? A father/son pair, the subjects of a recent FBI Chicago-led investigation, who perpetrated a multi-million-dollar fraud against the Department of Education that ended up victimizing low-income students... read more. Farms must begin reporting air releases of hazardous substances from animal wastes, From Sam Custer, OSU Extension, Darke County, By Peggy Hall and Ellen Essman - Beginning November 15, 2017, many livestock, poultry and equine farms must comply with reporting requirements under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) section 103. The law requires entities to report releases of hazardous substances... read more. Spirit awards 14 EMT scholarships October 29, 2017 - GREENVILLE- Spirit Medical Transport, LLC, is pleased to announce it has awarded 14 EMT scholarships to individuals living in the western Ohio and Indiana region. Among those awarded scholarships were Nathan Berkebile of Ohio City; Anthony “Tony” Beyke of Celina; Darrian Bradshaw of Portland, IN.; Mikayla Combs of Hamilton... read more. Midmark Technology Center Supported by JobsOhio Grant Future Midmark R&D center is expected to bring 97 new jobs to Versailles - DAYTON, Ohio – Midmark Corp., a leading provider of medical, dental and veterinary equipment solutions, plans to create at least 97 new jobs over five years at a new Research & Development (R&D) center in Versailles that is planned for construction in 2018. JobsOhio has... read more. Single vehicle injury accident on Jaysville St. John On November 12, 2017 at 4:42a.m. Darke County Sheriff’s Deputies along with Arcanum Rescue, Arcanum Fire Department and Miami Valley Careflight responded to Jaysville St. John's Road north of Weaver's Ft. Jefferson Road on an injury accident with entrapment. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2016 Nissan driven by, Shonda Thomas (33), of Union City, was... read more. Local Resident Lyn Bliss elected OFRW Treasurer AKRON, OHIO – At its recent Fall Conference, Ohio Federation of Republican Women (OFRW) elected Lyn Bliss of Greenville to serve as Treasurer for the 2018-2019 term. Bliss will act as controller for the OFRW and advise the Board of Directors and Executive Committee as to the status of the budget and finances. She will compose a budget for each calendar year. Duties also... read more. Bringing it all Together at Greenville Middle School Stand Up and Stand Out! We’re Worth It! As the first nine weeks draws to a close, many different facets at Greenville Middle School are coming together to prepare a positive environment that recognizes and encourages student positive decisions.  Students at Greenville Middle School ‘Stand Up and Stand Out because It’s Worth It!’ (phrase coined... read more. State Rep. Stephen Huffman… Bill Prohibits Abortions on Children with Down Syndrome COLUMBUS—State Representative Stephen Huffman (R-Tipp City) yesterday applauded the passage of House Bill 214, legislation prohibiting abortions on unborn children who have or may have Down syndrome. The legislation, also known as “The Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act,” prohibits anyone from performing or inducing an abortion if that person has knowledge that the diagnosis or test result indicating... read more. Tornado damages homes, businesses in Celina area On Sunday, November 05, 2017 shortly after 2:10 PM emergency sirens were activated in Mercer County as a result of a major storm coming through associated with a tornado.  Weather radar also indicated rotation in the storm with a high likelihood of tornadic activity.  Celina Police officers posted near the south west edge of town spotted a funnel cloud headed... read more. Edison State, Capabilities Partnership Continues to Grow More than Capable - In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Edison State Community College and Capabilities, Inc. are shedding light on the unique partnership that continues to provide internship opportunities and career exploration for individuals with developmental disabilities. It is through this partnership that Edison State has had... read more. FBI… Operation Cross Country XI: Recovering Underage Victims of Sex Trafficking and Prostitution -- Operation Cross Country, the FBI’s annual law enforcement action focused on recovering underage victims of prostitution and drawing the public’s attention to the problem of sex trafficking at home and abroad, has concluded with the recovery of 84 sexually exploited juveniles and the arrests of 120 traffickers. Now in its 11th iteration, Operation Cross Country... read more. Midmark Showcases New Dental Health Clinic State-of-the-art facility provides unique teaching environment for dental hygienists -- DAYTON, Ohio, Oct. 26, 2017 — Midmark Corp., a leading provider of medical, dental and veterinary equipment and technologies, recently held an open house to showcase the new Midmark Dental Health Clinic at Sinclair Community College. The facility, which includes state-of-the-art equipment and furnishings... read more. Attorney General DeWine… DeWine, NRA partner to bring Security Assessor Training to Ohio (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Today, Attorney General Mike DeWine announced a partnership with the NRA to bring their National School Shield Security Assessor Training program to schools in Ohio. The first training was held on October 24th and 25th in Wellston, Ohio. School personnel, school resource officers, and law enforcement officers representing more than 20 Ohio school districts committed to attend... read more. Ohio Department of Education… Ohio Launches SuccessBound Initiative In opening remarks to conference attendees, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria launched the SuccessBound initiative that brings together Ohio’s strong business and education partnerships to engage and inspire students about career opportunities. “The success of our students is fundamental to our future as a society. When we can connect education to real careers for students... read more. Greenville City Schools… Parents are the Key Diversity is such a broad concept in our world today.  As a society, the idea of diversity is elusive and challenging.  Our society has evolved so much in our understanding of equality and how it is impacted by diversity.  Our state and federal laws help schools provide rich learning opportunities to diverse groups of learners.  Public education receives... read more. Local Doctor Named Family Physician of the Year COLUMBUS—State Representatives Stephen Huffman (R-Tipp City) and Keith Faber (R-Celina) presented a resolution during yesterday’s Ohio House session to Dr. Carlos K. Menendez, honoring him for being named “Ohio’s 2017 Family Physician of the Year” by the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians. “It was an honor to recognize Dr. Menendez on the House... read more. Motorcycle accident on Jaysville St. John On October 28, 2017 at 10:19p.m. Darke County Sheriff’s Deputies along with Arcanum Rescue, Arcanum Fire Department and Careflight responded to the 2900 block of Jaysville St. John's Road on an injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2007 Maroon Suzuki driven by, Brent Perry (46), of Arcanum, was traveling south on Jaysville St. John's Road... read more. Edison State Scholarship Recipients Recognized at Banquet Edison State Community College in partnership with the Edison Foundation recognized over 70 students during a banquet on Thursday, October 5. The scholarship banquet is held annually to provide recipients with the opportunity to meet the patrons that made their scholarships available. Following networking and dinner, Taylor Adami, Computer Information... read more. Can you give an hour a week for Empowering kids? More than 30 students waiting for help - GREENVILLE – Each day, Monday through Thursday, 35 to 40 students, kindergarten through seventh grade, head to the cafeteria at Greenville’s new K-8 facility. The same happens with about half that number of students on Fridays. All are part of the Empowering Darke County Youth After School Program. Each... read more. OFRW holds Spring Conference and Board Meeting ‘Taking Action, Getting Results’ theme for GOP Women - AKRON, OHIO – Lyn Bliss recently attended the Ohio Federation of Republican Women (OFRW)  in Akron, Ohio. Bliss has served as President of the OFRW for the previous 4 years. "It has been an amazing odyssey to serve as President of the Federation for the past four years, and I want to... read more. What will dicamba changes mean for farmers? Sam Custer, OSU Extension, Darke County Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an agreement with Monsanto, BASF and DuPont to change dicamba registration and labeling beginning with the 2018 growing season. EPA reports that the agreement was a voluntary measure taken by the manufacturers to minimize the potential of dicamba drift from “over the top” applications on... read more. Versailles Health Care Center… VHCC welcomes new administrator The staff at Versailles Health Care Center is excited to welcome Lindsey Gehret as the Administrator at Versailles Health Care Center.  Gehret is originally from the North Star area and now resides in Greenville with her four children, Sofia,10, Nolan,6,Ellery, 5, and Sawyer, 4.  She enjoys spending time with her family, golfing, and gardening.  She is a member of many organizations... read more. Jordan Agency Earns Platinum Plowshare Award DES MOINES, IA – Writing farm insurance is often complex. Each farm operation is different with unique risks and insurance needs. It requires a deep understanding of the business of farming and a high level of expertise in knowing which insurance products provide the best protection against the specific risks a farm or ranch operation faces. So, it’s no small... read more. Local author releases educational book for ‘tweens’ New Ohio author, B.A. Hughes has published GLIMM, A Glimpse of Light Found.  The book presents six stories highlighting adventures of tweens and early teens as they uncover everyday mysteries. Readers aged 9-15 will find kinship with mystical animals and natural phenomena such as a lonely cheetah, a weeping stone, a demanding rabbit, and a secret... read more. Reduce, reuse, re-educate: Contamination hurts recycling Note: Two flyers attached… Prescription Drug Recycling Day Scheduled for Oct. 28; 9-Volt Battery Exchange Currently Underway… Consider this: a contractor finishes a job cleaning up a rental property for a client. It’s time to dispose of the items the previous renter left behind. He’s cleaned up items such as clothes, shoes, broken toys and electronics... read more. Darke County Phone Scam Alert issued The Darke County Sheriff’s Office has received reports of a telephone scam in the Darke County area yesterday.  This type of scam has been going on all around the country for sometime and seems to be perpetrated in this area periodically. The telephone scam involved the perpetrator identifying himself as a Darke County Deputy attempting to obtain... read more. NPR Ed… Puerto Rican Students Head To The Mainland For School, Elissa Nadworny October 14, 2017 - It's not exactly how Deilanis Santana planned to spend her 13th birthday: waking up before dawn, packing up her life – and heading to Connecticut to live with her grandma. But here she is at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, three weeks after Hurricane Maria, waiting anxiously like many other Puerto Ricans for... read more. FBI 2016 Statistics… Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted in the Line of Duty According to statistics collected by the FBI, 118 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2016. Of these, 66 law enforcement officers died as a result of felonious acts, and 52 officers died in accidents. In addition, 57,180 officers were victims of line-of-duty assaults. Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing... read more. Darke County Sheriff… Two injury accidents in Darke County On October 17, 2017 at approximately 9:57pm Darke County Deputies along with Greenville Township Fire & Rescue responded to the intersection of US Route 36 and Jaysville St. John's Road for a two vehicle injury crash. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2011 White Toyota Scion driven by LaDonna Jackson 28, of Prescott, AZ. was traveling northbound on... read more. Senator Matt Huffman… Huffman Introduces Bill to Scale Back Administrative School Mandates -- COLUMBUS - State Senator Matt Huffman (R-Lima) today introduced the Ohio Public School Deregulation Act, which is legislation designed to reduce the amount of unnecessary mandates and regulations affecting Ohio’s public schools. "All too often what sounds like a good idea in Columbus translates instead to burdensome paperwork and tedious tasks that distract... read more. Miami Industrial Trucks Valuable MVCTC Business Partner Englewood, Ohio – The Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) named Mark Jones of Miami Industrial Trucks (MIT) as the recipient of the 2017 Friend of MVCTC Award. The Friend of MVCTC was awarded at the 27th annual All Advisory Dinner held on Thursday, October 5, in the MVCTC Student Activity Center. MVCTC Superintendent, Dr. Nick Weldy, says, “This award is given... read more. State Senator Bill Beagle… House Approves Deaf History Month Bill, Beagle honored COLUMBUS - On Tuesday, leaders from the Ohio Speech and Hearing Government Affairs Coalition named State Senator Bill Beagle (R-Tipp City) the 2017 Legislator of the Year in recognition of Senate Bill 27 and his efforts to increase awareness of individuals living with speech and hearing difficulties. "I'm both honored and humbled to receive this distinction from such a remarkable community... read more. Greenville City Schools… Save A Life Tour visits GHS According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, approximately 1,000 people are injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. In 2015, 3,477 deaths and 391,000 injuries were attributed to distracted driving. These numbers have steadily increased since 2010. Drivers between 16-20 years of age have the highest proportion of distraction... read more. Arcanum’s Thompson Bound for Columbus Englewood, Ohio – Kaitlan Thompson (Arcanum High School) recently completed BPA State Officer Screening and was one of 13 students selected to be a State Officer Candidate. She has been dedicated to Business Professionals of America (BPA) since the start of her junior year at MVCTC. Aside from competing and placing first at state, and making it to... read more. The Third Grade Reading Guarantee The Third Grade Reading Guarantee (TGRG) was developed in 2013 and is used as a method to identify students in grades kindergarten through third grade that are behind in reading. Third grade students will initially take the Ohio’s Grade 3 English Language Arts test later this month. This test is designed to measure whether or not students... read more. Injury accident on Beamsville-Union City Road On October 13, 2017 at approximately 7:55 PM Darke County Deputies along with Ansonia Fire, Ansonia Rescue and CareFlight were dispatched to the 2500 block of Beamsville-Union City Road in reference to a two vehicle injury accident.  Preliminary investigation revealed a black 2011 Jeep Wrangler driven by Kyle D. Gower, 29, Union City, Ohio was east... read more. Dick Brown named Hometown Holiday Horse Parade Grand Marshall GREENVILLE, Ohio - Main Street Greenville’s Board of Directors and the Horse Parade Committee have named Dick Brown, president of the Greenville High School Alumni Association, as the Grand Marshal of the 2017 Hometown Holiday Horse Parade. When selecting the Grand Marshals for the horse parade, the committee and board considers individuals... read more. A ‘New Normal’ in STEM Teaching? By Colleen Flaherty October 2, 2017 - AAU wanted to improve science education beyond an instructor-by-instructor basis. Five years on, a major initiative piloted on eight campuses seems to be working. Science instructors increasingly are moving beyond the lecture to more innovative -- and effective -- teaching methods. But professors with a taste for change... read more. 2017 School Bus Rebate Program Applications Open COLUMBUS—State Representative Stephen Huffman (R-Tipp City) today announced that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now accepting applications for its 2017 School Bus Rebate Program. The EPA is offering up to $20,000 in grant money per vehicle to replace older school buses and up to $6,000 per vehicle for retrofits. New and retrofitted... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… Drug Addiction Affects All Ohioans (COLUMBUS, Ohio)— Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, the State Library of Ohio, and the Ohio Library Council today announced a new effort aimed at increasing awareness about opioid abuse and addiction. During today's Ohio Library Council Convention and Expo in Dayton, Attorney General DeWine announced the distribution of opioid addiction awareness posters to libraries across the state... read more. Inaugural Float, Learn, and Lunch a Success Students, faculty, staff, and friends of Edison State Community College came together for a two-hour educational canoe trip down The Great Miami River during the inaugural “Float, Learn, and Lunch” on Friday, September 29. Nearly 30 participants embarked on the river at East Lockington Road and experienced beautiful weather and wildlife along... read more. MVCTC Biotechnology Program is all Aglow  Englewood, Ohio – The Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) Biotechnology students used the skills learned during the microbiology unit and applied them to a process called bacterial transformation. Biotechnology instructor, Erin Molden explained, “This means that we will be introducing a DNA from the Aequoriea Victoria jellyfish to non... read more. Cleveland Plain Dealer… School bullies would face mandatory suspensions under two bills in Ohio legislature, By Patrick O'Donnell - September 26, 2017 - CLEVELAND, Ohio - Schools need to stop ignoring bullying and take real action to stop it, say two local state legislators who have proposed separate new laws to curb the bad behavior. State Sen. Sandra Williams, a Cleveland Democrat, and State Rep. Dave Greenspan, a Westlake... read more. Congress Called on to Make Drug Treatment More Affordable and Accessible  (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Today, Attorney General Mike DeWine and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, along with a bipartisan coalition of 39 Attorneys General and the National Association of Attorneys General, called on Congress to pass legislation that changes federal law to make treatment for drug addiction more affordable and accessible for Americans... read more. Greenville Students observe 16th anniversary of 9-11 attack GREENVILLE – On Monday, Sept. 11, a thousand students gathered outside, at the back of the new Greenville Elementary and Middle School, to observe the 16th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. Students were told about the planes that flew into the World Trade Centers in New York, the Pentagon in Northern... read more. Greenville City Schools… Equipping Students with Problem Solving Skills Ohio’s Learning Standards outline the necessary knowledge and skills that will allow students to be prepared for college and careers. Educators across the state have gained experience in teaching these standards over the past few years. With feedback from the public, the Ohio State Board of Education approved the revised standards for... read more. Harvest Safety Tips While Travelling Ohio Roadways, From Sam Custer Written By Dee Jepsen - As urban development expands into the rural countryside, so too does the need to practice safety on public roadways. During harvest season there is an increased traffic flow on rural roads with agricultural implements and grain trucks. Protecting property and saving lives - of both the farm family and the general public - are the underlying goals for... read more. Ohio Receives $35 Million Literacy Grant To build on ongoing work to improve the language and literacy development of our state’s children, Ohio was awarded a $35 million Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Grant from the U.S. Department of Education. “Reading is the foundational skill that supports all learning,” said Paolo DeMaria, superintendent of public instruction. “Ohio is committed to... read more. Empowering After School Program starts with a bang GREENVILLE – On Monday, Oct. 2, the Empowering Darke County Youth After School Program kicked off with a bang, with students from kindergarten through the seventh grade seeking help with their academics. This is the second year of the program. Within the first two days of sign-ups, nearly 50 caregivers requested help for their children; the... read more. Greenville City Schools and the State Report Card The Ohio Department of Education released its school district report cards this past week. Ohio issues annual report cards for every public district and school, based on student academic performance and growth as measured by the state tests each spring. The district report card is the way the Department of Education provides families, educators... read more. Darke County Sheriff… Rollover accident on Conover Road On October 4, 2017 at 6:35p.m. Darke County Sheriff Deputies along with Versailles Fire Department, Versailles Rescue, Miami Valley Careflight and Darke County Accident Reconstruction Team responded to the 10,100 block of Conover Rd. on a single vehicle rollover accident. Preliminary investigation revealed a northbound 1998 Black Ford Explorer driven by a 17 year old male... read more. Darke County Sheriff… CareFlight responds on US 36 East injury accident On October 3, 2017 at 9:27 am Darke County Deputies along with Bradford Rescue, Bradford Fire, Gettysburg Rescue, Gettysburg Fire and CareFlight responded to an injury accident in the 9500 block of US 36. Preliminary investigation revealed a Maroon, 1997 Mercury Mountaineer, driven by Carl Larger , 42, of Piqua was traveling East bound in the 9500 block of US 36 when he traveled left of center striking... read more. Chicago Tribune… 'Salaries are still low': Teacher shortage leaves schools searching for new ways to recruit, by Suzanne Baker -- Colleges and universities are trying to figure out how to entice more people into the teaching careers to fill vacancies, a dilemma that down the road could pose ramifications throughout educational leadership. The U.S. Department of Education data on the 2017-18 school year shows nearly every state experienced difficulty hiring qualified... read more. Court News Ohio… Eight-State Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative Receives $1 Million Federal Grant -- September 29, 2017 -- A first-of-its-kind regional judicial effort by states to combat the opioid epidemic is receiving a $1 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative (RJOI) was formed a year ago to explore ways that state leaders within a region devastated by opioid abuse could work more effectively and collaboratively... read more. Rep. Huffman… BWC Rebates Can Produce Better Future for Ohio Businesses Darke County employers to receive $3.75 million - As a state representative and someone who has paid insurance bills for many years, I know just how much insurance can give a person peace of mind, whether your car, house, or life is being protected. The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) is an important aspect of that industry, helping public and... read more. MVCTC FCCLA Chapter Continues to Give, By Olivia Mett Englewood, Ohio – The Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) FCCLA Chapter held the first meeting of the year on September 18, 2017.  Bridget Herzog was a guest speaker. She spoke about the St. Vincent Homeless Shelter and ways to help them out. The FCCLA Chapter will be collecting items for St. Vincent during the Walk for... read more. FBI Consumer Notice… Internet-connected toys could present concerns for children The FBI encourages consumers to consider cyber security prior to introducing smart, interactive, internet-connected toys into their homes or trusted environments. Smart toys and entertainment devices for children are increasingly incorporating technologies that learn and tailor their behaviors based on user interactions. These toys typically contain... read more. MVCTC AG Livestock Production Program All-Hands-On-Deck Englewood, Ohio -- Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) Agriculture and Livestock Production students have a classroom that extends well beyond desks, hallways, and classrooms.  The outdoor learning lab consists of over 65 acres of land that the students help to farm and maintain.  Senior Alexis Tomlin (Bethel High School) stated... read more. Greenville Schools… Attendance Matters Many of our youngest students miss 10 percent of the school year – about 18 days a year or just two days every month. Chronic absenteeism in kindergarten can predict lower test scores in later grades, especially if the problem persists for more than a year. It is important for every student to attend school every day. Missing too much school has long... read more. The Columbus Dispatch… College loan debt drags on students, parents and nation’s economy, By Mary Mogan Edwards - As more U.S. students rack up higher student-loan tabs over the next 20 years, worries about debt will affect government higher-education policy and the colleges themselves. Some observers warn of a “student loan bubble” or a coming “crash” akin to the mortgage-loan catastrophe of the Great Recession. Other experts... read more. FBI: 2016 Crime Statistics: Violent Crime Increases, Property Crime Decreases Violent crime increased for the second consecutive year, while property crime decreased for the 14th straight year, according to the FBI’s annual report on national crime statistics released today. There were an estimated 17,250 murders in the U.S. last year, an 8.6 percent increase from 2015. Overall violent crime rose 4.1 percent last year, while property crime fell 1.3 percent compared to 2015 figures... read more. Edison State Agriculture Degree Program Receives Approval As Edison State Community College continues to work towards meeting the growing demand of the agricultural industry in Darke County, an agriculture degree program has come to fruition. On Monday, September 11, the Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, granted... read more. Harvest Weather Outlook, From Sam Custer C.O.R.N. Newsletter: Author, Jim Noel - After a first half of September which was 5-10 degrees below average, the second half of September will average 5-10 degrees above average making September in the end a near average month but marked by significant differences in the month. Temperatures the week of September 19-25 will run 10-15 degrees above average... read more. Huffman Underscores Importance of Blood Donation COLUMBUS—State Representative Stephen Huffman (R-Tipp City) today applauded the passage of legislation he sponsored that designates the month of January as “Blood Donor Awareness Month.” House Bill 252 increases the awareness for blood donations, encourages members of the public to give blood and recognizes the lifesaving contributions... read more. BBBS introduces new Board Members Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County is pleased to announce the newest members on our Board of Trustees.  They are: Mindy Adams of Sidney. Mindy works at KPMG LLP as a Certified Public Accountant.   Eric Ambos of Botkins. Eric works as a Law Clerk for The Shelby County Prosecutors Office. John Coffield of Sidney. John is the The Shelby County... read more. 36th Annual Annie Oakley Golf Tournament Results Results are in from the 36th Annual Annie Oakley Golf Tournament held July 24, 2017 at Turtle Creek Golf Course.  92 golfers teed off in the annual event. The winners in the Low Gross Division were Team  #6 Edward Jones    Players:   Jack Sloat, John Hershey, Dave Connelly, and Steve Litchfield. The Low Net Score Division Winners were:  Team... read more. Edison State President Named Influential Executive for Third Consecutive Year The Dayton Business Journal (DBJ) has named Edison State Community College President, Dr. Doreen Larson one of the most influential female executives in the region for the third consecutive year. Dr. Larson made the prestigious list for her outstanding leadership in the region’s higher education sector. Beginning her tenure in 2015 as the college’s first female... read more. FBI… Safe Online Surfing Internet Challenge Free Cyber Safety Program Redesigned for New School Year - In the Safe Online Surfing (SOS) Internet Challenge, students navigate through various games and activities on their grade-appropriate island. The SOS website is accessible year-round, but the testing and competition is only open to registered teachers and schools from September through... read more. Darke County Sheriff… Two-vehicle injury accident on US 127 & Greenville Celina Rd On September 19, 2017 at 4:59 pm Darke County Deputies along with Greenville Rescue, Greenville Twp. Fire, and Careflight responded to a two vehicle, injury accident at the intersection of US Route 127 and Greenville Celina Road. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2004 Chevy Cavalier, driven by Scott A. Wornstaff, 57, of Dayton, was traveling eastbound on Greenville Celina Road... read more. Red Cross… Mass Care Boot Camp for New Disaster Volunteers (September 18, 2017) —This year's Hurricane season has packed a ferocious two-pronged punch with Harvey and Irma, and the season is long from over this year.  Meanwhile there are residents of both Florida and Texas that are still without power, without homes, without livelihood and will have many weeks, perhaps even months before them before life begins a semblance of normal again. For the American... read more. Local Small Business Woman Attends Coterie Event in NYC A Greenville woman, Pamela Graves will hit the road with her business, Unbelievable Skin Care, LLC to attend the 2017 Beauty at Coterie NY Women’s September Marketplace presented by UBM Fashion. The event will take place next week, September 17-19 at the Jacob Javitz Center, NYC. Unbelievable Skin Care will showcase their products for the people... read more. 2017 Ohio School Report Cards Released The Ohio Department of Education has released the annual Ohio School Report Cards. Users can find the grades and other data for all schools and districts, including community and other schools, at reportcard.education.ohio.gov. “In a highly competitive, quickly changing, global economy where employers’ expectations are higher than ever, our... read more. FISH Celebrating 50 Years in the Darke County Community The Fish Choice Pantry will kick off our annual food drive during the 2017 Illumination Festival  on Saturday, September 16, 2017.  2017 marks the 50th Anniversary of Fish in Darke County and the 9th Annual Feed Darke County Food Drive.  Our Darke County FISH organization began with a small group of community minded people who saw many... read more. DeWine Issues 2017 Economic Development Manual (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced that the Ohio Attorney General’s Office has issued its 2017 Ohio Economic Development Manual. First released in 2015, the manual is designed to be a one-stop guide for businesses, elected officials, and economic development professionals who are interested in promoting business growth and job... read more. Ohio Submits its ESSA Plan to U.S. Dept of Education The Ohio Department of Education today submitted the state’s plan, as approved by the State Board of Education, to the U.S. Department of Education for implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Ohio’s ESSA plan specifies, to the federal government, key aspects of Ohio’s education policy framework and reflects engagement with parents... read more. Law Enforcement Receive  Funds to Combat Heroin Crisis COLUMBUS - State Senator Matt Huffman (R-Lima) announced that statewide grants were awarded this week for local law enforcement response teams in Allen and Shelby counties, which focus on putting overdose survivors on the path to recovery.  Mobilizing response teams consisting of law enforcement officers who partner with local drug treatment... read more. 2017 Take Action Scholarship Contest (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced the start of the ninth annual Take Action Video Contest, which gives Ohio high school students a chance to win up to $2,500 in college scholarships. To enter this year's contest, Ohio high school students (grades 9 to 12) must produce and submit a 60-second video on smartphone... read more. Greenville Latchkey Program Registration Open Greenville City Schools began offering a latchkey program (before and after school care of children) for students in grades K – 4. Latchkey is a service that parents have been asking for and the district finally has the space to make it available.  It is a service provided to families for before and after school care for children.  Tiffany Labig is the supervisor of the program... read more. Annie Oakley Committee takes aim… 2018 Festival to be Bigger and Better than ever The 2017 Annie Oakley Festival has come to a close, however, the Annie Oakley Festival Committee is already hard at work, making the 2018 Annie Oakley Festival even bigger and better.  Our monthly meeting will be held on September 13th at 7:00 pm at the Nature Center, in Greenville.  We would love to have more input from those who want to see the Annie Oakley Festival continue to grow... read more. Court News Ohio… New Toolkits Help Juvenile Courts’ Work with Children & Families By Carol Taylor -- Two new resource toolkits intended to help juvenile courts assess current practices were released today by the Ohio Supreme Court’s Children & Families Section. A Caregiver Notice Toolkit and a Youth Engagement Toolkit will allow both court staff and child-welfare staff to review statutes and best practices and work with greater care and efficiency with the families... read more. Three Million in Grants Awarded to Address Opioid Epidemic  (STRONGSVILLE, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced this morning 40 law enforcement departments and their partners will receive $3 million in grants that will be used to help replicate or expand Drug Abuse Response Teams (DARTs) and Quick Response Teams (QRTs) to address the opioid epidemic in Ohio.  “There is so much good work going... read more. Grandparents Target of Phone Scams (COLUMBUS, Ohio)— In recognition of National Grandparent's Day Sunday, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is warning families to beware of phone scams targeting grandparents. In a typical "grandparent" phone scam, a grandparent receives a phone call from someone posing as a grandchild. The caller claims to be in trouble and in urgent need of money, maybe to... read more. Connecting Overdose Survivors with Recovery Services COLUMBUS - State Senator Bill Beagle (R-Tipp City) announced funding awarded today for local law enforcement response teams focused on putting overdose survivors on the path to recovery. Mobilizing response teams consisting of law enforcement officers who partner with local drug treatment providers and other groups is an effective strategy being implemented... read more. Campaign News: Local Republican Contacts DeWine for Governor: Campaign Chairs: Jim Buchy & Barbara Fee - As you know, Mike DeWine is running for Governor of Ohio. Mike is a man of incredible integrity and vision, someone who understands the problems of our state and the best way to tackle them. I support Mike 100%, which is why I am very excited to announce that Barbara Fee... read more. The Washington Post… Teacher shortages affecting every state, By Valerie Strauss The 2017-18 school year has started in many places across the country, and federal data shows that every state is dealing with shortages of teachers in key subject areas. Some are having trouble finding substitute teachers, too. The annual nationwide listing of areas with teacher shortages, compiled by the U.S. Education Department, shows... read more. Ohio Federation of Republican Women Sends Aid to Texas Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Federation of Republican Women (OFRW) has joined the National Federation of Republican Women's call to help its fellow Federation members in Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. "The catastrophic effects of Hurricane Harvey will be felt for years," said OFRW President Lyn Bliss. "It will take financial resources, emotional support... read more. DCCA advises patrons on parking for upcoming events Darke County Center for the Arts advises patrons on parking near St. Clair Memorial Hall for David Myles September 9th Artists Series show and upcoming events. Construction on West 4th Street, in from of St. Clair Memorial Hall, and the demolition of Greenville City Schools Junior High building will impact parking at St. Clair Memorial Hall. "Due to the current improvements taking place in the area... read more. Cleveland Plain Dealer… What colleges and majors lead to a well-paying job? By Karen Farkas CLEVELAND, Ohio - Want a well-paying job? PayScale's annual College Salary Report provides some guidance to those choosing colleges and careers. PayScale, a salary, benefits and compensation information company, compiled data on lifetime earnings for hundreds of degree and major combinations to show the earning potential for an associate, bachelor's or master's degree... read more. Colleges, employers want female engineers, By Kara Driscoll and Max Filby Local universities are welcoming slightly more female engineering students this year, but some college administrators say high-profile displays of sexism at companies, like what recently happened at Google, are deterring women from choosing the major. Approximately 28 percent of the University of Dayton’s incoming class of engineering students is female... read more. September is Attendance Awareness Month With the new school year underway across Ohio, it’s more important than ever that our students be in class every day ready to learn. Missing too much school has long-term, negative effects on students, such as lower achievement and graduation rates. Think about it this way — a student is chronically absent if he or she misses as few as two days of... read more. Injury accident on Palestine Hollansburg Road On September 3, 2017 at approximately 8:50 AM Darke County Deputies along with Liberty Township Fire, Tri Village Rescue and CareFlight were dispatched to the 3900 Block of Palestine Hollansburg Road in reference to a one vehicle injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed a silver 1986 Volvo driven by Alison Klingler, 21, of Hollansburg was northbound... read more. Student Ambassadors Represent MVCTC with Pride Englewood, Ohio – The Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) has 44 senior students who will serve as Student Ambassadors during the 2017-2018 school year. These students learn leadership skills and public speaking to represent MVCTC as spokespersons for the school. The MVCTC Student Ambassadors visit the 27 MVCTC partner... read more. Seven injured, including juveniles, in 2-vehicle accident On September 1, 2017 at approximately 7:07 AM Darke County Deputies along with Arcanum Rescue, Gettysburg Rescue, Greenville Township Rescue, Union Township Rescue and Laura Fire responded to the intersection of Delisle Fourmans Road and Red River West Grove Road in reference to a two vehicle injury accident.  Preliminary investigation... read more. Midmark Receives Ohio Secretary of State Commendation Recognized for exemplary work, outstanding employees and the STEMM program - DAYTON, Ohio, Aug. 29, 2017 — Midmark Corp., a leading provider of medical, dental and veterinary equipment and technologies, received a Certificate of Commendation from the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office of Jon Husted for exemplary work, outstanding... read more. Edison State Adjunct Faculty Honored at Banquet Twenty-one employees were recognized for instructing a combined total of 3,300 semester hours or approximately 1,100 classes in their careers at Edison State Community College’s annual adjunct faculty recognition banquet on Wednesday, August 23. Elisha Hicks, President of Academic Senate and Education Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education, served as the event’s Master of Ceremonies... read more. 2017 Greenville Transit System fair shuttle is a big success The City of Greenville & Greenville Transit System again offered Greenville residents “The Darke County Fair Park & Ride shuttle service”.  The word is finally getting out that you don’t have to fight the fair traffic, you don’t have to pay to park or walk a long distance, but instead you can park at the Greenville Municipal building or the Darke County Offices on Wagner Avenue and be dropped off right... read more. Greenville Police Department… New Chief of Police to be Sworn In Thursday Lt. Steve Strick will be sworn in as the new Chief of Police for the City of Greenville on Thursday, August 31st, 2017 at 1:15 in the afternoon. The ceremony will take place in the city council chambers in the Municipal Building. I would like to congratulate Lt. Strick on this promotion and I have total confidence in his ability to continue to lead the department in a professional and positive manner... read more. Cleveland Plain Dealer… Video gamers are now varsity athletes at some Ohio colleges, By Karen Farkas - CLEVELAND, Ohio - Video games have gone varsity, leading to college scholarships as campuses embrace gaming as an "eSport." ESports or "electronic sports" is competitive video gaming at the highest skill level, says Miami University, which said in 2016 it was the first Division I school to offer a varsity eSports program. Competitions are... read more. EEE Virus Confirmed in Ohio Horse REYNOLDSBURG (Aug. 24, 2017) A horse from Ashtabula County was recently confirmed to have eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) by the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. The animal was euthanized in late July after showing neurological symptoms. The animal was not vaccinated against the disease and lived near... read more. DeWine Highlights Need for More Foster Families Due to Opioid Crisis Unveils New Resources for Prospective Foster Families - (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is urging Ohioans to consider becoming foster parents as the need for foster families has dramatically increased in the face of the opioid epidemic. DeWine's call to action came at a news conference this morning where he  also announced several efforts... read more. Huffman Encourages Schools to Apply for Statehouse Transportation Grants COLUMBUS—State Representative Stephen Huffman (R-Tipp City) today announced that the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board and the Capitol Square Foundation will open their online application process for school transportation grants on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. The grants are available to help Ohio schools, which receive state funding, defray... read more. New after-school programs coming to Canton City Schools, By Kelli Weir Aug 22, 2017 - The Ohio Department of Education has awarded the Canton City School District three grants totaling $2.55 million over five years to fund after-school programs at 11 of its schools. New after-school programs designed to help students prepare for college and a career will be coming next month to 11 schools in the Canton... read more. MVCTC Welcomes Students for 2017-2018 School Year Englewood, Ohio -- The Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) staff welcomed students for their 46th year of classes on Thursday, August 17, 2017. MVCTC Superintendent Dr. Nick Weldy, staff, and MVCTC student ambassadors greeted over 1,000 junior students from 27 partner school districts enrolled for the 2017-2018 school year... read more. Mercer County Sheriff… Back to School safety It is the time of the year for all of the local schools to go back into session.  With that comes  renewed concerns for our children’s safety and the safety of the motoring public.  Flashing yellow and red lights are a sure signal to drivers that school buses are making you aware that children will soon be boarding or departing the bus.  Drivers need to be attentive in... read more. GHS Career Tech Team honored as 2017 National SkillsUSA Champions COLUMBUS - State Senators Matt Huffman (R-Lima) and Bill Beagle (R-Tipp City) today recognized the Greenville Career Technology Center auto tech team for winning the 2017 National SkillsUSA Competition in Louisville, Kentucky earlier this summer. "I am pleased to recognize students from the Greenville Technology Center today for their determination and talents in this years... read more. Research Shows Cleaning Fentanyl Spills with Household Product Effective (BOWLING GREEN, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Bowling Green State University President Mary Ellen Mazey announced today that researchers have determined that household cleaner OxiClean ™ has proven scientifically to be effective in cleaning up fentanyl spills. Scientists with the Ohio Attorney General’s Center for the Future of Forensic Science and the Chemistry... read more. Darke County Sheriff… Transport shuttle injury incidents investigated The Darke County Sheriff’s Office is investigating three separate injury incidents associated with the transport shuttle at the Darke County Fair.  The transport shuttle is a wagon that is specially designed to transport people between parking areas and amusement/ exhibit areas of the Darke County Fairgrounds.  The wagon is towed by a tractor and has an open and low... read more. DeWine Asks Congress to Amend Sex Trafficking Law (COLUMBUS, Ohio)— Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today joined 49 other state and territorial attorneys general in a bi-partisan coalition urging Congress to affirm the authority of state, local, and territorial law enforcement to investigate and prosecute companies that profit from the promotion and facilitation of sex trafficking. In a letter to Congress, the... read more. The Vindicator… Increase in kids in protective custody from opioid crisis Mahoning County Children Services may not seem like a front line in the battle against the opioid epidemic, but a representative of the state Attorney General’s heroin unit addressed caseworkers at the agency Tuesday. Alisha Nelson, a community outreach specialist for the Ohio Attorney General’s office, outlined the epidemic and asked the caseworkers... read more. Back to School 2017: Top 10 Things to Know The 2017-2018 academic year is under way across Ohio, and the Ohio Department of Education has some great resources for families as our children head back to the classroom. Here are the top 10 things to know this year: 1. Students in the class of 2018 have multiple pathways to earn a high school diploma so they can move on to their next steps in... read more. DeWine Offers Consumers Tips on Solar Eclipse Glasses (COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today offered consumer protection tips ahead of the August 21 solar eclipse. “Ohioans of all ages are intrigued by the upcoming solar eclipse, but safety needs to be a priority to avoid permanent eye damage,” said Attorney General DeWine. “We want consumers to be informed before buying solar eclipse... read more. Mercer County Sheriff… Drug Arrest at Bunge Park Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reports the arrest of two individual for drug related charges.  Grey stated that a deputy was checking Bunge Park on SR 29 west of Celina on Sunday August 13th at 9:16 PM. He located a male and female in the rear portion of the park, hidden from State Route 29.  The park closes at sunset.   During the interview with the two subjects, the deputy found signs of drug impairment... read more. GTS Fair Shuttle Greenville Transit System will be offering Park & Ride Service weekdays from 5pm to 11pm and the first weekend 11am to 11pm.  The shuttle will run from the Martz Street gate (gate 3) to two locations on a continuous basis.  The locations offer free parking.  Drop off and pick up points are: Greenville Municipal Building – 100 Public Square; Darke... read more. NPR Ed… Politics In The Classroom: How Much Is Too Much? By Steve Drummond The Confederate flag. The Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage. Policing minority communities. Nuclear weapons and Iran. Summer often brings a lull in the news, but not this year. And, come September, students are going to want to talk about these headlines. But how should teachers navigate our nation's thorny politics? Do politics belong in the... read more. Task Force Seizes 200 Pounds of Marijuana, Three Arrested  (DAYTON, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Steve Francis, and members of the Miami Valley Bulk Smuggling Task Force announced today the seizure of approximately 200 pounds of marijuana as part of an ongoing drug... read more. Education Week… The Unexpected Reason Some Students Procrastinate, By Evie Blad August 9, 2017 - There's a student that's familiar to many teachers: He's the one who stumbles into class with sleep in his eyes after staying up late from writing his paper at the last minute. He probably avoids studying for tests, too. And maybe his backpack is a jumbled mess of crumpled papers and unorganized notes. And there's also a common... read more. FBI Adopt-A-School Program… Reducing Crime, Empowering a Community All the evidence led to the University of Hawaii’s West Oahu campus, to a field that appeared to contain a shallow grave. Taking direction from their FBI mentor, two teams of young investigators began to excavate the site, using trowels and soft brushes, working methodically until the freshly exposed earth revealed the outlines of a skull. For the students from... read more. The Washington Post… Mom: I made 23 college visits with my twins. Yes, 23. Here’s what I learned. By Valerie Strauss - August 6 - There are millions of posts on the Internet about how, when, why and where to take college visits with your college-bound student(s) to try to narrow down the possibilities — but this one was written by someone with unusual experience in the endeavor. She is Lauren Kafka, a writer, English and ESOL private tutor... read more. INDOT Asks Motorists to Prepare for Solar Eclipse Plan ahead for best viewing and avoid traffic congestion - INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Department of Transportation officials urge motorists to plan for traffic congestion expected to occur in southern Indiana before and after the total solar eclipse on August 21. Approximately 200 million people live within a day’s drive of the total eclipse path. Many will be on... read more. DCCA’s Aladdin starred 82 local youngsters Darke County Center for the Arts presented two performances of Missoula Children Theatre's production of Aladdin starring local students at Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall on Saturday, August 5. Described as a swirling sandstorm of famous Arabian Tales featuring memorable characters from Ali Baba to Sinbad the Sailor, this adventurous musical play... read more. Edison State inducted into Annie Oakley Golf Tournament Hall Of Fame The Annie Oakley Golf Tournament Committee recently inducted Edison State Community College into the Annie Oakley Golf Tournament Hall of Fame, which was established in 2006, the year of the tournament’s 25th anniversary. Criteria for this honor was decided by the committee and consists of long term participation, enthusiasm, and... read more. Darke County Sheriff… Industrial farming accident in Rossburg On August 6, 2017 at approximately 7:49 AM the Darke County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a 911 call in reference to a serious industrial farming accident in northern Darke County. The Darke County Communications Center immediately dispatched Ansonia Rescue, Rossburg Fire, CareFlight and Darke County Deputies to 13291 Cochran Road... read more. Inside Higher Education… Time to Reset Tuition? By Rick Seltzer August 3, 2017 - Deep cuts in tuition rates are a hot topic for private college administrators worried that their high sticker prices are scaring away students, but experts warn against gimmicky strategies. MINNEAPOLIS -- As private college sticker prices and tuition discount rates edged ever higher in recent years, there has been much hand... read more. $2.7 Million in Grants Awarded for Drug Use Prevention Education  (COLUMBUS, Ohio)— Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that he is awarding more than $2.7 million in grant funds to a number of law enforcement agencies across the state for drug use prevention education programs in public schools. A total of 130 sheriffs' offices and police departments will receive a portion of the $2,742,649 in Drug Use Prevention... read more. Cleveland Plain Dealer… Ohio's public schools neither the best or worst in new study, By Emily Bamforth - CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A new study places Ohio as neither among the best or worst when it comes to public schools. Ohio ranked 23 in personal finance site WalletHub's new best and worst schools study. The state scored 22 in quality and 24 in safety. The quality ranking made up 60 percent of the total ranking, with safety making up the... read more. Edison students expand community service outreach Edison State Community College, Darke County, communications students expanded their community service outreach recently with a public presentation on “Literacy: the Cornerstone of Success” at the Greenville Public Library. In it they discussed the challenges of illiteracy. “Among developed nations, the United States ranks 16th in literacy,” they... read more. Fatal accident at U.S. 36 & Stahl Rd Greenville- On August 03, 2017 at approximately 5:47 p.m. Darke County Deputies, along with Gettysburg Fire and Rescue and Careflight, were dispatched to US36 and Stahl Rd. reference to a two-vehicle injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed that 2007 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Darla E Rench (57) of Arcanum, was southbound on Stahl Rd.  Rench stopped... read more. Two vehicle accident on SR 49 & County Home Road On August 2, 2017 at approximately 4:52 PM, Darke County Deputies along with with Greenville Township Fire & Rescue responded to a two vehicle injury crash at the intersection of State Route 49 and County Home Road. Preliminary investigation revealed a Black 1999 GMC Sonoma, driven by Richard D. Campbell 73, of Ansonia was traveling Northwest on State Route 49... read more. Tips for Consumers ahead of Sales Tax Holiday  (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today offered consumer protection tips ahead of Ohio’s sales tax holiday, which runs this Friday through Sunday. “As people take advantage of the sales tax holiday and complete their back-to-school shopping, we want them to be prepared,” Attorney General DeWine said. “We’ve helped thousands of people... read more. Midmark partners with Mercy Health to aid developing countries CINCINNATI, Ohio and DAYTON, Ohio, July 31, 2017 — Midmark Corp. recently partnered with Mercy Health, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, to deliver nearly 300 used examination tables to 10 areas of Africa in need of medical equipment. In 2016, Midmark began consulting with Mercy Health to rethink the outpatient experience with the focus... read more. Edison students promote literacy at Greenville library, By Tony Baker, The Daily Advocate GREENVILLE — Edison State Community College students delivered a presentation on the impact of illiteracy in America at the Greenville Public Library Thursday night. The students led with sobering statistics, reporting that 34 million Americans are illiterate, defined as reading below a sixth-grade level, and that the U.S. is currently ranked 16th among... read more. Higher Education… The Rose-Colored Glasses Come Off, Doug Lederman and Rick Seltzer July 28, 2017 - The reality of higher education’s financial challenges is sinking in among college and university business officers. Now the question is what they’re doing about it -- and whether they’re willing to do enough. Chief business officers increasingly agree that higher education is in the midst of a financial crisis, according to the 2017 Inside Higher Ed Survey of... read more. Motorcycle injury at US 127 and Reed Road On July 29, 2017 at approximately 3:53PM Darke County Deputies along with Ansonia Fire and Rescue responded to the intersection of US Route 127 and Reed Road for an injury crash involving a motorcycle and truck. Preliminary investigation revealed a Green 1996 Chevy 1500 pick up truck was being driven by a 16 year old Greenville teen, who was traveling... read more. State Senator Bill Beagle… Ohio Sales Tax Holiday, August 4-6 Back-to-school shopping can be tough on families. It all really starts to add up as you stretch every dollar for clothing, books, pens, and notepads. In the Ohio Senate, we know that families could use some help, and we are committed to easing the financial burden. That is why, for the third year in a row, the General Assembly has passed the Ohio Sales Tax Holiday to assist... read more. Ohio candidate chosen for National Pathfinder Scholarship Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Federation of Republican Women (OFRW) received notification from the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) that its candidate, Jessica Johnson, was named as recipient of the NFRW's National Pathfinder Scholarship. The National Pathfinder Scholarship Fund was established in 1985 in honor of First Lady Nancy Reagan... read more. Homeschool junior takes Miss Annie Oakley Title Ira McDaniel, a 17-year-old homeschool junior, bested 10 other young ladies for the title of Miss Annie Oakley 2017 at the 85 foot line Thursday. Ira looked forward to her new role for the coming year, noting she respected Annie due to shared values and character. “I don’t really feel any different,” she said. “I’m looking forward to representing her the... read more. MVCTC Students Achieve Gold Rating at FCCLA Conference Nashville, TN – Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) students joined more than 7,500 FCCLA student leaders, members, and advisers at the Music City Center in Nashville, TN, July 2nd-6th to participate in the annual FCCLA National Leadership Conference (NLC). The conference provided... read more. ODE and Adecco Group Sign Memorandum of Understanding The Adecco Group, the world's leading provider of workforce solutions, today announced a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ohio Department of Education, becoming a partner with the state in on-the-job training efforts aimed at strengthening Ohio's labor market. The announcement follows The Adecco Group's October 2016 pledge to facilitate... read more. AG Mike DeWine… Task Force Seizes 400 Pounds of Marijuana, Two Arrested (DAYTON, Ohio)— Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Steve Francis, and members of the Miami Valley Bulk Smuggling Task Force announced today the seizure of approximately 400 pounds of marijuana in connection with an investigation into a large-scale... read more. Gettysburg Drug Raid nets Meth, Cash and Firearm Following a drug investigation, the Darke County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, along with the Greenville Police Department and the assistance of the Darke County SRT/Miami County SRT conducted a drug bust at 205 Bridge St. in Gettysburg, Ohio. At approximately 4 p.m. Christopher A. Silcott (43) and Jamie R. Hampshire (38) were both taken into... read more. NPR Ed… Say Goodbye To X+Y: Should Community Colleges Abolish Algebra? By Kayla Lattimore and Julie Depenbrock - Algebra is one of the biggest hurdles to getting a high school or college degree — particularly for students of color and first-generation undergrads. It is also the single most failed course in community colleges across the country. So if you're not a STEM major (science, technology, engineering, math), why even... read more. OFRW Honors Local Republican Woman COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Ohio Federation of Republican Women (OFRW) recently honored Cindy Pike at its Biennial Tribute to Women event. Pike is a member of the Darke County Republican Women’s Club (DCRWC) that nominated her for the recognition. Carrie Almond, President of the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) was present... read more. Applications Now Available for Grants to Address Opioid Epidemic (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today the application process is now open for Ohio law enforcement teams to apply for $3 million in new state grant money that will replicate or expand Drug Abuse Response Teams (DARTs) and Quick Response Teams (QRTs) to address the opioid epidemic in Ohio. The Ohio Attorney General’s Office... read more. Cleveland Plain Dealer… Ohio students scored better on English tests this year, but sometimes worse in math, By Patrick O'Donnell - July 10, 2017 - COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio students scored better on the state's English tests this year than last year - with proficiency rates rising 5-6% for most grades - but they had much smaller gains in math and sometimes scored worse. Ohio Department of Education officials shared early results from state... read more. NPR Ed… Teachers Struggle With Student Debt, Anya Kamanetz July 16, 2017 - "I am overloaded and struggling. It's terrifying." "I feel like I'll be making the last payment from my grave." "It is an albatross around my neck. Years of paying and I feel like I'm getting nowhere." "Help!" Those were some of the comments we received from more than 2,000 respondents to NPR Ed's first Teacher Student Debt survey. Teachers... read more. Ohio Expands Options for Students to Earn Industry-Recognized Credentials Columbus – Ohio’s high school students now have 49 more industry-recognized credentials at their fingertips, thanks to the input of companies and industries throughout the state. The Ohio Department of Education added the credentials to guide career-based program development and help students understand and prepare for Ohio’s in-demand jobs and... read more. Darke County Sheriff… Injury accident at US 127 and Greenville Celina Rd On July 18, 2017 at 12:20 pm Darke County Deputies along with Greenville Township Fire and Rescue were dispatched to the intersection of US Route 127 and Greenville Celina Rd on an injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2013 Ford box truck, driven by Austin Law (19) of Tipp City, was traveling north on Greenville Celina Rd and stopped at the intersection of US Route 127. The 2013 Ford entered the intersection... read more. The Columbus Dispatch… From schools to ice cream, how Ohio’s new budget affects you, By Jim Siegel - The state budget determines how to spend more than $65 billion over the next two years, but it also does much more. As usual, it is packed full of policy changes affecting nearly every Ohioan in some way. This includes you, if you: Worry about the plight of bouncy houses: Reduces the $105 annual fee for inspections of inflatable amusement... read more. The Washington Post… Is using a fidget spinner for timed math problems helpful or harmful? By Valerie Strauss - July 6 - As fidget spinners have become ubiquitous at schools this year, many places have banned them while others have decided to try to use them for educational purposes. Exactly how? One example is giving students math problems to solve for as long as the spinner keeps moving. That seems simple enough, but, as it turns out... read more. Grants Available to Address Opioid Epidemic (TOLEDO, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine joined Ohio Senator Randy Gardner (R-Bowling Green), Lucas County Sheriff John Tharp, Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates, Colerain Township Administrator Daniel Meloy, and Cuyahoga Falls Police Chief Jack Davis announced details regarding $3 million in grants that will be used to help replicate or expand Drug... read more. Ohioans urged to practice good hygiene at fairs COLUMBUS (July 14, 2017)- Ohio’s fair season is underway across the state and leaders at the Ohio Departments of Agriculture (ODA) and Health (ODH) are reminding Ohioans to practice good hygiene when visiting livestock exhibits this summer. “Ohio’s fairs are great places to enjoy some summer fun, but visitors should remember some illnesses can... read more. Edison State Welcomes New Deans Following an extensive search, Edison State Community College is pleased to welcome Dr. Paul Heintz, Jr. as Dean of Arts and Sciences and Dr. Tony Human as Dean of Professional and Technical Programs to the College’s academic leadership team. The Edison State Community College Board of Trustees made the announcement during the June board... read more. Injury accident at SR 571 and Arcanum Bears Mill Rd On July 14, 2017 at 11:47 AM Darke County Deputies along with Arcanum Rescue and Gettysburg Fire Dept. responded to a two vehicle, injury accident at the intersection of State Route 571 and Arcanum Bears Mill Road. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2014 Chevy Equinox, driven by James Neitzelt, 68, of Arcanum, was traveling southbound on Arcanum Bears... read more. Darke County Elected Officials are Annie Oakley Parade Marshals The Annie Oakley Festival Committee is proud to announce that our 2017 Annie Oakley Festival Parade Marshals are the Darke County Elected Officials. We took time in choosing our Parade Marshals, and the Darke County Elected Officials have given so much to our wonderful county.  Besides their dedication to the position that they have been... read more. An Extraordinary 4th, By Paige Burns NEW MADISON- The July 4th Independence Day celebration in New Madison was anything but ordinary. With the placement of a plaque commemorating President Lincoln, New Madison had multiple reasons for celebration on this year’s Independence Day. A public celebration of Independence Day was held in front of the Tri-Village school, where activities... read more. “Big Buddies” After School Program ends with Smiles! The Big Brothers Big Sisters High School mentoring program concluded 2016/17 “Big Buddies” after-school program.  Each site celebrated with snacks, games and crafts. The program pairs high school freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors with local youth and the “matches” meet twice a month throughout the school year.  The High School “Buddies” work together... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… DeWine Warns of Uptick in IRS Scams (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today warned that his office logged about 600 reports of “IRS” scams in June, more than in any other month this year. The scam generally begins with a call claiming the recipient is in trouble with the IRS and must call a certain phone number to avoid arrest or legal action. People who respond to the call are asked to pay immediately, typically by purchasing... read more. Village of North Star celebrates 75 years of incorporation North Star- On Tuesday, July 4, the Village of North Star celebrated 75 years of incorporation at the American Legion’s Annual Bean Bake at the North Star Community Park.  An outside ceremony was held at the shelter house with local church leaders and the colors presented by Post 174.  Bean soup, chili, hot dogs and beverages were available for lunch... read more. Court News Ohio… Opioid Crisis Draws Need for CASA Volunteers, By Anne Yeager June 26, 2017 - Morgan Johnston is a familiar face here at CASA — which stands for court appointed special advocates. She has volunteered as a CASA guardian for three years now. “This isn’t like working at the food bank and handing out food. It’s getting into homes where there’s a lot of stuff going on,” Johnston explained. Every month she spends... read more. Inside Higher Education... Old Criticisms, New Threats, By Colleen Flaherty June 26, 2017 - Professors have long been political targets. But a spate of recent threats against scholars -- including two that have led to campus closures -- is raising fresh concerns about safety and academic freedom. The American Associations of University Professors “is definitely concerned about this trend, which I think is a fair description of what is... read more. DeWine Warns of Home Rental Scams (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine warned consumers to beware of home rental scams. The Ohio Attorney General’s Office has received over 40 reports about the scams in 2017, and summer is a peak time for moving and traveling. In a typical rental scam, a con artist posts an ad online offering a house or apartment for rent. When interested... read more. Edison State Announces Spring 2017 Dean’s List Edison State Community College recognized 507 students for academic excellence on the 2017 Spring Dean’s List. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, a student must have at least a 3.5 grade point average and carry a minimum of 12 hours for the semester. Ansonia: Amber Aultman, Aliya Barga, Charity Barnes, Laura Fields, Stefani Garrett, Tyler He... read more. Local teen named to Teen Ambassador Board 2017-18 (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced his office’s 2017-2018 Teen Ambassador Board, which includes more than 240 Ohio high school students representing more than 50 counties and over 140 schools throughout the state. Local teen, Meridith Cook, Franklin Monroe High School, is among the Board members. A list of the 2017... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… Student Loan Debt Collection Advisory Report issued (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's Advisory Group on Student Loan Debt Collection issued a report of its findings, including the recommendation that late fees and penalties added by colleges and universities should not be assessed interest during debt collection proceedings. A copy of the advisory group's report can be found on the Ohio Attorney General's website... read more. Edison State Honors Active Military Student with Presentation With the Fourth of July approaching, it’s an especially important time to recognize the sacrifices made by the men and women who’ve helped to preserve freedoms enjoyed today. One Edison State Community College class did just that. Students in April Schmidlapp’s Fundamentals of Communications class, consisting of a diverse student... read more. Versailles Crushes the Record! Versailles crushed the prior record of 26,640 dinners set in 2016 by selling 27,620 World Famous Barbecue Chicken Dinners this year.  While it took 14 years to break the record set in 2002 it only took a year to crush that record.  The festival was blessed with great weather and strong support from the Versailles, Darke County, and Miami Valley communities... read more. Fatal accident at Hogpath & U.S. 127 Greenville- On July 2, 2017 at approximately 2:36 a.m. Darke County Deputies, along with New Madison Fire and Tri-Village Rescue were dispatched to the intersection of U.S. Route 127 and Hogpath Road in reference to a two vehicle injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2003 Ford Taurus was westbound on Hogpath Road approaching the intersection... read more. $9.9 Million Community Connectors Grants Awarded One hundred sixteen community partnerships will share $9.9 million to mentor approximately 33,000 Ohio students in the latest round of grants in the Community Connectors school mentorship program. Since July 2015, 342 community partnerships have been awarded $29.2 million for programs that give more Ohio students access to role... read more. Cleveland Plain Dealer… High school graduation requirements would be eased under Ohio Senate proposal, By Patrick O'Donnell - CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The state Senate is looking to stave off a possible high school graduation "crisis" by allowing students to graduate even with poor scores on state tests. The Senate Finance Committee included exemptions from test score requirements in its new version of the state budget bill today... read more. Edison State Students Complete Police Training Edison State Community College’s Peace Officer Academy honored twelve students on June 12 following their successful completion of the 21-week program. Students of the program met for six days each week since January, totaling over 680 hours of training. The curriculum of the program is certified by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) and covers all aspects... read more. FBI 2016 Internet Crime Report… IC3 Releases Annual Report Highlighting Trends in Internet Crime -- Giving someone access to your computer is like giving out a key to your front door. A computer can have your bank account information, family photos, and other private documents and data—information that fraudsters would like to steal. That’s why tech support fraud has become a significant trend in online crime, according to the 2016 Internet Crime Report from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center... read more. Poison Hemlock all Around the County, Sam Custer, OSU Extension, Darke County Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is among the most deadly plants in North America and we have it all around the county.  It is especially prevalent in fencerows, edges of fields, railroad beds, and pastures.  This non-native invasive weed contains highly toxic piperidine alkaloid compounds, including coniine and gamma-coniceine, which cause... read more. Duck Derby & Duck-N-Run 5K Winners Announced Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby and Darke County held their 11th Annual Duck Derby and Duck-N-Run 5K at Tawawa Park in Sidney on Thursday, June 22. This year’s Duck Derby had 2,493 ducks “adopted” by community members and local corporate sponsors and raced in nearby Mosquito Creek.  Thirteen fabulous prizes were awarded for the Duck Derby... read more. Springfield News-Sun… Coalition seeks to help Springfield businesses with drug epidemic, By Michael Cooper - June 21, 2017 - SPRINGFIELD — A local coalition created to fight the drug epidemic in Clark County spoke with business leaders Wednesday about its role in the public health crisis. The Clark County Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Support Coalition held a forum to make business leaders aware of ongoing efforts... read more. GHS Auto Tech takes Gold in Ky! Again! Once again, the Greenville High School Automotive Technology Program students take Gold at the National Skills USA Competition. This year, they won the competition at Louisville, Kentucky, for the project “Gaining Traction in the Automotive Industry.” In order to get to Louisville, the team first had to win Gold at Columbus in... read more. Edison State Receives Approval as Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor The Ohio Department of Job and Family Service’s (ODJFS) Ohio Apprenticeship Council has named Edison State Community College as a U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor in the State of Ohio. Registered apprenticeship programs teach high-level skills and provide educational resources to prepare individuals for entrance... read more. Darke County Sheriff… Two-car collision at North Star Ft Loramie & Rhynard Fink Rd On June 20, 2017 at 10:53 am Darke County Deputies, along with Ansonia Rescue, Rossburg Fire, Burkettsville Fire, Saint Henry Fire, Saint Henry EMS and CareFlight responded to the intersection of North Star Ft Loramie Rd and Rhynard Fink Rd on an injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2001 Dodge Dakota, driven by Joseph Perry (34) of Rossburg, Ohio, was traveling south on Rhynard Fink Rd... read more. Ruraledu.org… New "Why Rural Matters" Report Now Available As the 2016 presidential election has brought newfound attention to rural areas, a new 50-state report urges state and federal leaders to make rural students and their communities a far greater priority. The new edition of Why Rural Matters, from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Rural School and Community Trust, provides an overall “priority” ranking of the 50 states, showing the greatest needs... read more. Making GOP History… Local member one of five women elevated to state party leadership The Ohio Federation of Republican Women (OFRW), the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) and the Preble County Republican Women’s Club (PCRWC) can proudly celebrate the elevation of members to the top leadership team of the Ohio Republican Party (ORP). In this historic event, five Federation members, including Stephanie Garrett, a PCRWC member, became part of the all female leadership team... read more. Seattle Times… Why aren’t American teens working anymore? By Ben Steverman June 15, 2017 - This summer American teenagers should find it a little easier to get a job — if they want one. The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 4.3 percent in May, the lowest in 16 years, so teens started looking for summer jobs in the best labor market since the tech boom of the early 2000s. The May unemployment rate for 16- to 19-year-olds was... read more. Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Carried Diseases on the Rise in Ohio, By Sam Custer, OSU Extension, Darke County - COLUMBUS, Ohio — A steadily rising number of Lyme disease cases are being reported in Ohio transmitted by a tick that can be as small as a poppy seed. Every year since 2010, when Ohio’s first population of blacklegged deer ticks was discovered in Coshocton County, the number of people infected with Lyme disease has increased... read more. Cleveland Plain Dealer… State superintendent proposes cuts in Ohio's state tests, By Patrick O'Donnell - COLUMBUS, Ohio - State Superintendent Paolo DeMaria has recommended significant cuts in state-required testing of students, slashing mandated tests closer to just federal requirements. The recommendations, proposed to the state school board this morning, would end some tests that affect state graduation requirements and state... read more. DeWine Warns of Elder Abuse (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ahead of Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is warning Ohioans to beware of signs of elder abuse. “Elder abuse can affect any family in any community,” Attorney General DeWine said. “It often involves a person in a position of power or trust who takes advantage of an older adult. Sadly, many elder abuse cases are... read more. Inside Higher Education… For-Credit MOOC: Best of Both Worlds at MIT? By Nick Roll The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s catalog of publicly available massive open online courses is typically marketed toward the non-MIT public. Last fall, however, the university experimented by offering the MOOC version of a popular class for on-campus students, for credit, in an attempt to help students facing scheduling issues. A recently released... read more. Main Street Greenville Receives National Main Street Accreditation Main Street Greenville  has been designated as an accredited Main Street America™ program for meeting rigorous performance standards set by the National Main Street Center. Each year, the National Main Street Center and its Coordinating Program partners announce the list of accredited Main Street America programs in recognition of their exemplary... read more. Fatal collision on S.R. 49 On June 14, 2017 at 2:59 p.m. Darke County Sheriff Deputies along with Pitsburg Fire Department, Arcanum Rescue, Darke County Coroners Office and Darke County Accident Reconstruction Team responded to State Route 49 in the area of Miller Brumbaugh Road on a fatal accident. Preliminary investigation shows that a northbound 1999 Red Dodge... read more. Edison State Health Science Students Seeing Success After Graduation Graduates of Edison State Community College are doing exceedingly well when faced with career-focused testing following successful program completion. Students graduating from the nursing, medical laboratory technician (MLT), and phlebotomy programs have seen high pass rates and proved successful in securing employment. The fall 2016 nursing class reported a 96-percent pass rate... read more. Darke County Sheriff… Rollover accident on SR 502 Greenville - On June 12, 2017 at approximately 9:47 p.m. Darke County Deputies, along with Liberty Township Fire and Union City Rescue were dispatched to the 2200 block of SR502 reference a one vehicle roll over accident. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2002 Buick Park Avenue, driven by Cathy Swafford (49) of Greenville, was eastbound on SR502.  Swafford swerved to miss an object on the roadway... read more. Darke County Extension Hosts Two Summer Interns, By Sam Custer, OSU Extension, Darke County - Rose Vagedes is a graduate of Coldwater High School located in Mercer County. She just completed her first year at the Ohio State University studying Agronomy and minoring in Farm Production and Management. With this degree, she intends to find a job locally as an agronomist. Rose actively participates in Agricultural Education Society, Crops and Soils... read more. DeWine Files Lawsuit Against Opioid Manufacturers for Fraudulent Marketing (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today filed a lawsuit against five leading prescription opioid manufacturers and their related companies in Ross County Court of Common Pleas. The lawsuit alleges that the drug companies engaged in fraudulent marketing regarding the risks and benefits of prescription opioids, which fueled Ohio's opioid epidemic... read more. Small-business owners make the case for helping employees repay student loans, By Danielle Douglas-Gabriel - May 30 - As Josh Udashkin took his luggage company Raden from a one-man operation to an outfit with nearly two dozen employees, rewarding those who helped him build out the company was important. But rather than offer a standard benefits package with a retirement plan, the 33-year-old chief executive wanted to provide something... read more. Motorcycle vs deer accident on S.R. 185 On June 10, 2017 at 1:47 p.m. Darke County Sheriffs Deputies along with Bradford Fire, Bradford Rescue and Miami Valley Careflight responded to the 8800 block of State Route 185 on a deer versus motorcycle accident.  Preliminary investigation revealed that a northbound 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle was struck by a deer. The impact caused both occupants... read more. Washington Post… By correctly spelling ‘marocain,’ California girl becomes bee queen, By Sarah Larimer - June 1 - Back and forth they went, Rohan Rajeev and Ananya Vinay. Some of the words they spelled: Heiligenschein. Durchkomponiert. Sceloporus. One, or both of them, would be the new champion of the Scripps National Spelling Bee at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Maryland. But late into the night Thursday, it... read more. A Day of Remembrance, By Paige Burns GREENVILLE - "Land of the free because of the brave," proclaimed Disabled Veterans Commander Robert Foster while waiting for the start of a Memorial Day parade. Flags stood tall and waving in downtown Greenville on May 29 as an annual Memorial Day parade marched in respect for lost U.S. service men and women. Members of the Greenville High... read more. Darke County Sheriff… Head-on Injury Crash On June 8, 2017 at approximately 2:26 PM, Darke County Sheriff's Deputies along with Greenville Township Fire & Rescue responded to a head-on injury crash on State Route 49 at Heritage Road.  Preliminary investigation revealed a White 2016 Ford F-250 driven by Joseph Brian Clay 23, of Union City, Indiana was traveling northwest on State Route... read more. Darke County Sheriff… Do Not use gasoline to start recreational fires! The Darke County Fire Chief’s Association and the Darke County Sheriff’s Office are releasing a reminder to residents not to use gasoline to start recreational fires.  This release and public service announcement comes on the heels of two incidents in the last couple of weeks in Darke County where children have been seriously burned.  In both incidents the... read more. Calling on our Darke County communities Entering its second year of service, Empowering Darke County Youth programs are growing. The ability to serve the increasing demand for help, however, is severely limited by available resources. Last summer Empowering tutors successfully helped 43 students get a jump on their school year. This summer, parents and grandparents have requested help for 63 students, a jump of nearly 50 percent... read more. Edison students note value of Empowering After School Program “Empowering Darke County Youth is an incredibly valuable program that is bettering this county one child at a time,” said Edison spring communications student Allie Davidson. Davidson, who worked nearly 50 hours in the program, is one of 23 Edison State Darke County spring students who volunteered in Empowering Darke County Youth’s After... read more. Students install Community Tiles, From Julie Brewer “Mine is for a green earth,” said one student. “Mine is for treating other people nice,” said another. Greenville middle school students show visitor Bob Robinson the tiles their and other classes have been working on. They are glazed tiles of different designs, each expressing in artform their thoughts for the new school. Grace Barhorst writes “I wish that... read more. Midmark Begins Plans to Build Technology Center in Versailles DAYTON, Ohio, May 24, 2017 — Midmark Corp. today announced its decision to construct a technology center on its Versailles, Ohio, campus to facilitate the company’s recent and future growth and strengthen its new product development process and technological capabilities. The company is currently in the initial phases of the project with the goal of breaking... read more. High School Students Earn Degrees from Edison State Of the nearly 400 students who had credentials conferred, thirty-six high school students walked amongst their associate degree earning peers during Edison State Community College’s 42nd annual spring commencement ceremony. Darke County high school students, which accounted for nearly half of the high school graduates, were able to accomplish... read more. Darke County Sheriff… Child gets burn injuries from bonfire incident On Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 9:07 p.m. Darke County Deputies, along with Osgood Fire and Rescue and Careflight were dispatched to 8019 Bulcher Rd. reference to a child that had burn injuries. Investigation revealed that Mike Nerderman was having a graduation party at his residence.  There were numerous friends and family at the party.  Nerderman's 14 year... read more. Calling on our church communities, A Request from Eric Fee Entering its second year of service, Empowering Darke County Youth programs are growing. While many needs are covered by experienced tutors and substitute teachers, the ability to serve the increasing demand for help is severely limited by lack of volunteers. These kids need our church communities behind them… help us help the kids who are... read more. FBI… Recovering Missing Kids FBI’s Role Part of a Coordinated Response - An investigator in the FBI's Violent Crimes Against Children Unit works at a command post in Maryland during a rescue operation last summer. The disappearance of a Virginia teenager—and her successful rescue, within days, hundreds of miles away—provides a glimpse into the FBI’s role when kids go missing and are... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… Annual Ohio Missing Children Clearinghouse Report More Than 600 Children Are Currently Listed as Missing in Ohio -- (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—In recognition of National Missing Children’s Day today, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine released the 2016 Ohio Missing Children Clearinghouse Report, which documents that 19,902 children were reported missing in Ohio in 2016. Authorities reported that 98 percent of those children were recovered safely... read more. FBI… National Missing Children’s Day May 25; Help Us Find Them After a teenage girl was reported missing in Virginia earlier this year, the FBI and police worked quickly to reunite her with her family and arrest the man who’d lured her away. Unfortunately, not all lost children are found quickly, and some never make it home. On National Missing Children’s Day, the FBI asks the public for help in locating any of the victims pictured here from our Kidnapping... read more. Local physician appointed to Commission on Cancer position CHICAGO, IL, Alisha Reiss , MD received a three-year appointment as Cancer Liaison Physician for the cancer program at Wayne HealthCare . Cancer Liaison Physicians are an integral part of cancer programs accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC). Dr. Reiss is among a national network of more than 1,500 volunteer... read more. Cincinnati Enquirer… Sneaky teen texting codes: what they mean, when to worry, Jennifer Jolly, Special for USA Today - If your teen has a smartphone, chances are they spend several hours a day on text and social media. If you ever look at what they’re actually doing on there, you’ll likely see a lot of innocent “Snapstreaking,” some funny Buzzfeed videos and a bunch of letters and numbers that look like some kind of modern-day shorthand... read more. Spread the word: Kids eat free this summer! 5/22/2017 - Again this summer, the Summer Food Service Program is providing children with free, healthy meals, and we need your help spreading the word to families and students. It's easy to participate and no sign up is required. Simply call (866) 3-HUNGRY, visit education.ohio.gov/KidsEat or download the free Ohio Department of Education mobile... read more. OFRW Holds Spring Conference and Board Meeting; ‘Make Ohio Safe Again’ theme for GOP Women -- SOUTH EUCLID, OHIO – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine headlined the presentations for the Ohio Federation of Republican Women’s (OFRW) 2017 Spring Conference. The theme of the Conference was, “Make Ohio Safe Again”.  Also addressing the group were: Ohio GOP Chairman Jane Timken, Ohio Senator Frank LaRose (R-27), Ohio Representative Dorothy Pelanda (R-86), Cuyahoga County GOP Chairman Rob Frost, National Federation... read more. Darke County Sheriff… Deputies investigate child endangering complaint On May 22, 2017 at 8:32 p.m. the Darke County Sheriffs Office received a call from a citizen reporting a child being placed into the trunk of a motor vehicle.  The vehicle was located on US 127 near State Route 49 by deputies and a traffic stop was made.  The driver, John Anderson (36), of Hamilton, Ohio, told deputies that there was a child in the trunk of the vehicle.  The trunk was opened and a 10-year-old child... read more. Cincinnati Enquirer… In the mind of an 8-year-old: Experts say young children can understand suicide, by Anne Saker -- One piercing question from the January suicide of 8-year-old Gabriel Taye of Cincinnati haunts parents and teachers alike: How can a young child know enough about self-destruction to carry it out? One simple answer, say experts who deal with youth suicide, rests in our common humanity: The mind of an 8-year-old child has the capacity to think about death, even suicide... read more. Bonfire results in burn injuries on child On Sunday, May 21, 2017 at 10:48 p.m. Darke County Deputies, along with Union City Fire, Union City Rescue and Careflight were dispatched to 8278 Kniseley Road in reference to a child that had burn injuries. Investigation revealed, Noah Elleman (20) of Greenville was having a bonfire at his residence. While in the process of starting the fire, Joseph Martino (20) of Greenville... read more. Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the Line of Duty in 2016 Preliminary statistics released today by the FBI show that 66 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty in 2016. This is an increase of 61 percent when compared with the 41 officers killed in 2015. By region, 30 officers died as a result of criminal acts that occurred in the South, 17 officers in the West, 13 officers in the Midwest, four in the North... read more. Middle school math students investigate ‘rate of speed’ Mr. Roll's math classes recently used the Hess toy dragsters to investigate rates. The Hess Corporation donated 10 truck and dragster sets as part of their STEM outreach program. Specifically, the class looked at speed as a ratio comparing distance to time. Over the course of 9-12 time trials, students recorded varying distances and times. Next, they... read more. Darke County selected to host state tourism conference GREENVILLE, OH – Darke County has been selected to host the 2017 Annual Educational Conference for the Ohio Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus, to take place September 20th and 21st. Roughly fifty travel and tourism professionals will make the trip to Darke County for the conference. OACVB is a statewide organization serving... read more. ODA releases new nutrient management tools Ohio Applicator Forecast and Agricultural Stewardship Verification Program will help all Ohioans work to improve water quality… REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (May 18, 2017) – The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) has introduced two new nutrient management tools. The Ohio Applicator Forecast is a new online tool designed to help nutrient applicators identify... read more. STEM Students Design Solutions to Opioid Abuse Ohio is facing a major opioid overdose crisis. And as many Ohio families fight opioid abuse, the impact cascades into the learning environments in Ohio schools. Last fall, Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria and the Ohio STEM Learning Network challenged Ohio’s students to design solutions to help end the opioid crisis. Throughout this... read more. Visitors Bureau welcomes summer intern Ashley Dentinger GREENVILLE, OH – The Darke County Visitors Bureau is excited to welcome Ashley Dentinger as their intern for the summer of 2017. She will be welcoming guests that come to the Welcome Center in downtown Greenville, engaging others on social media and promoting the Visitors Bureau’s new branding and marketing campaign, “Taste the Flavor.” Ashley... read more. MVCTC Hospitality Services Students Win Awards Englewood, Ohio – Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) Hospitality Services students recently participated in several FCCLA events. Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is an organization whose student members are eligible for participation in state and national programs, chapter activities and competitive events. These... read more. Cleveland Plain Dealer… Chronic absenteeism a growing concern in Ohio schools, By Patrick O'Donnell - CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If your child misses school for a doctor's appointment, it's no big deal, right? Miss another when family visits from out of town? It happens. Just have a crazy morning and miss the bus? No big deal. She'll make it tomorrow. But it all adds up more than parents realize. If a child misses just two days a month, national... read more. Greenville Police Department Joins Click lt or Ticket To Crack Down on Seat Belt Use - Especially at Night… Greenville, OH - The Greenville Police Department will join local and national law enforcement officers and highway safety advocates all across the country for the 2017 national Clicle It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization, May 22-Iune 4, 2017 . During the mobilization, officers will be cracking... read more. MVCTC Students Succeed at State FCCLA Competition Clayton, Ohio – Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) Culinary Arts, Early Childhood Education, and Hospitality Services students competed in the Ohio Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Competition on April 27-28, in Columbus. Many students qualified to represent Ohio at the FCCLA National Leadership Conference... read more. Edison State Receives $2.5 Million Gift Edison State Community College is proud to announce they are the recipients of a $2.5 million gift from the Robinson Fund. A check presentation will be held on Tuesday, May 23 at 9:00 a.m. outside of the West Hall entrance of the Piqua Campus. The public is invited to attend. The funds will be used to build and create a new student career... read more. Chief Justice O’Connor weights in on Opioid epidemic, By Anne Yeager May 16, 2017 - ROSS COUNTY - Court News Ohio TV traveled to Chillicothe — as the Opioid epidemic takes center stage. Sadly, Ohio has the worst drug crisis in the country. The Heroin Partnership Project hosted a forum on addiction, called "Renewed Purpose", sharing stories of a former coach whose life was nearly destroyed by pain... read more. VHCC’s Earick named Administrator of the Year A Piqua, Ohio woman has been named the 2017 Administrator of the Year by the state’s largest organization representing long-term care facilities. Kristy Earick, Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA), was chosen by the Ohio Health Care Association (OHCA) as the groups 2017 Administrator of the Year.  The award was presented to Earick... read more. Edison State Honors Graduates Nearly 400 Edison State Community College students made that all-important walk down the aisle and across the stage to receive their diplomas on Friday, May 12, 2017. Edison State President Dr. Doreen Larson gave a speech praising the hard work of the graduates and explained the value of their accomplishments. “A diploma or certificate does not fluctuate in value. These pieces of paper and the degrees... read more. DCSF awards five scholarships for 2017-18 GREENVILLE – The Darke County Scholarship Fund has awarded five scholarships for 2017-18. Recipients this year are Seryn Crawford, Nicole Manges, Will McCabe, Dalton Walls, and Kate Young. Seryn Crawford, a 2016 graduate from Greenville High School, is attending Ball State University for Dietetics. She is a 2016 and 2017... read more. Darke County Deputies investigate inducing panic incident On March 14, 2017 at 5:07 p.m. Darke County Dispatch received a 911 call of people shot at a residence on West Main Street in the Village of Rossburg. Darke County Sheriffs Deputies responded to the scene while Ansonia Rescue staged in the area. When Deputies arrived on scene contact was made with Faith Fellers (49), of Greenville.  During the course of... read more. Edison State nursing graduates honored with pinning ceremony Edison State Community College honored its most recent nursing graduates on Wednesday, May 10, with a pinning ceremony held before an audience of 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... read more. Mansfield News Journal… School tour sparks dialogue on student home-life barriers, Courtney McNaull - MANSFIELD - As principal Andrea Moyer and assistant principal Tom Hager led state Rep. Mark Romanchuk through the halls of Malabar Intermediate School Monday, they described the obstacles they face in their daily efforts to educate students. They talked about the challenges of state testing mandates and technology constraints... read more. Observations on the weather, By Sam Custer 5.6 inches of rain later, we are at a standstill.  There has been significant drying the past couple of days but we have a ways to go.  Remember, patience is critical now, getting on to your wet fields will cause damage for this year and next also. Then came the cold.  I recorded ground level temperatures of 28.3 and 25.8 on Sunday and Mondaymorning at between 5:00 and... read more. Attorney General DeWine… Ohioans Dispose of More Than 16 Tons of Pills During Prescription Drug Take Back Day - (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) today thanked Ohioans for properly disposing of an estimated 16.6 tons (33,261 pounds) of unneeded, unwanted, or expired prescription drugs during the most recent National Prescription Drug Take Back Day... read more. 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