Blue
Bag Media… FM
grad: working with her animals a “habit”
GREENVILLE – “I always cry,” said Leah Allread, 2014 Franklin Monroe
High School graduate. She and her brother, Kenton, were prepping their
animals for this year’s show at the Darke County Fair. Showing pigs is
tough knowing the animal you have worked with for months will have to
be sold to market at the end of the show. Allread is no different. She
acknowledges it’s always difficult after working with her animals... read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… Fair
visitors come from all parts of the country
GREENVILLE – “We’ve had people here from Florida, Alabama, New England
and all parts of Ohio,” said Deanna York, director of the Darke County
Visitors Bureau. This was Monday at their fair booth in the coliseum,
with five more days to go. “People are amazed we would promote stand
mixers at travel shows,” she added. “Then we tell them it’s a
KitchenAid mixer and it’s only built here in Greenville, Ohio... read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… Exhibitors
give Cattle Barn a ‘thumbs up’
GREENVILLE – “I really like it here,” said Ted Schmitmeyer as he was
grooming one of his animals Aug. 17. “Much better. Cooler… more room…”
And Schmitmeyer isn’t alone. His comments were echoed by everyone who
was asked in the new Cattle Barn. “I like it. Better. Cooler. More
room.” In the milking area, the Michaels said it was better than
before. “Bigger, nicer. We have all new stalls. The setup is nice… more
room.” Sisters Clair, 16, and...
read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… FM
grad provides aid to teachers, kids in
Liberia
GREENVILLE – Jordan Pridemore, 2008 graduate of Franklin Monroe High
School, has a passion for travel. She started with trips out of state
while in high school but quickly graduated to trips abroad, mostly to
Europe. But she’d never been to Africa until this summer… She and her
friend, Keith Rodgers, took a humanitarian mission trip to Liberia,
Africa. They were there during the Ebola outbreak, arriving back in the
U.S. on July 27. “We...
read
more
|
Great
Darke County Fair… Behind
the Scenes at the Little Mr. &
Miss Pageant
Photos by Elaine Bailey - The Youth Building was packed Aug. 18 as
parents, grandparents, friends, aunts and uncles and any other relative
or friend who could make it sat waiting and watching for their precious
little one to walk down the runway on his or her quest for the 2014
title of Little Mr. or Miss Darke County Fair. There was different
action going on behind the...
read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… Sandy
Bowman: “We were – and are – the
original”
GREENVILLE – “We’re in 12 fairs,” said Sandy Bowman, who with her
husband Gary founded Bowman’s Concessions 35 years earlier. “When we go
back to them each year, it’s like going home.” Gary Bowman worked for
WDRK radio. “He was out here every year for the station,” she said. “I
took my vacation at fair time.” She added however she had nothing to do... read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… Wayne
Hospital Foundation unveils Veterans
Memorial
GREENVILLE – “This memorial is dedicated to every man and woman who
ever served honorably in a branch of the United States military.” No
distinction is made whether the service was one day or career, combat
or non-combat. The Wayne Hospital Foundation funded the Veterans
Memorial but also thanked David Furlong, president of Fitzwater Tree
and Lawn Care for his company’s generous donation of the water rock,
memorial plaque... read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… Attendance
up at annual Veterans Day service
GREENVILLE – “We lost more of our veterans by their own hand than we
lost in Afghanistan,” said Dennis Dickey, 1st Vice President for the
American Legion 3rd District. “Only those who have been through what
many of these veterans have can understand that.” Dickey was the guest
speaker for the 2014 Veterans Day Memorial Service at the Darke County
Fair. Dickey is the brother of Douglas E. Dickey, who was posthumously
awarded... read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… Whiting
shows her prize-winning Polish
GREENVILLE – Ten-year-old Alli Whiting was busy putting wood shavings
into the cages of her prize-winning White Crusted Polish roosters.
“These Polish got a first last year,” she said, pointing to the second
cage. She finished spreading out the shavings in the first cage, then
grabbed a scoop-full to put in the cage of her prize winners. The birds
above them were also hers, but she didn’t have much else to say about
them except they were...
read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… Hummel,
Addis take top “Littles” honors
GREENVILLE – At the end of an unexpected long evening, Ava Hummel was
crowned Little Miss Darke County Fair Queen; she joined Little Mister
Darke County Fair King Evan Addis, who had been crowned earlier in the
evening. The unexpected event was a transformer issue requiring the
Little Miss & Mister Pageant to be shut down for nearly an hour
shortly after Addis was crowned, so a new transformer could be put in
place. The... read
more
|
Rain,
then music “On the Radar”
By Elaine Bailey
There was more than rain “On the Radar” at the 2014 Great Darke County
Fair. After dropping nearly three inches of rain on the fairgrounds
overnight Thursday, the clouds parted. The only thing left
were
the aspiring musicians of On the Radar: Mason DeMange, Mitchell
Rawlings, and Isaac Buschur. The three fellows, classmates
entering their junior year at Versailles High School, entertained the
audience with a broad range of genres including... read
more
|
Wayne
HealthCare inducted into The Annie Oakley Golf Tournament Hall Of Fame
The Annie Oakley Golf Tournament Committee recently inducted Wayne
HealthCare into the 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 support of the committee’s goals in helping Darke
County cancer patients. Wayne HealthCare is a state of the
art
facility which works diligently...
read
more
|
|
MVCTC
Students Competed in STAR Event Competition at FCCLA National
Leadership Conference
-- Clayton, Ohio – Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC)
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) students
participated in the National FCCLA competition July 6-10, 2014, in San
Antonio, TX. More than 7,000 students and advisers attended
for
inspiration, training, and opportunities to make a difference locally
and across the country. FCCLA offers over 30 Family and Consumer
Sciences... read
more
|
Grant
Supports
Business Growth in Darke County
JAFE Decorating, Inc., will increase its manufacturing capacity at its
location in Darke County. JAFE Decorating provides specialty color and
paint coatings for various industries, including automotive and
commercial lighting. Darke County received a $135,000 Community
Development Block Grant to help JAFE Decorating purchase new machinery
and equipment. JAFE Decorating has committed to create 10 jobs as a
result of the... read
more
|
Fair
Board election results
Election was held Thursday, August 21, 2014 from 9am to 7pm in the Red
Cross Building north of the Grandstand... read
more
|
Blood
donors
have fun ‘bummin’ at fair
GREENVILLE, Ohio – “Got that one…. Got that one… ah, I like that one!”
There may be prize livestock to judge and ice cold crushies to choose
at the annual Great Darke County Fair, but for blood donors on
Community Blood Center (CBC) “T-shirt Day” it’s a treasure hunt for the
elusive t-shirt design you don’t yet own. CBC Darke Co. account
representative... read
more
|
Great
Darke County Fair… Horsemanship.
Photos by Dick
Coffield
From one end of the fairgrounds to the other, young people show off
their efforts for the past year. To the north, from rabbits to beef
cows. To the south… horses. Isabella Murray placed 5th in the open
Horsemanship for 9-13 year olds. Later that day Isabella... read
more
|
Fair
Wanderings,
Photos by Elaine Bailey
How do you find some great photos of kids and adults having a good
time? You have to leave the Midway. Head to the Rabbit Barn, or the art
or photography buildings, or some of the less traveled areas, such as
implement row. Or you can just hang around the Gazebo for some great
free entertainment. More offerings are coming from CNO reporters and
friends... read
more
|
Kelly
Named VHCC July Employee of the Month
Versailles Health Care Center is pleased to announce Yvonne Kelly as
the July 2014 Employee of the Month. Kelly has been a member
of
the Housekeeping Department at Versailles Health Care Center since
October 2013. She was recognized by her fellow co-workers for
always smiling, being willing to help out wherever it is needed and for
always busy working on...
read
more
|
MVCTC
Welcomes
Students for 2014-2015 School Year
Clayton, Ohio -- The Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC)
staff welcomed students for their 43rd year of classes on Thursday,
August 14, 2014. MVCTC Superintendent Dr. Nick Weldy, staff, and
Student Ambassadors greeted close to 1,000 junior students enrolled for
the 2014-15 school year. MVCTC is offering career technical programs
for 2014-2015 in... read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… New
cattle barn, new entry prices at fair
GREENVILLE – Contractors wrapped up work on the new cattle barn Aug.
13. It will be functional but not completed until September. According
to Daryl Riffle, Fair Manager, work has been completed pretty much on
schedule. On Monday morning crews were still active both inside and
outside of the building. The cattle barn will house both dairy and beef
cattle. Jenna Cline, Darke County Junior Fair Queen who was working in
the swine barn next...
read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… For
some – fair a business mainstay
GREENVILLE – “The traffic is excellent every year,” said Steven
Blocher, owner of Blocher Enterprises in Greenville. “In a good year we
get from a half to two-thirds of our annual business during the fair.”
Blocher and his family and employees started prepping their spot (“the
same spot for 14 years”) three weeks before the fair’s opening. They
pour fresh concrete early… “That’s the main part,” he added. After that
they spend the week prior to the...
read
more
|
Shelby Community Foundation
awards funding
to BBBS
The Community Foundation of Shelby County recently awarded a grant to
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby and Darke
County.
Big Brothers Big Sisters was chosen to receive funding because of its
continued efforts to make a positive impact in “at risk”
children. The funding will be used to purchase
science,
technology, engineering and math (STEM) kits that... read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… New
fair queen wastes
no time in new role
GREENVILLE – 2014 Darke County Youth Fair Queen Jenna Cline wasted no
time getting involved in her new role. She has already been to nine or
10 county fairs since being crowned in July. “I’ve really been busy…
trying to do everything that was done in the past, plus some.” She
grinned. “I like to challenge myself.” Part of the challenge of going
to the other fairs, she...
read
more
|
Donations
needed for Prairie Days
Prairie Days is quickly approaching. Please let us know if
you
can help as we are looking for the following donations for Prairie Days
2014: Bottle Water; Soda- pop: Coke, Diet Coke, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi,
Sprite, Mountain Dew; Corn Shocks (please contact us in advance if item
is available); Fragrant Herbs (please contact us in advance if item is
available); Pumpkins & Gourds (please contact us in advance if
item
is available); Large Coolers to borrow so we can store Ice and Pop... read
more
|
Grooming: Junior Division,
By Elaine Bailey
The results of the Junior Division Grooming competition are: First
Place: Carrie Rhoades; Second Place: Amos Weimer;
Third
Place: Megan Rismiller; Fourth Place: Mariah
Troutwine;
Fifth Place: Maggie Weiss. Participants: Alexis
Barhorst
(362); Mackenzie Bohman (356); Ben Ruhenkamp (323); Renea Schmitmeyer
(349); Amos Weimer (291); Carrie Rhoades (296); Madison Cook (340);
Mariah Troutwine (367); Laura Wuebker (328)... read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… Baleigh
says
Visitor’s Bureau experience “awesome”
GREENVILLE – Nursing? Darke County Visitor’s Bureau Director Deanna
York looked at her new marketing intern, Baleigh Reed, OSU freshman
going into the university’s nursing program this fall. They were
grinning. “Should I give the stock answer?” York asked. Baleigh nodded.
“Customer service and hospitality are needed in any area you can go
into,” she said. Baleigh loves kids and hopes to specialize in
obstetrics. However she plans to...
read
more
|
Junior
Fair
Bake-A-Rama results, By Elaine Bailey
Various 4-H Clubs were represented in the Intermediate Division of the
Junior Fair Bake-A-Rama at the 2014 Great Darke County Fair. Speaking
on behalf of both judges, Patricia Scott congratulated the participants
and complimented them on their skills in preparing the
recipe.
She noted that there was nothing lacking in their ability, which
created a challenge in ranking the young cooks. After repeatedly,
sampling each contestant’s whole-wheat quick... read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… Living
with cancer
threat, singer moves forward
GREENVILLE – “There’s some evil thing under your bed… wants to grab you
every day,” said Jeff Madewell. “You can’t let that paralyze you; you
get out of bed on a different side each day.” This is how the
professional musician who, along with his partner Erin Higgins,
recently played for Greenville Library’s August First Friday event
views his medical challenges. He knows his cancer is simply on a back
burner despite being “clear” for...
read
more
|
VHCC’s
Linda
Davidson retires
After working devotedly in the Housekeeping Department at Versailles
Health Care Center for over 20 years, Linda Davidson of Versailles,
Ohio, has retired. Davidson, 69, joined Versailles Health
Care
Center in 1992 as a housekeeping aide. She commented that
there
have been a lot of changes at the care center over her 20 plus years.
When asked about her time at Versailles Health Care Center, Davidson
said, “I always enjoyed the...
read
more
|
New
‘fair food’
vendors for 2014, By Elaine Bailey
If you head to the Great Darke County Fair for food, be on the lookout
for the new 2014 food vendors. The Trolley is not only new to this
year’s Great Darke County Fair, it is also making its debut in the
vending scene. Kevin and Charlene Via from Gratis, Ohio have put a few
of Kevin’s recipes to the taste bud test. With Kevin’s eye
for
detail, he has constructed an ornate... read
more
|
Diverse
group
creates big competition, By George Starks
Cheer comp brings out the best - GREENVILLE- The 2014 Great Darke
County Fair kicked off in its usual fashion with the annual
cheerleading competition. Thirteen schools were represented with seven
county schools in the competition and six out of county schools.
Lincolnview (Van Wert) was the furthest to drives while he closest was
Covington. Now in its 24th year...
read
more
|
A
Summer’s Sunday Night in Greenville,
By
Sharon
Hopper
Seven years ago we moved to Greenville and began going to the summer
Sunday Night park concerts. I always wondered why there were so few in
attendance every Sunday night. Sometimes I would count only 20 or so
people on the benches and maybe 30 or so in the lawn chairs. Well
something happened this year and I have to say it is really a good
something. We started going to the park for the first concert, July 6
this year and... read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… Greenville
Library kicks off First Friday
GREENVILLE – While Main Street Greenville’s First Friday officially
starts at 6 p.m., enjoyment of the monthly activity actually begins at
11:30 a.m. at Greenville Public Library with its “Lunch on the Lawn.”
Aug. 1 was no different with Higgins-Madewell entertaining
approximately 200 people with the pair’s mixture of country, blues and
classic rock. Lunch this time was provided by Romer’s Catering. While
some brought their own...
read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… Heritage
Days parade honors veterans
UNION CITY – Horns and sirens announced its start before the lead
vehicles were visible; seconds later flashing red lights in the
distance provided their support. At exactly 1 p.m. Aug. 2 the 2014
State Line Heritage Days Grand Parade had begun. Spectators lined both
sides of the street for the hour-long parade, with all standing as the
flag and this year’s Parade Marshalls, Vietnam veterans, passed... read
more
|
|
Blue
Bag Media… Welfare
fraud, heroin abuse… unproductive
citizens a burden on society
- GREENVILLE – You have to instill an attitude where you know you are
responsible for yourself. You have to have a support system behind
them. And there has to be a shift in social attitude… commit the crime,
pay the price? “You’ve done your time. Done your probation. But the
societal attitude is still there,” said Darke County Common Pleas Judge
Jonathan Hein... read
more
|
Darke
County July blood donors recognized
DARKE COUNTY, OH — Community Blood Center congratulates all of the
following donors for reaching their Blood Donation
milestones.
Thanks to the generosity of all donors many lives have been saved.
Donors are recognized for their Life Time Donations (LTD)
Milestones. Every time a donor donates any blood product it
is a
donation. Life Time Donations are a total of all your blood... read
more
|
VHCC
Rehab Clinic gets top scores
The Rehab Clinic at Versailles Health Care Center received the highest
available scores on recently completed Pinnacle Quality Insight
Customer Satisfaction interviews. Pinnacle works directly
with
patients and their families to obtain opinions on overall experience as
well as area specific measures. The Rehab Clinic at VHCC
consistently received a score of 5 on a scale... read
more
|
Edison’s
STEM
Camp a success with local students
Educational, fun, interesting, empowering, encouraging and exciting
were just a few words used by students to describe Edison Community
College’s STEM Camp. The College recently hosted nearly 80 area
students entering grades 8-10 at its annual science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics program. Taught by Edison staff and
faculty, students had the opportunity to choose from... read
more
|
Pets of
the week
We have Jill at the Darke County Animal Shelter. She is a 2 year old
Dachshund mix. She is black and brown with short hair. She is a sweet
little girl who loves to play. She is current on her shots and very
loveable. We also have her brother Jack. They weigh around 20 pounds.
They will make wonderful new friends for the family. We have Boy at the
Darke County Animal...
read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… 2013
Queen Jenna King says ‘breathe and
enjoy it!’
GREENVILLE – “Yeah, we’re pretty awesome!” 2013 Junior Fair King Logan
Moody said, laughing. Logan and 2013 Junior Fair Queen Jenna King
laughed a lot as they talked about their experiences over the past
year, including the friendships they’d built. So what was your biggest
challenge? Logan… “Putting up with her!” Jenna… “Putting up with him.”
They laughed again, then Logan clarified. “She was the queen. I had to
take care of her… meet...
read
more
|
Follow Baleigh to the KitchenAid
Experience
Hello again! For this week’s edition of “Follow Baleigh”, Director
Deanna York introduced me to the KitchenAid Experience Retail Center
located in downtown Greenville. Again, this is another attraction in
Darke County that I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting, and I know
what most of you are probably thinking, “Of course! What would an
eighteen-year-old without a house of her own need from a kitchen
store?” Well, let me put your mind at... read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… Annie
Oakley Festival
attendance up at York Woods
YORK WOODS – “You should have seen our attendance last night,” Judie
Hathaway, Annie Oakley Committee vice president, said. “Great turnout!”
Saturday morning saw cars parked both inside the gate and outside for
walk-in visitors… Some were watching the National Whip Speed &
Accuracy competition; others were listening to Spittin Image. Still
others were checking...
read
more
|
Grand Prize Quilt at end of CBC
T-shirt day
rainbow
DAYTON, Ohio – Visitors to the Great Darke County Fair in Greenville
can expect another proud parade of Community Blood Center (CBC) colors
during “CBC T-Shirt Day” Wednesday, Aug. 20 from 1 p.m. to 7
p.m.
Any donor who wears a CBC t-shirt to the fair can be entered in the
drawing for the grand prize of a hand-made t-shirt quilt. All donors
have to do is... read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… 91-yr-old
walks 5K
for his granddaughter
GREENVILLE – Charles W. Adams, 91, took 79:21 minutes to finish his
Breast Cancer Awareness 5K Run/Walk… and he had a cheering crowd
welcoming him across the finish line. He was part of “Mary Beth’s Mob,”
about three dozen friends and family members walking to support one of
their own. His granddaughter, Mary Beth Bozarth, 40, is a heart and
vascular ICU nurse at Miami Valley Hospital. She was diagnosed with
Stage 2 breast... read
more
|
Midmark: "We are caring people";
Midmark
shines with
national blood drive excellence award
VERSAILLES, Ohio – The new “Plant B” cafeteria where Midmark
Corporation’s Versailles location holds its employee blood drives can
feel like a fish bowl. It’s a corner room with glass walls, and donors
are bathed in the sunlight from floor-to-ceiling windows. The
same room becomes a beacon in the darkness during the company’s
late-shift blood drives. In both cases, the outside world can
easily see what Midmark team members are doing to... read
more
|
VHCC Nursing Staff Receives
Specialized
Congestive Heart Failure Certification Training
The nursing staff at Versailles Health Care Center, a skilled nursing
and rehabilitation center, recently received specialized training and
is now certified in a Nationally Nurse Certification Congestive Heart
Failure (CHF) Program through the Department of Human and Health
Services. In July, Kim Scharf, RN, MNSc, APRN, taught the
two-day
program to staff. Scharff said, “It was very evident the
Versailles team took to heart what was... read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… Entertainment,
Living
History and shopping highlighted Gathering
GREENVILLE – Want something unique? Or a Living History demonstration?
Then there was pottery, plants and a wide variety of foods and snacks,
from New Madison Kiwanis sausages to homemade pies and fresh roasted
kettle corn. For those longing for the Beatles sounds of the 60s, there
was Cavern Beat; plus varieties of music and entertainment, such as
Green De Villes, Surrendering Dorothy, Snake Oil Medicine Man and more... read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… Pilgrimage
an
emotional experience for many
BROCK – “When Annie ran away a man paid her fare home… she always
regretted not asking his name,” said Laura Francis, Miss Annie Oakley
2011 and Annie Oakley Committee Member. Francis spoke to about three
dozen people who made the Pilgrimage to Brock Cemetery July 24 to pay
tribute to the famous Darke County native and Wild West performer.
Annie is buried alongside her...
read
more
|
August Weather Forecast,
Author: Jim Noel
Not much has changed in the outlooks for the rest of summer into autumn
and beyond. In June, temperatures were about 1F above normal while in
July temperatures were about -3F to -5F leading to an overall cooler
than normal summer as forecast. The trend will be for slightly cooler
than normal temperatures to last through August but the departures will
not be... read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… Second
Treaty of
Greenville’s Bowery dedicated to the public
GREENVILLE – “In the 1990’s we had five pow-wows in this field,” said
State Representative Jim Buchy. Pointing to the array of 250-year-old
oak trees, he added “I remember at one of them, a chief had a tear in
his eye… he was thinking ‘my ancestors probably stood under this
tree.’” Buchy was speaking to a large crowd surrounding The Bowery,
built for the Bi-Centennial Anniversary... read
more
|
Community
Events Photo Gallery… Senior
Awards & More now online, Bob Robinson
While on assignment I take dozens, sometimes a hundred or more photos…
more than can possibly be used in a feature or news story. The best of
the best are submitted for publication in the Early Bird. As you might
guess this creates a backlog of photos readers might like to see that
sit quietly on my desktop… daring me to do something with them. I
finally managed to post Poultry Days photos a few weeks ago. This
weekend I’ve... read
more
|
Blue
Bag Media… The
Early Bird earns
award for The Gathering edition
GREENVILLE – The Early Bird is an Inland Press award winner for 2014.
The weekly hometown community newspaper earned second place for its
2013 The Gathering at Garst special edition. Newspapers from across the
country were invited to submit entries for the new business they
developed over the past year. The contest celebrates original ideas and
initiatives that grow revenue from new or legacy sources. Not only is... read
more
|
DCCA
announces
cast for MCT's Rapunzel
An outstanding cast has been chosen from the one hundred talented local
youngsters who auditioned for Darke County Center for the Arts'
presentation of Missoula Children's Theatre's Rapunzel. Following just
five lively days of intense rehearsals, two performances of the musical
play that takes audiences on a frivolous frolic through the French
countryside will be presented on Saturday, August 2. Curtain time for
the matinee is 3 p.m...
read
more
|
Versailles
Eagles donate to Cancer Association
Versailles Eagles recently presented the Cancer Association of Darke
County with a donation of $3,000. The Eagles donate to many
other
community causes as well including Versailles Community Scholarship
Fund, Center for Neurology Development, Versailles Area Historical
Society, Children’s Shrine Hospital, Versailles Area Charily Foundation
and many school functions. The Cancer Association appreciates this
generous gift and... read
more
|
| To
see Archives
for
the Previous
Month's Community...
click
here
|
