Greenville and local community’s plan Memorial Day Services

GREENVILLE – The Greenville area service organizations are planning its annual Memorial Day Services on May 27, 1 p.m. The event begins with a parade down Broadway through historic downtown Greenville to the Greenville-Union Cemetery.

A program will be held at the Bridge on South Broadway for a Salute to the Navy by Donald Dietrich, chaplain of Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 57. Services at the cemetery will include music from the Greenville Senior High Band, including the National Anthem, invocation from Rev. Samuel Hoeflich, chaplain of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7262, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address read by a Cadet Ensign from the Navy Junior ROTC unit, and Memorial Day Address from Leon Johnson. In case of inclement weather, the service will be held at American Legion Post 140, 325 N. Ohio St., Greenville.

Johnson served in the U.S. Army from 1967-69 and was stationed in Vietnam from 1968-1969. He served as a squad leader, platoon sergeant, platoon leader and Company 1st Sergeant. Prior to leaving the Army he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant.

He has earned the Purple Heart three times, Bronze Star and numerous other awards. He currently serves as the Chairman for the Department of Ohio Assistance Committee, member of the National Military Assistance Counsel and chairman of VFW Ohio Charities. He is a past commander of the Ohio VFW.

Johnson is a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars at Post 6772, Spencerville, VFW National and Veterans Home, Military Order of the Cooties Pup Tent 6, Past Commanders Association, American Legion Post 191, AMVETS Post 22, Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter 783, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Combat Infantrymen’s Association and 25th Infantry Division Association.

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Liberty Township Memorial Day services will be held May 27. The ceremony for Palestine Cemetery will begin at 10 a.m. at the center of town with a parade marching to the cemetery. Pastor Mike Simmons will be the speaker. At 11 a.m., there will be a service at Bass Cemetery with Rev. Pam King speaking. Participating in both ceremonies will be the Tri-Village Band, Scout Troop 96/Pack 149 and the Hollansburg American Legion Color Guard.

Memorial Day services will be held at Newcomers Cemetery in Franklin Township on June 2, 1 p.m. Services at Mote Cemetery in Monroe Township will also be held June 2, 2 p.m.

The Van Buren Township Memorial Services will be held at Abbottsville Cemetery on May 26. Services begin at 1 p.m. with Arcanum High School instrumentalists and the Greenville High School NJROTC. The address will be given by Larry Harter.

The Twin Township Memorial Services will be held at Ithaca Cemetery on May 26. Services will begin at 2 p.m. with Arcanum High School instrumentalists and the Greenville High School NJROTC. The address will be given by Larry Harter.

The Memorial Day at Gettysburg Cemetery will be held May 27, 2:30 p.m. The Memorial Day address will be given by Rev. Burt Wolf, interim pastor at Oakland Church of the Brethren and former principal of Franklin Monroe High School. Others participating will be Jason Lance, Gettysburg mayor, Joseph, Greenville High School Band and Versailles Color Guard. Everyone is invited to attend this service. In case of rain, the service will be held in the Bible Holiness Church, corner of Clay and Corwin Streets, Gettysburg.

Stelvideo Memorial Day Service will be held at 1 p.m., May 26, at the Stelvideo Christian Church. Kay Crawford, voluntary service specialist at the Dayton VA Medical Center will be the honored speaker. Music will be provided by the Stelvideo church band, directed by David Bloomfield. At 2 p.m., following the service at the church, American Legion Post 140 will conduct a Memorial Service at Stelvideo Cemetery. Crawford served in the Women’s Army Corps during the Vietnam Era towards the end of the Vietnam War. She left college in 1974 and joined the military. She served as a squad leader during basic training and graduated with top honors and their drill sergeant was Outstanding Drill Sergeant of the Cycle. She met her husband at Ft. Jackson and married him after she got out of the military. She has been married for 38 years and has three children, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She has been with the VA Medical Center since August 1991 and has worked for the government for 36 years. She has been in Voluntary Service since March 1997.

The Beamsville Christian Church will host its annual memorial Day Service on May 27, 10 a.m. Representative Jim Buchy will be the guest speaker at the service. Buchy represents the 84th House District which includes Mercer County and portions of Auglaize, Darke and Shelby Counties. He is now in his 11th term and returned to House Leadership this term as the Assistant Majority Whip. Representative Buchy serves on the Policy and Legislative Oversight, Rules and Reference, and the Agriculture and Natural Resources committees. Also participating in the service will be Greenville High School Band, Greenville American Legion, Post 140, Greenville American VFW, Post 7262, Ansonia Boy Scouts, Troop 114, and Ansonia Cub Scouts, Pack 114. Following the service at the church there will be a service at the Beamsville Cemetery, conducted by the Greenville VFW and the Greenville American Legion.

Memorial Day Services for Bradford will be held May 26. Line up for the parade will begin at 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Parking Lot, with the parade beginning at 1:30 p.m. The parade will proceed up Miami Avenue and end at the Harris Creek Cemetery for a 2 p.m. service. Pastor Daryl Peeples, assisted by other pastors, will conduct the service. The Bradford Area Association of Churches is sponsoring this event and asks that you join them in remembering our veterans.

A Memorial Day Celebration will be held at the Brock Cemetery on Greenville-St Marys Road on June 2, 2 p.m. The speaker will be Mike McClurg. Also participating is the Color Guard from Ansonia American Legion, and Jeff Mayo will provide music.

Memorial Day Services will be held at Oak Grove Cemetery, State Route 121 South of Ft. Jefferson, on May 26, noon. The service will be led by Jim Buchy, with the Laroy Farst Post, New Madison presenting the colors, and the New Madison Scout Troop placing the wreath. Special music will be by Tommy Renfro. In case of rain, the Memorial Day Service will be held at the Ft. Jefferson United Methodist Church.

The Covington Memorial Day Parade and Veteran Services will be held May 27. The parade begins at 1 p.m. at Walnut and High Streets and proceeds north to the Highland Cemetery. The speaker at Miami Memorial Park and Highland Cemetery will be Congressman Jim Jordan. Additional services will be held at Bloomer Cemetery (Frieden’s Lutheran Church), at 9 a.m.; Miami Memorial Park, 10:30 a.m.; and Stillwater River-Covington Park, following the service at Highland Cemetery.

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County’s warning sirens controlled in central location

DARKE COUNTY – The project of activating outdoor warning sirens from the Darke County Emergency Communications Center located at the Sheriff’s Office is now complete. Some residents in county villages will notice a change in testing of these sirens.

Beginning June 3, sirens located in Ansonia, Arcanum, Ithaca, Bradford, Burkettsville, Gettysburg, New Madison, Wayne Lakes, North Star, Rossburg, Union City, Versailles, and Eldora Speedway will be tested the first Monday of every month at noon.

If inclement weather is occurring and/or is forecast to occur that day, the monthly test will be postponed until the following month. This decision will be made at the discretion of the Darke County Sheriff’s Office Administration. The City of Greenville will continue to activate its own sirens; however, a back-up activation point has been added to the Darke County Emergency Communications Center.

The weather events that trigger siren activation remain the same. Activation of a warning siren is based on a tornado warning from the National Weather Service or a verified spotting by a trained official.

Tornado and wind related events killed nearly 25 Ohioans in the past five years despite advances in how people are alerted to strong storms. Experts agree there isn’t one perfect plan for alerting those in the storm’s path, but say the key is having several systems in place to ensure there are multiple ways a resident can be notified.

When it comes to emergency preparedness, local communities use a variety of resources to help get the word out to their citizens about pending disasters. Authorities encourage citizens to do all they can to make sure they are in a positions to get alerts about potential threats.

If a warning has been issued or a tornado has been spotted in the county, all sirens are sounded in every city and village. This is because all jurisdictions have adopted the same procedure. The guesswork has been eliminated. The alarm indicates the same thing, regardless of where you are in the county.

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“We can’t do it without them”

BY BOB ROBINSON 

ASSOC. EDITOR 

GREENVILLE – Woodland Primary Principal Andrea Townsend made it clear that the school wouldn’t be able to function without its volunteers. She visited informally with more than a dozen volunteers recently during the school’s Volunteer Appreciation Event at the A&B Coffee & Cake Company in Greenville.

Townsend said the school had 90 active volunteers who handled a variety of tasks from bookwork and filing to providing adult support in the classroom and lunchroom.

“Woodland Primary could not exist without our volunteers,” she said.

While the ladies – and two gentlemen – seemed ready for summer to begin, they also knew it wouldn’t be long before they would be ready for the new school year to begin.

“Six more days,” said one. “The longest six days ever,” said another.

“And in a few weeks I’ll be counting the days until school starts again,” said a third.

Assistant Principal Lisa Maher recalled one of her first experiences at the elementary level…

“The fun started right away,” she said. She saw a kindergartner running down the hallway with her shoe laces untied.

“Hey, stop,” she yelled out to the child. “Tie your shoes.”

The girl stopped, looked at her and said, “I can’t.”

Volunteers moved in and out during the two hours set aside for them. Some shared stories.

Two of the events they talked about were the Father-Daughter and the Mother-Son nights and the recent field trip to the Greenville Street Department.

The dances? One was more formal than the other. The girls swayed to the music while with the boys it was more like a tug-of-war.

The street department?

“They had to honk every horn out there,” said one volunteer. “About 50 times,” she added.

Most of the volunteers were “K-Moms” or PTA members or both. Some of the volunteers there at the time were Mary Leemoore, Stacy Wilson, Moleta Mikesell, Laurie Hunt, Debbie Brant, Shanna Good, LeRoy Wilson, Kristina Madden and Missie Begoon. 

Woodland Primary volunteers share stories during the recent Volunteer Appreciation Event at A&B Coffee & Cake Company. According to Principal Andrea Townsend (second from right) Woodland wouldn’t exist without its volunteers. 

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Miss Annie Oakley shooting & costume contest

GREENVILLE – Wanted: Darke County women Age 14-19 for the Miss Annie Oakley Shooting Contest & Costume Contest.

The contest is part of the Annual Annie Oakley Festival that is held at the Darke County Fairgrounds, the last weekend of July. The Miss Annie Oakley Shooting and Costume contest begins on July 10 at 6 p.m. with a mandatory publicity photo shoot at the Annie Oakley Park Statue in downtown Greenville. The shooting practice will be held at the fairgrounds on July 23 at 6 p.m., with the shooting preliminaries held the next night, July 24 at 6 p.m. The winners of the preliminaries will have a shoot off on July 25 at 6 p.m.

All of the shooting contest is open to the public with no admission charged. Darke County women age 14 to 19, need to complete an application and send it in with two photos. Deadline is July 10 at 6 p.m. No Exceptions. If you have any questions or for more information, call 547-9947.

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Head Start is enrolling now for Fall 2013

GREENVILLE – Young children need to be ready for kindergarten and the Head Start part-day preschool program in Darke County is taking applications now for their kindergarten readiness classrooms.

Head Start is a federally funded preschool program at Kids Learning Place in Greenville, Bradford and Union City. The eligibility for this no cost preschool program is: a child must be between 3 to 5 years old and the family must meet federal income guidelines. The program also provides services to children of families that are homeless and children with disabilities are also considered.

There are two options; either part day classrooms or our home visiting program for more rural areas of the county. Our centers provide children with safe and nurturing classrooms and the home base offers weekly visits and periodic group days. The Kids Learning Place program provides every child with a positive education experience that includes:

* teachers with degrees in every classroom

*developmental testing throughout the year

* individualized services for children and families

* bus transportation in most areas

For more information about this program and to enroll call the local toll free number 1-866-627-4557. Also check the web site at www.kidslearningplace.org and “like” their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kidslearningplace.

Council on Rural Services provides education, support, and volunteer services through Kids Learning Place™, Head Start, and Early Head Start in their nine county service area.

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Flyball has successful return to area

GREENVILLE – The dogs were back in town for their first flyball tournament in over six years. Many spectators came out to cheer on the local and first Ohio team, Extreme Insanity Dog Sports, as they went head to head with some of the fastest teams in the world in the fastest sport on 4 legs.

Extreme Insanity had a great turnout and they want to thank the community for supporting their two-day event! They raised money for Friends of the Shelter. Their donation will help maintain the new Dog Park at Darke County's Animal Shelter.

They’d like to thank Greenville’s Carefree Connection Bus Tours and Hartzell Veterinary Service for sponsoring the tournament. They plan on bringing the tournament back to Greenville again next year. For more information or to keep up to date on tournaments throughout the year, call Russell, 423-2546, or visit www.extremeinsanityflyball.com.

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Campfire Cooking

GREENVILLE – The warm weather is here and nothing beats making supper outdoors over a campfire. Whether you are an avid camper or just like being outside, bring the family and join the Darke County Parks for an evening of fun on June 10, 7 p.m., as everyone will be able to cook some new, delicious appetizers and snacks over the open fire. Samples will be provided and a variety of techniques will be explored. Campfire Cooking will be held at Shawnee Prairie Preserve, 4267 State Route 502 West, Greenville. Space is limited; sign up by calling, 548-0165. There is a $5 fee per person. For more information, visit www.darkecountyparks.org.

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Butterfly Rider gives program

Christopher Kline 

GREENVILLE – Join Darke County Parks on June 8, 1 p.m., as they welcome Christopher Kline, author of “Butterfly Rider: A Biker’s Long Search for Butterflies”, as he shares stories of his adventures and photographs of the 102 butterfly species he observed. The Butterfly Rider spent 2011 hunting, documenting and photographing butterflies from around the U.S., all from the back of his motorcycle.

After the presentation, join them for a walk to search for butterflies at Shawnee Prairie Preserve. The program is free, but pre-registration is required.

Call the Nature Center, 548-0165 for questions or to register. Copies of his book will be available for sale after the program. For more information on all programs offered by the Darke County Parks, visit www.darkecountyparks.org.

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Give blood and register to win

DARKE COUNTY – Dave Knapp Ford Lincoln will partner with Community Blood Center (CBC) in hosting a community blood drive, May 29, 3–6 p.m., in their showroom, 500 Wagner Ave., Greenville. Everyone who registers to donate will be automatically entered into a drawing to win a Harley Davidson Road King Classic motorcycle, and will receive a “King of the Road Summer Blood Drive” t-shirt. Donors are encouraged to register at www.DonorTime.com or call Dana Puterbaugh, Darke County - Account Representative, 997-2199, or email dputerbaugh@givingblood.org to schedule your appointment.

Please always allow 45 minutes to one hour to get through the entire process, even if you have an appointment.

CBC has partnered again with Gover Harley Davidson in Piqua and REACH Magazine to present a dream machine for one very lucky blood donor. Everyone who registers to donate blood at any CBC Donor Center or mobile blood drive beginning May 28 (the day after Memorial Day) through Aug. 31 (the Saturday before Labor Day) will be automatically entered in the drawing to win the Road King.

Ten computer-selected finalists will be invited to a special envelope-opening announcement event in September to discover the Road King winner. (Must be 18 to win. Official rules available at www.givingblood.org after May 28.)

Everyone who registers to donate during the summer months will receive a free “King of the Road Summer Blood Drive” t-shirt. CBC will kick-off the campaign with the first t-shirt design, offered May 28 through July 13. (A second design will follow July 15 through Aug. 31).

The first t-shirt is orange with a black emblem, the classic Harley Davidson colors. The center of the design is a Rout “56” road sign (a play on the original U.S. Highway, Route 66, with the reminder that you can donate blood every 56 days).

The following are blood drives scheduled in June.

June 4 – ODOT/Neff Motivation, Inc., 8–9:20 a.m. – ODOT, 9:20–11 a.m. – Neff Motivation, employees only

June 4 – Norcold, Inc., 11 a.m.–2 p.m., employees only

June 4 – Greenville Technology, Inc., 12:30–3:30 p.m., employees only

June 5 – Greenville Technology, Inc., 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., employees only

June 7 – Midmark Corporation, 7–11 a.m., employees only

June 10 – BASF, 7:30–11:30 a.m., employees only

June 11 – Ice Cream Social Blood Drive – donors will enjoy a variety of ice cream, Greenville Church of the Brethren, 421 Central Ave., Greenville, 12:30–6:30 p.m., sponsored by Greenville Masonic Lodge, open to the community, appointments encouraged

June 13 – Whirlpool Corporation, 6–10 a.m., employees only

June 14 – Kroger Store, 200 Lease Ave., Greenville, 9 a.m.–noon, open to the community, appointments encouraged

June 15 – Tri-Village Rescue, 320 North Main Street, New Madison, 8–11 a.m., sponsored by Tri-Village Rescue, open to the community, appointments encouraged

June 17 – Bradford High School, 750 Railroad Ave., Bradford, 2:30–6:30 p.m., sponsored by Bradford High School, open to the community, appointments encouraged

June 19 – Darke County Courthouse, 7:30–11:30 a.m., employees only

June 20 – Eldora Speedway Ballroom, 13929 State Route 118, New Weston, 2:30–6:30 p.m., race ticket winners to be drawn every 1/2 hour, plus grand prize drawings, sponsored by Eldora Speedway, open to the community, appointments encouraged

June 24 – Ansonia High School FFA & Mississinawa Valley High School FFA, Blood & Guts Grudge Match Challenge, get your appointment scheduled to VOTE for your favorite FFA, Mississinawa Valley High School Gym, 2–6 p.m., sponsored by Ansonia High School FFA and Mississinawa Valley High School FFA, open to students, faculty and community, appointments encouraged

June 26 – Family Health, 8 a.m.–noon, employees only

Visit the all new www.GivingBlood.org.

Donors must be at least 16 years of age (16 years old with parental consent: form available at www.givingblood.org or at CBC branch & blood drive locations), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be in good physical health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changes blood donor eligibility guidelines periodically. Individuals with eligibility questions are invited to email canidonate@cbccts.org or call 1(800)388-GIVE. Make an appointment at www.DonorTime.com.

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Red Cross offers ways to support disaster victims

DARKE COUNTY – The American Red Cross is responding in multiple states where tornadoes have touched down and caused significant damage. The Darke County Chapter American Red Cross of has been informed that additional support will likely be needed and have contacted its trained disaster volunteers, who are available at this time. At this time, no volunteers have been deployed, but that is expected to change. During the next few days, besides providing shelter, feeding, clothing, medication, and crucial mental health services, Red Cross workers are on the ground in the disaster areas will be assessing the damage, deciding where and what kind of additional support is necessary, and determining the needs of the affected communities.

If you still haven’t heard from friends or family in the affected area, they encourage people to check the Red Cross Safe and Well website at redcross.org/safeandwell. If you are not an online user, please feel free to call or stop by the Darke County Chapter. Those in the affected area are also encouraged to register on the Safe and Well website.

They recognize that Darke Countians want to help during this very large response effort and are thankful to live in an area where people have such a heart for service to others in need, the Darke County office has already received several calls from residents asking how they can help. Here is a list of ways you can help not only those in Oklahoma, but play a significant role in helping your own family at home.

* People who wish to help can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief, which helps provide food, shelter and emotional support to those affected by disasters like the recent tornadoes across the Mid-West as well as disasters big and small throughout the United States by visiting redcross.org, dialing 1-800-REDCROSS, texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation or mailing to the local office

* If this tragedy has sparked your interest in disaster volunteering, go to www.redcross.org/oh/greenville and follow to the volunteer page. Their hope is they won’t need to deploy you to this disaster, but there is always another one and we are just weeks away from the start of hurricane season. If internet is the issue, call the office to set up an appointment.

* Talk to your children about this disaster; give them an opening to express their concerns, questions or grief. Keep young children away from visual media as much as possible and the same could be said for adults as well. Information is available from your local chapter or online at redcross.org on how you can have these conversations with children.

* People can also be prepared for severe weather by downloading the Red Cross Tornado App. The free app has tips on what to do before, during, and after a tornado hits. It also has a warning siren and watch and warning weather alerts. It is available for download on any iOS or Android device

“Our hearts go out to our Oklahoma neighbors, let us take this moment, this opportunity to turn our concern into caring action,” stated Lynne Gump, executive director Darke County American Red Cross, “ Won’t you join with us?”

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Greenville Police Beat

Two drivers cited for OVI, Operating a Vehicle Impaired

Following a two-vehicle collision on Washington Ave. and Pine St. on May 19, Jason Robert Ferguson was arrested for suspicion of OVI. Ferguson allegedly struck a parked vehicle in which Jeffrey Eugene Hashman was sleeping. The officer observed him in pain and asked him to sit until paramedics arrived. The officer then spoke with a witness, Jessica Frazier, who said she heard what she thought to be tires skidding and a loud bang. She turned around and saw that Ferguson’s vehicle had hit the other vehicle. When the officer interviewed Ferguson he was observed staggering and having a hard time keeping his balance. He was observed having extremely slurred speech and at times could not be understood. The officer noted at one point that Ferguson tried to start his car to leave and made him sit in the passenger side of his vehicle. Ferguson did poorly on a field sobriety test and was taken to the Greenville Police Station where he was “uncooperative and aggressive.” He was transported to the Darke County Sheriff’s Office where he refused to take a breath test. He was issued a citation for OVI and Assured Clearance Distance Ahead (ACDA).

Jodie Downey, 5989 Requarth Rd., Greenville, was arrested for suspicion of OVI on May 18. Her eastbound vehicle was observed moving several feet into the westbound lane of Park Dr. The arresting officer smelled alcoholic beverages and observed slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. According to the report, Downey stated she was en-route to pick up a friend. When questioned, she seemed confused and was unable to provide information. The officer state Downey did poorly on a field sobriety test and was taken to Greenville Police Department where she voluntarily consented to a breath test. At that point she was arrested for OVI and placed under ALS (Administrative License Suspension). She was released to her father.

Fraud 

Carol Voigt, 310 E. Harmon Dr., contacted Greenville Police on May 16 after she was approached by two individuals who stated the were collecting money for the Sara Whittaker Scholarship Fund. The female asked Voigt if she knew who Sara was and showed her a paper. Voigt said she already knew who Sara was and gave the female $5. Voigt then heard on the radio that a couple was going door to door collecting for the fund that was not authorized to do so. No one from the fund collects door to door. She called police. Voigt described the suspects as young, possibly in their 20’s. She was blondish and “chunky.” He was quite a bit taller than the female. On May 10, suspects had been called at another house. An officer responded and located the suspects. They advised they were not asking for money but to go to the website and make a donation. That individual had not given them money, so they were only warned about theft.

Burglary 

GREENVILLE – On May 21 Iris Prasuhn, 129 Eastwood Dr., reported a theft of rings valued at more than $3,500 from a jewelry box in her home. She advised responding officer that her husband Fred had just noticed the rings were gone from the dresser drawer in the bedroom. The last time she knew that the rings were there was about six weeks earlier. Iris stated her daughter and grandson live with them and their friends are in and out at all times. There were no signs of forced entry into the house, but were signs of forced entry in the locked bedroom. There were no possible suspects.

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Miller, Freeman are Little Mr. & Miss Yesteryear for 2013

BY BOB ROBINSON 

ASSOC. EDITOR 

ARCANUM - Andy Miller, 5-year-old son of Scott and Shelly Miller, and Kara Freeman, 4-year-old daughter of Jessica and Ryan Freeman, took Little Mr. and Miss Yesteryear honors on May 17 as Arcanum Old Fashioned Days kicked off the community festivities in Darke County for 2013.

Second place honors went to Caleb Jones, five, son of Jenny and Travis Jones, and Grace Psczulkoski, five, daughter of Ashley and Andy Psczulkoski. Third place went to Wyatt Lindsey, five, son of Amos Lindsey and Kristen Rowland, and Madi McCool, five, daughter of Justin and Sierra McCool.

According to Lori Henderson, co-owner of Yes “Deer” Salon, along with co-owner Amber Proffit, First, Second and Third place winners received trophies, while all contestants received gift bags. Little Mr. and Miss were crowned and adorned in their royalty robes.

The Little Mr. and Miss Yesteryear contest was the first event of packed weekend with the Old Fashioned Days Parade taking place the following morning at 11 a.m., a Kiddie Tractor Pull, Children’s Theatre Club, Arcanum H.S. Lift-A-Thon, Hog Raffle, Twisters Acrobatic Cheerleading and more. Rides and concessions were open daily throughout the weekend.

Prior to the parade Alan Fourman said “it’s an honor” to serve as its Parade Marshall, one that the 73-years-young Arcanum resident is proud to add to his resume.

“I’m the bad bean supper cook for the Arcanum Business Assn. and Lions Club,” he said, adding that he is also a 33-year retired worker at the Dayton Chrysler plant and a part time helper at Sutton Super Value since 1994.

He said he was especially proud of the role he and his, Judy, wife play in making sure that both Santa and the Easter Bunny visit all the children in Arcanum each year.

Fourman’s “chariot” was a 1941 Chevrolet, which its driver Lois Troutwine, said was called a Cabrolet.

“It was given to me by my husband, Keith, for our 50th anniversary in 2000,” she said. “He had the insurance agency here in town.” He passed away in 2003.

It seems Mrs. Troutwine also plays a role in the Santa festivities each year…

“I tell the kids I drive up to the North Pole to get Santa,” she said.

Shortly after 10 a.m. more than 45 parade entries had begun staging at Arcanum Butler High School. One worker noted that she hoped the weather would hold. This was echoed most of the weekend as inclement weather threatened all three days. Two children who looked forward to the parade Saturday morning were prepared with an umbrella bigger than they were. They were Molly, 4, and Avery, 3, Kniesly, daughters of Mike and Elizabeth Kniesly.

During the Little Mr. and Miss contest wind and a possible storm threatened to require moving everyone from Veteran’s Park to another location. It wrapped before any precipitation occurred.

In addition to the Yes “Deer” Salon, sponsors of the contest were the Arcanum Business Assn., Koenig Equipment and Sink Jewelers.

Helping at the event was Miss Ohio Junior Teen, 14-year-old Arcanum resident Janae Kinne, daughter of Brian and Julie Kinne. Janae said she was the winner of the Little Mr. & Miss Yesteryear contest in 2005 at the age of six.

The remaining Yesteryear contestants were: Brendon Jones, seven, son of Jenny and Travis Jones, Evan Addison, three, son of Larry and Amy Addison, JJ Vocke, four, son of Wendy Adams, Anna Jean Stump, six, daughter of Chris and Kristie Stump, Lilyan Lindsey, seven, daughter of Amos Lindsey and Kristen Rowland, and Rylee Leeper, seven, daughter of Teresa and Chris Leeper. 

Winners of the Arcanum Old Fashioned Days Mr. and Miss contest. Center: Little Mr. and Miss Yesteryear Andy Miller and Kara Freeman, Left to right: Wyatt Lindsey, third; Caleb Jones, second; Grace Psczulkoski, second; and Madi McCool, third. 

Alan Fourman said he was proud to represent Old Fashioned Days as Parade Marshall. He is shown with his wife, Judy. Long-time driver in her 1941 Cabrolet is Lois Troutwine. 

Molly, 4, and Avery, 3, Kniesly are ready for the weather with their oversized umbrella. They are the daughters of Mike and Elizabeth Kniesly. Elizabeth had a display tent for her home made hair bows. 

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South students hold birthday balloon release for 101-yr-old building

BY BOB ROBINSON 

ASSOC. EDITOR 

GREENVILLE – “Did you know that in 1912, the same year that South School was built, the Titanic sank?”

South School celebrated its 101st birthday on May 21 with a balloon launch in which 10 students provided some “fun facts” about their historic school.

It was a celebration that brought out the entire student body about 7:45 a.m. Principal Rhonda Schaar told them what some of Jennifer Schatz’ Leadership Students found out about the history of the school.

“In 1915 teachers had to scrub the floor once a week and could wear no bright colors,” she said. Later she noted that teachers weren’t allowed to be married, they had to wear two petticoats and couldn’t be out after 8 p.m.

They were all women teachers. Men teachers didn’t arrive until the 1970s.

The students discovered that in 1961 and 1962, South School served as Greenville’s neighborhood K-8 building. There was no junior high school. In 1987 South became a K-6 neighborhood school. Today, the building houses the District’s 398 fifth and sixth graders with a staff of 50.

Schaar told them that currently Greenville is planning a levy that, if passed, will add a new chapter to the building’s life. She added that she hoped it would be supported by Greenville’s citizens.

“South School has provided much to Greenville,” she said. “It is good that we have this opportunity to share some of the memories of the building and all it has given to the community.”

Shortly after that, she turned the megaphone over to the students to read off the things they’d found in their research. They included…

“Did you know that there were only seven teachers here in 1912? The principal even taught fifth and sixth grades…”

“In 1924 the building was 12 years old. The basement was only used for the furnace and coal…”

“In the 1920’s there were no buses, so children walked to school and went home for lunch because there was no cafeteria…”

“In 1949 the new first floor building was added for $254,000, as compared to the main first building that only cost $25,000…”

When they were finished the students launched their balloons. Each one had a sticker on it that said: “South Middle School, Greenville, Ohio 101 Birthday Celebration.”

Schaar said that Schatz’ Leadership Students, consisting of fifth and sixth graders, have been active in putting together special events for the student population. They decorate the school for the seasons, were involved in the Ohio Achievement Assessment, put on Pep Rallies for the school and set up the school’s birthday celebration.

The students are: Kylie Beam, Travis Boggs, Jada Garland, Adam Godown, Serenity Lear, Tess McClure, Phillip Roberts, Ashlyn Smith, Lucas Smith and Chase Waddle.

Greenville South fifth and sixth graders went to the playground at 7:45 a.m. for a “balloon release” commemorating the birthday of Greenville’s oldest school building. 

Greenville South School Leadership Students released balloons about 8 a.m. May 21 to celebrate the 101st birthday of the building. The celebration included historical memories of the building and all that it has given to the community. 

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Scholarship fundraiser

GREENVILLE – The sixth annual Sarah Whittaker Scholarship Fund Fundraiser will be held June 7 and 8. The fund presented a $1,600 scholarship to Katelyn Crandall in 2012 and will present a $2,000 scholarship to Mason Perez this year.

The event begins on June 7, with a free party at Paws Bingo, 848 Martin St., Greenville. Food and drinks will be available. Grove Hill will provide the music from 8 p.m. to midnight. Doors open at 5 p.m. with Happy Time.

On June 8, a Poker Run will be held with a $7 entry fee. Sign-up at noon at Paws Bingo. The first bike out is at 2 p.m. Prizes will be awarded at 6 p.m. There will be a party following the run with DJ Kent Mowry. There is no cover. Food and drinks will be available. The public is welcome.

For more information, call 417-1835, 417-7267 or visit www.sarahwhittaker.com.

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Fly for Fun Day slated

GREENVILLE – The Darke County Aeromodelers will host its free annual Fly for Fun Day with R.C. Aircraft. The event will be held June 16, at Landess Field, off of Chestnut Street beside the railroad tracks and across from the former Gade Nursing Home, Greenville. Flying sessions begin at 11 a.m.

All flight trainees under the age of 18 will receive a free hot dog and refreshment. Trainer planes and flying demonstrations will be provided by club members.

A portion of all concession profits will be donated to a local charity.

For more information, contact Jason Stump, (765) 964-3131 or email jasonstump@shockneyelec.com.

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UC East Side School plans reunion banquet

UNION CITY – The Union City East Side School is hosting its reunion banquet at EUM Church Fellowship Hall, 117 Franklin St., Union City, on June 15. If you are an East Side graduate or if you attended East Side School prior to the 1960 consolidation with Jackson, you are invited to attend the reunion. You do not need to be a graduate to attend. They welcome anyone to the banquet that shares an interest in the Union City East Side School and community.

This will be the third UC East Side Alumni Reunion since the consolidation. The first reunion was held in 2001, prior to the demolition of the school.

The event begins at 3 p.m., which will allow attendees to reunite and visit until dinner is served at 5:15 p.m. Bring any memorabilia of your days at East Side to share with all. Be sure to clearly mark any item you bring so that its owner can be identified.

After the meal, there will be a brief floor discussion for anyone to offer comments or suggestions about the banquet.

If you are in touch with an East Sider who would like to attend, but did not get an invitation, have them contact Jerry Cox, 968-4102, or Marilyn Nestor, 968-5669, for further details.

Although the deadline to register is May 27, organizers are extending the deadline a few days. The cost is $15 per person, which includes the cost of the meal and postage. Checks or money orders should be made payable to UC East Side Reunion. Send your name, name of guest/spouse, year attended or graduated and food choice (chicken or Swiss steak), and payment to Marilyn Miller Nestor, 116 E. Main St., Union City, Ohio 45390.

The meal is being catered by the ladies of EUM Church. Parking is available on either side of the EUM Church. Please enter the front glass doors. Handicap access is available (if needed, not it on your reservation).

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Gardening for Butterflies

GREENVILLE – Join Darke County Parks on June 3, 6:30 p.m., as they learn how to build an oasis for butterflies (and other wildlife). They will discuss the supplies and plants needed to start your garden and how to get the most out of your area and in no time you will have butterflies flocking to your garden.

They will also cover common butterflies in Darke County so you can identify who is visiting your garden! This program is free; register by calling 548-0165. For more information on the Darke County Park District, visit www.darkecountyparks.org.

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Garden Tractor Swap Meet and Pull scheduled

WINCHESTER, IN – The Randolph County Antique Club will host a Garden Tractor Swap Meet and Pull on June 7 and 8, at the club’s grounds on Highway 27 in Winchester, IN.

The event begins with an ice cream social on June 7, 7 p.m. Saturday events begin with a swap meet at 9 a.m., after the flag ceremony. Throughout the day there will be opportunities to drive your tractor in various games and contests. This is a free event and there is no charge to set up for the swap meet or to sell items. A free will offering would be appreciated to help maintain the show.

The Garden Tractor Pull will have weigh in at 1 p.m. and the pull begins at 2 p.m. There is a hook fee. The pull is sponsored by the Dirt Street Pullers.

For more information, contact Kent Hufford, (765) 964-6318 or visit www.randolphcountyantiqueclub.com.

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United for a Cure event

GREENVILLE – The second annual United for a Cure Motorcycle Benefit Ride Poker Run will be held June 1 (rain date June 2). The event begins at Hot Rods and Harleys, 1240 E. Russ Road, Greenville. Registration is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the first bike out at noon. The last bike in is at 6 p.m. The cost is $15 per rider and $10 for passenger. There will be raffle prizes, 50/50 drawing, food, auction, music and more.

A concert from Jason Rhoads, acoustic artist, will be held from 5-9 p.m.

All proceeds go to Darke County Relay for Life/American Cancer Society and the Cancer Association of Darke County.

For more information, contact Lynne, 417-6652 or Melissa, 548-0019.

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OVI Checkpoint tonight on U.S. 127

PIQUA - The Ohio State Highway Patrol, announced today that an OVI checkpoint will be held from 6-8 p.m. tonight on US127, in Darke County.

The OVI checkpoint, funded by federal grant funds, is planned to deter and intercept impaired drivers.

The checkpoint will also be held in conjunction with nearby saturation patrols to aggressively combat alcohol-related injury and fatal crashes.

If you plan to consume alcohol, designate a driver or make other travel arrangements before you drink. Don’t let another life be lost for the senseless and selfish act of getting behind the wheel impaired.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding drivers to not get behind the wheel impaired this Memorial Day weekend. Troopers will be working alongside local law enforcement officers in an effort to have a weekend free of impaired-fatal crashes.

Memorial Day weekend is traditionally a dangerous holiday period on Ohio roads, particularly for impaired driving crashes. Last Memorial Day holiday, seven of the 13 people killed on Ohio roadways were involved in alcohol-related crashes.

“Based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – in the United States, there is just one OVI arrest for every 27,000 miles driven while drunk. These impaired drivers severely threaten the well-being of every citizen in the state,” Colonel John Born, superintendent of the Patrol, said. “Fatalities caused by impaired drivers are indeed a national tragedy - and that makes them a potential tragedy for each of us.”

Motorists should also be reminded that wearing a safety belt is the single most effective tool in reducing injuries and deaths in crashes caused by impaired drivers. This message is part of the national Click It or Ticket safety belt mobilization, which runs through June 2.

Motorists are encouraged to call #677 to report impaired drivers or drug activity

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Hemelgarn wins Lead the Way Scholarship

Megan Hemmelgarn 

DARKE COUNTY – Versailles High School’s Megan Hemmelgarn, a senior from Rossburg, will receive $1,000 for college tuition as a winner of the 2013 Community Blood Center (CBC)/Vectren Lead the Way Creative Scholarship for High School Seniors.

CBC and Vectren challenged high school seniors in CBC’s 15-county region to be clever, creative, and inspirational as they designed a high school blood drive marketing campaign. The program awarded five $1,000 scholarships. The other winners are Shana Meyer from Russia High School; Virginia “Abbey” Saurine and Evan McCormick, both from Carroll High School; and Michael Jacob from Lehman Catholic High School in Sidney.

Applicants were asked to create a blood drive theme and explain why it would be effective in encouraging students to donate. They were also challenged to express the theme using conventional marketing techniques or innovative, artistic expressions.

Megan challenged her peers to take a critical look at time spent on social media with her theme, “Set Down the Technology. Give Up the Blood. Save a Life.”

Her campaign brochure included several “Did you know?” comparisons, such as “The average American spends eight hours in front of a screen each day… if each American gave up one hour to donate blood, the blood supply would be sufficient.”

“I chose this theme to first and foremost catch the eyes of my classmates,” she said. “It is a simple yet bold statement that will intrigue people to look little closer at what the slogan is all about.”

Megan was a member of the National Honor Society at Versailles High School, co-editor of the yearbook, and an academic all-conference in volleyball, cross country and track. She is a member of the St. Louis Church Youth Ministry, an active community volunteer and has held several part-time jobs.

She plans to attend Bowling Green State University in the fall to pursue a degree in dietetics. She hopes to work as a dietician “To help Americans who are struggling to eat and stay healthy,” she said. “Overall, it is my objective to obtain a job I love which will allow me to serve people, and even change their lives through my services.”

The Lead the Way Creative Scholarship for High School Seniors is made possible by a $5,000 grant from Vectren. It is open to all graduating, college-bound seniors in CBC’s 15-county region whose high school hosts a CBC blood drive.

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SLHD Grand Parade applications accepted

UNION CITY – On Aug. 3, 1 p.m., the annual Grand Parade for State Line Heritage Days will begin. You won’t want to miss this family-friendly activity, promoting town, county, state, and national pride. The parade will begin just north of Carter Street in Union City, IN, traveling south on Columbia Street to Oak Street. From there, the parade will travel east across the State Line into Ohio where it will turn south onto Walnut, then east again onto Elm Street. Those wishing to see the parade will want to sit along that route.

Applications and informational notes are available for completion at the following Union City businesses- Jo’s Corner Florist, The Corner Cupboard, State Farm Insurance, and the Union City Chamber of Commerce Office on Oak St (Indiana). Interested participants are encouraged to stop by these establishments to fill out the form needed for participation in the Grand Parade. If you are unable to visit one of the businesses mentioned but are interested in being in this year’s parade, call Parade Chairperson Marla Threewits, (765) 964-7365 to apply over the phone. You can also request a parade application by email, mthreewits@hughes.net. By completing an early registration form, you are insured a numbered location within the parade line up.

You can wait until the day of the parade to register, but your entry will be placed at the end of the pre-registered entries.

Interested parties have until July 31 to preregister for this year’s parade. Applications are now available and will remain available at the aforementioned businesses until that Wednesday. Churches, farmers, car enthusiasts, civic organizations, school sport teams, marching bands - any and all entries are welcome.

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Nurses honored for service and care

GREENVILLE – Wayne HealthCare's dedicated, expert nursing professionals are there when patients and families need them most - during their cancer journey.

Oncology nurses serve many functions along the continuum of care, from direct caregivers, educators, and administrators to vital roles in managing patients on clinical trials. They provide treatment, education, emotional support, and counsel patients and their family members.

This May, during Oncology Nursing Month, Wayne HealthCare proudly recognizes these special caregivers and the important role they play.

It is important to take a moment and honor them for their outstanding service and care.

Shown are Heather Kremer, Jenny Smith, Debbie Swindler, and Dorothy Knapke. 

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Essay contest open to Darke Co. girls 8-13

GREENVILLE – ‘Aim For A High Mark’ Essay Contest is sponsored by Darke County Guns and Ammo, 109 S Main Street, Ansonia, and very fitting for a contest about ‘Little Sure Shot.’

Three prizes will be awarded: First place is $75, second place is $50, and third place is $25.

Write an essay answering the question “How has Annie Oakley’s life inspired you to ‘Aim for a High Mark?’” Essay requirements: typed, double-spaced, Time New Roman, 12 pt font, 1 inch margins, 500 words or less. Entries must include contestant’s name, age, address, phone number, email, and school.

Winners to be announced via the Annie Oakley Festival website and personally contacted on July 12. The three winning entries are expected to read their essays at Annie Oakley’s gravesite during the Pilgrimage program directly after the Miss Annie Oakley shooting contest on July 24, at approximately 7:30 p.m. The Pilgrimage leaves the fairgrounds and this year’s featured speaker is Jim Buchy.

Entry deadline is June 21. Submit entries by mail to: Annie Oakley Festival Committee, PO Box 129, Greenville, OH 45331 or by email to: essaycontest@annieoakleyfestival.org.

For questions or more information, call Malinda Linebaugh, 338-5221.

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New Bereavement Team member named

Meredith Carpe 

GREENVILLE – Meredith Carpe, who has been with State of the Heart Hospice as a social worker for the past eight months has joined the nonprofit agency’s bereavement staff. With offices in Greenville, Coldwater and Portland, State of the Heart cares for patients and families in eastern Indiana and western Ohio who are confronting a life limiting illness. She resides in Greenville.

“I have always been attracted to hospice and the hospice philosophy of care and have wanted to work for a nonprofit agency,” she said. She has a Master in Social Work degree from the University of Cincinnati and has worked previously as a care manager in Cincinnati for the aging population and as a mental health therapist in a program near Athens.

An important part of the care that State of the Heart provides patients and families is bereavement support. A family can have bereavement services for 13 months or more after the death of a loved one. Grief support is provided to adults and children. There is no cost for any of the grief support offered by the agency, and, anyone can have grief support services regardless of association with hospice care.

“With my mental health background, I thought I would enjoy the bereavement aspect of hospice care and would enjoy leading support groups. I believe there is opportunity for growth in our bereavement efforts and I am pleased to be a part of that growth. It will be exciting to see our programs and outreach expands.”

For more information on any of the services provided by State of the Heart, visit the agency web site at www.stateoftheheartcare.org.

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Red Cross offers ways to support disaster victims

DARKE COUNTY – The American Red Cross is responding in multiple states where tornadoes have touched down and caused significant damage. The Darke County Chapter American Red Cross of has been informed that additional support will likely be needed and have contacted its trained disaster volunteers, who are available at this time. At this time, no volunteers have been deployed, but that is expected to change. During the next few days, besides providing shelter, feeding, clothing, medication, and crucial mental health services, Red Cross workers are on ground in the disaster areas will be assessing the damage, deciding where and what kind of additional support is necessary, and determining the needs of the affected communities.

If you still haven’t heard from friends or family in the affected area, they encourage people to check the Red Cross Safe and Well website at redcross.org/safeandwell. If you are not an online user, please feel free to call or stop by the Darke County Chapter. Those in the affected area are also encouraged to register on the Safe and Well website.

They recognize that Darke Countians want to help during this very large response effort and are so thankful to live in an area where people have such a heart for service to others in need, the Darke County office has already received several calls from residents asking how they can help. Here is a list of ways you can help not only those in Oklahoma, but play a significant role in helping your own family at home.

* People who wish to help can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief, which helps provide food, shelter and emotional support to those affected by disasters like the recent tornadoes in across the Mid-West as well as disasters big and small throughout the United States by visiting redcross.org, dialing 1-800-REDCROSS, texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation or mailing to the local office

* If this tragedy has sparked your interest in disaster volunteering, go to www.redcross.org/oh/greenville and follow to the volunteer page. Their hope is they won’t need to deploy you to this disaster, but there is always another one and we are just weeks away from the start of hurricane season. If internet is the issue, call the office to set up an appointment.

* Talk to your children about this disaster; give them an opening to express their concerns, questions or grief. Keep young children away from visual media as much as possible and the same could be said for adults as well. Information is available from your local chapter or online at redcross.org on how you can have these conversations with children.

* People can also be prepared for severe weather by downloading the Red Cross Tornado App. The free app has tips on what to do before, during, and after a tornado hits. It also has a warning siren and watch and warning weather alerts. It is available for download on any iOS or Android device

“Our hearts go out to our Oklahoma neighbors, let us take this moment, this opportunity to turn our concern into caring action,” stated Lynne Gump, executive director Darke County American Red Cross, “ Won’t you join with us?”

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Patrol OVI Checkpoint in Darke County Tomorrow

PIQUA – The Ohio State Highway Patrol announced today that an OVI checkpoint will be held in Darke County tomorrow evening.

The OVI checkpoint, funded by federal grant funds, is planned to deter and intercept impaired drivers.

“Based on provisional data, there were 380 OVI-related fatal crashes in which 411 people were killed last year in Ohio,” Lieutenant Rick Albers, Commander of the Piqua Post, said. “State Troopers make on average 25,000 OVI arrests each year in an attempt to combat these dangerous drivers. OVI checkpoints are designed to not only deter impaired driving, but to proactively remove these dangerous drivers from our roadways.”

The location of the checkpoint will be announced Thursday morning, May 23, 2013.

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Volunteer Network

GREENVILLE – The Darke County Volunteer Network will meet on June 4, noon, at the State of the Heart Hospice building, 1350 North Broadway in Greenville. All area volunteer administrators are invited to attend. This group is free and anyone that manages volunteers is encouraged to join. The meetings are a great way to network, share ideas, and learn from guest speakers. During this quarterly meeting Kim Custenborder from the Catholic Social Services will be sharing information.

It’s a brown bag lunch meeting and we work to keep the meetings strictly to an hour. Any questions, call Cheryl Stafford, RSVP Recruiter at 937-548-8002.

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Volunteers needed for Stillwater cleanup

VERSAILLES – Plan to participate in the 12th Annual Stillwater River Clean-Up that is scheduled for June 14. The Stillwater Watershed Project, Darke, Miami, & Montgomery Soil & Water Conservation Districts, ODNR, Scenic Rivers Program, Darke & Miami Co. Parks District, Brukner Nature Center, Ohio EPA, Veolia water, New Tech Plastics, Inc., McDonalds, and many others are taking part in a fun filled day cleaning up/canoeing the Stillwater State Scenic River.

There will be four starting points you can choose from. They include Stillwater Beach Campground, Indian Hills 4-H camp, Fenner Road, and Aullwood Nature Center. Volunteers will get outfitted with a canoe, gloves, trash bags, and water. Individuals are welcome to bring their own canoes to help out.

The clean-up will start promptly at 8:30 a.m. and end around noon. Please dress appropriately for the event, no sandals or flip flops (water shoes will work). For more information or to register, contact Greg McGlinch, 548-1715, ext 3. Please pre-register by June 5 to guarantee you will get a canoe.

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Neave Twp. School - students identified

GREENVILLE – The Genealogy Library of Garst Museum issued a request to the public regarding the identity of the students shown in a picture obtained from Joyce Haraughty.

According to Head of the Genealogy Library, Phyllis Crick, the picture was taken of the students graduating from the eighth grade of Neave Township School in 1925. The students who have been identified are listed under the photograph.

Crick would like to thank the following people for helping to identify the students in the picture: Marvin McCabe, Roma Hicks, Ruth Kepler and Virginia O’Dell. If you have any information regarding the identity of the remaining eight unidentified students, will you please contact Crick at Garst Museum’s Genealogy Library by calling 937-548-5250 or at home by calling 548-2586.

Shown are (front row) Warren McCabe, Lowell Hawkey, unknown, Josephine Petersime (teacher), unknown, unknown, (middle row) unknown, unknown, Madonna Baker, Rosella Delaplane, unknown, (back row) unknown, Wilbur McCabe, unknown, and Omer R. Hicks. On the left is Superintendent Charles Wilt. 

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Museum seeks items for gardening display

VERSAILLES – Do you remember gardening as a child? It was a family project often for pride and more often from necessity. This was long before our current First Lady Michelle Obama planted a new White House Garden to encourage nutritious eating.

Abigail Adams thought it was important to have a garden to feed the president during those long Washington winters! During the First World War, First Lady Edith Wilson, and then during the Second World War, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt also encouraged all Americans to plant a garden to ease the issue of rationing in what they called Victory Gardens.

The Versailles Area Historical Society is planning on recreating those by gone days of gardening and canning in their gallery display “From the Good Earth” featuring an early 1900 kitchen and showing off canning and cookware from the late 1800’s to the 1970’s.

They need your help in finding gardening, canning and cooking items to help create their display. From preparing vegetables and fruits to making sausage and canned meats, they need your help!

They will need these items on loan from Memorial Day until early August when they change the display for autumn.

For information, drop off times and locations on loaning items, call Alice Huffman, 526-3953, or Deb Pohl.

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Home near New Madison has a wonderful history

Home of Greg and Julie Burns 

BY ANNETTE STEWART 

AND JULIE BURNS 

ARCANUM – In exchanging stories of our homes histories with each other and renovation work, I discovered about Julie’s old home in New Madison from pre-civil war days. What follows is Julie’s story and research about their home, some history of New Madison, previous owners, and restoration work they have done to the federal style home.

“In 1817 the settlement of New Madison was growing so rapidly, Zadoc Smith was encouraged to attempt the speculative movement of laying out a town at Fort Black. This fort was established during the fall of 1813 by Lt Black. In 1819, Smith disheartened by the lack of sales of his claim, sold his entire claim to Ernestus Putnam. The purchaser vacated the original plat. In 1831, Putnam surveyed New Madison by laying off 17 lots on each side of what is now known as Main St. He eventually added lots up to 50.

Ernestus Putnam had a large family of 14 children. His daughter Nancy, was born Jan. 10, 1833. A gentleman by the name of James G. Blunt married Nancy in 1850. Blunt had traveled from Columbus to set up practice as a doctor; possibly the first doctor of New Madison. He bought lots 39 to 50 for $226 in 1851. He sold lots 41 to 50 in 1856. I now live on lot 39, which Blunt kept for himself and Nancy. James Blunt was very involved in politics and the Republican Party in Darke County. In 1856, Mr. and Mrs. Blunt moved to Kansas, where he became a general in the Civil War. Numerous books have been written about James Gilpatrick Blunt and the abolitionist he became.

My house was left in the care of attorney George Bacon in 1856. Mr. Bacon sold the house to Joseph Bloom for $1,000. As follows are the previous owners of this lovely federal style house: 1892 W. Northrup; 1894 Effie Northrup; 1897 Joseph Ray; 1916 Ezra Price; 1916 Joseph Ray; 1924 Ulissis R; 1959 Lillian Ray; 1959 Stanley Kimmel; 1959 Dr. Alvin Heise; and 1991 Greg and Julie Burns

In the 1960s, Dr. A. Heise completed extensive renovation to the house, including central heating and air conditioning. He also updated lighting, carpeting and structural changes.

I am a restoration enthusiast. Lighting has been replaced with antique fixtures and chandeliers. Many layers of wall paper were removed to reveal horse hair plaster. Original woodwork has square nail construction. The basement is found to have beams made of tree logs with bark still intact. Studs inside walls are one and half inch thick hand hewn oak. Hard wood floors on first floor are beautiful. Open winding staircase in foyer. I believe Dr. Heise redid staircase in 60s. Many walls in basement have original brick foundation, probably made in New Madison.

A few years after moving in, my husband Greg made an interesting discovery. When viewing the back of a closet, he noticed the wall inside did not go back as far as the outside wall. With further investigation, he found the closet wall to be a false wall. After pulling back a section of the wall to enable a peek, he found something to be hidden behind the wall. He was very excited to find a beautiful 5'x3' picture frame, with no picture. The frame is very ornate and in perfect condition. It now sits proudly on our fireplace mantel with a mirror inside. Why was the frame in the wall, it will always be a mystery. This house has had many wonderful caregivers and I think James Blunt would be proud.”

For more information and history of New Madison, please see “Events of Yesteryears of New Madison, Ohio” by Glen Hindsley. Also, “A History of New Madison, Ohio 1841-1968 Dedicated to New Madison in Memory of Clyde J. Flatter”.

The Burns story and photos will be on display at the Arcanum Public Library through the end of May and then part of our reference library at the Arcanum Wayne Trail Historical Society which will be open every Saturday in the summer months. Our goals with these stories are to encourage others to preserve in their communities landmarks, homes, buildings, forts, battlefields, and cemeteries. National Historical Preservation Month is promoted by the National Trust Historic Preservation. Let’s See It; Save It; and Celebrate It!

Written by Julie Burns for the Arcanum Wayne Trail Historical Society for National Historical Preservation Month. Our society is seeking histories on early homes, farms, schools, churches, and cemeteries in southern Darke County. Contact Annette Stewart at 692-6462 or e-mail webmaster@arcanumhistoricalsociety.org.

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Gorrell pleads guilty to Aggravated Burglary and Weapons Charges; Receives 12-year sentence

BY BOB ROBINSON 

ASSOC. EDITOR 

GREENVILLE - MacKenzie Gorrell, 20, pleaded guilty to five felonies, plus a firearm specification, on May 21 in return for a 12-year sentence. Under the terms of the plea agreement he will not be eligible for parole consideration for eight years. When released he will have five years of mandatory supervision by the Adult Parole Authority. Violation of his parole could result in an additional prison term not to exceed half of his original sentence.

Juvenile Probate Judge Jason Aslinger pronounced the sentence in the absence of Common Pleas Judge Jon Hein, who was on vacation.

Gorrell pleaded guilty to Count 1, Having Weapons while under Disability on April 14, a Felony 3; Count 3, Aggravated Burglary on April 16, a Felony 1; Count 4, Aggravated Robbery on April 16, a Felony 1; a Firearm Specification to Count 4; Count 5, Having Weapons while under Disability on April 16, Felony 3; and Count 6, Having Weapons while under Disability on April 20, Felony 3.

Counts 3 and 4 presumed a prison term was necessary but didn’t require it. Only the Firearm specification required a 3-year sentence. Maximum penalties for all counts could have totaled 34 years and fines up to $70,000.

Darke County Asst. Prosecutor R. Kelly Ormsby, III, said that the agreed upon 12 years was reasonable. The family had had a “sawed off shotgun in their face,” the defendant had threatened to shoot police officers and it took two SWAT teams and tear gas before he gave himself up.

“At age 20 he is looking at 12 years in prison. We are hoping that in the next 12 years he will mature enough to think about his actions.”

Defense attorney Randall E. Breaden said that all of his client’s activity was drug related and that he was an addict. His client is hoping that this opportunity is a positive one where he could get an education, work on a trade and get treatment for his addiction.

Aslinger imposed a two-year sentence each on Counts 1, 5 and 6; nine years each on Counts 3 & 4; plus three years on the firearm specification. Counts 1-6 will run concurrently while the specification will run consecutively.

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Local republican women attend OFRW Legislative Day

COLUMBUS – Darke County Republican Women’s Club member Lyn Bliss joined Republican women’s club leaders from across Ohio at the Statehouse recently for the Ohio Federation of Republican Women’s (OFRW) annual Legislative Day. The Legislative Day included a tour of the Statehouse, visits with numerous State Senators and Representatives, along with private conversations with members of the Senate and House leadership.

Attendees had the opportunity to hear from a variety of speakers, including Ohio House Majority Whip Cheryl Grossman and Senate President Keith Faber.

“The message from our Republican leadership was that Ohio is truly transforming into a job creation engine that is business friendly, more monies are going toward education, and Ohio has a balanced budget,” said Jean Turner, President of the OFRW.

Darke County attendee, OFRW Vice President Lyn Bliss was also pleased with the activity throughout the day. “It was a very informative event and provided a chance to share ideas and goals with our legislators and other Republican women from around the state,” said Bliss. “Being presented with the gavel used by President Faber for that day’s session was just an added treat!”

The OFRW was formed in 1929 by Mrs. Hugh Clark of Steubenville. The organization’s goal is to educate women about the Republican Party and to encourage women to be active in the party. This grassroots organization works to promote the principles and objectives of the Republican Party, elect Republican candidates, inform the public through political education and activity, and increase the effectiveness of women in the cause of good government.

The OFRW currently has a statewide membership of thousands of women across Ohio and is a member of the National Federation of Republican Women, one of the largest political organizations in the U.S.

Senate President Keith Faber (R-12), OFRW Vice-president Lyn Bliss, Senator Bill Beagle (R-5) after Faber presented the gavel used during the day’s session to Bliss. Faber and Beagle share representation of Darke County in the Ohio Senate. 

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Kindergartener immunizations

GREENVILLE - Beat the long lines and summer heat and get kindergarten immunizations now. The Darke County Health Department’s Walk-In Clinic is open every Tuesday from 8-10:30 and 2-5 p.m., no appointment necessary.

The Darke County Health Department proudly accepts many types of insurance, without the hassle of a co-pay. The Darke County Health Department is located at 300 Garst Ave., Greenville. Call, 548-4196 ext. 224, with any questions.

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