Attorney
General Mike DeWine… Medical
Marijuana Legalization Amendment Certified
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—The Ohio Attorney General’s Office today certified the
petition for the proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution regarding
the legalization of marijuana for medical use. On March 15th, the
Attorney General’s Office received a written petition to amend the Ohio
Constitution from the group Ohioans for Medical Marijuana.
The
submission was certified today as containing...
read
more. |
FBI
Identity Theft… Check-Cashing
Scheme Voided
Multi-Agency Effort Disrupts U.S. Treasury Check-Cashing and Identity
Theft Ring - 03/18/16 - The treasury checks were meant for military
families, taxpayers receiving refunds, and Social Security
beneficiaries—but they wound up in the hands of thieves instead. From
June 2012 to September 2014, a band of 19 criminals in Atlanta ran a
large-scale...
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more. |
|
Darke
County Engineer … Scheduled
2016
improvements to Darke County Roads & Bridges,
By Jim Surber P.E., P.S. - An estimated $3,630,634 worth of
improvements to Darke County roads and bridges is scheduled for 2016.
This is $872,685 more than was planned for 2015, and is mostly due to
anticipated federal funds earmarked for guardrail, signs, and the
Center Street bridge. Our local funds come strictly from gas tax and
license fees returned...
read
more. |
Heroin addiction: A vicious cycle,
By Bob Robinson
“We keep our guns locked up, but not our prescription medications. We
teach sex education, but not drug education…” Tonya Alton, a paramedic
with Versailles Rescue and Fundamentals of Communication student at
Edison State Community
College, Darke County Campus, considers the drug problem an epidemic.
“It’s already at epidemic proportions... read
more. |
Single
injury motorcycle accident on SR 47
On Sunday March 27, 2016 at approximately 6:13 PM, Darke County
Deputies along with Ansonia Fire Department and Rescue and CareFlight
responded to the 3800 block of State Route 47 on a report of an injury
motorcycle crash. Preliminary investigation revealed Timothy S. King
57, of Union City, Indiana was operating a Red Harley-Davidson Classic
westbound on State Route 47 and failed to negotiate a curve traveling
off the right side...
read
more. |
Edison
State Community College… Edison
Hosts Interns from Capabilities, Inc.
Some call it an integrated placement. Edison State calls it building
community. In honor of National Developmental Disabilities Awareness
Month, Edison State Community College is shedding light on the unique
partnership that has recently been formed with Capabilities, Inc. to
provide internship opportunities and career exploration for individuals
with developmental disabilities... read
more. |
Attorney
General Mike
DeWine… Ohioans
Report More Tax
Scams as Filing Deadline Nears
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today warned that
his office is receiving more reports of IRS imposter scams as the April
18 tax filing deadline approaches. Since March 1, the Ohio Attorney
General’s Office has logged nearly 1,000 reports of the scam, compared
to about 500 reports in February. The scam generally begins with a call
claiming the recipient is in trouble with the IRS... read
more. |
|
Ohio
Department of Education… Comment
period open on Ohio Learning Standards in English language arts and
math revisions
-- 2/23/2016 -- The Ohio Department of Education invites Ohioans to
submit suggestions through April 5 as part of a periodic revision
process for Ohio’s Learning Standards in English language arts and
math. This feedback will help ensure the standards continue reflecting
the most recent research and the experience of educators as they help... read
more. |
FBI… Stolen Identity Refund Fraud
Each year, criminal actors target US persons and visa holders for
Stolen Identity Refund Fraud (SIRF). SIRF is defined as the fraudulent
acquisition and use of the Personally Identifiable Information (PII) of
US persons or visa holders to file tax returns. The fraudulent tax
returns are sent to bank accounts or pre-paid cards that are held under
their control. SIRF is relatively easy to commit and extremely
lucrative for criminal actors... read
more. |
Court
News Ohio… Law
and Leadership
Institute Students Compete in Showcase Event
March 25, 2016 - The Law and Leadership Institute’s 2016 Academic Year
Competition included students competing in a mock trial. More than 200
Ohio high school students showcased their legal and educational talents
at the Law and Leadership Institute’s (LLI) 2016 Academic Year
Competition. The competition at the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial
Center in Columbus on March 19 included students in grades 9-12 from
Cleveland...
read
more. |
Bluebag
Media… Board
sets dates for
winter move to new K-8 facility
GREENVILLE – The Greenville Board of Education has approved the
calendar for the 2016-17 school year. The calendar reflects days set
aside for the district’s move into its new K-8 building during
Christmas break. The first day for students will be Aug. 29. Christmas
break will be December 19 through January 6 with January 9 and 10... read
more. |
DeWine Warns of Travel Scams
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today warned
consumers to beware of travel scams during spring and summer vacation
months. In 2015, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office received more than
400 travel-related complaints. Complaints ranged from billing disputes
to services never delivered. Commonly cited problems included offers
for...
read
more. |
Fort GreeneVille DAR… Welcome
Home Vietnam Veteran's Day
March 29, 2016 is "Welcome Home Vietnam Veteran's Day". March 29 was
the last day troops were on the ground in Vietnam.
To commemorate this
date, the Fort GreeneVille Chapter DAR sponsored a proclamation signed
by Greenville Mayor Mike Bowers on March 23 at the Greenville City
Building.
Fort GreeneVille Chapter DAR invited local... read
more. |
GJHS Performs at University of
Dayton
The Greenville Junior High School Concert Band, under the direction of
Mr. Brian McKibben, was invited to visit, rehearse, and perform at the
University of Dayton’s Department of Music on Thursday, March 10,
2016. The students of the concert band worked with Dr.
Patrick
Reynolds, who conducts the Symphonic Wind
Ensemble.
During their...
read
more. |
|
Ohio
Department of Education… Third
Grade Reading Guarantee Helping Ohio’s Students Succeed
- 3/24/2016 - Ohio continues to raise the bar for student achievement,
and even with higher expectations, 94.1 percent of the state’s eligible
third graders met or exceeded the promotion score in reading to move to
the fourth grade. The results of the Third Grade Reading Guarantee were
released today as part of K-3 Literacy on the 2014-2015... read
more. |
MVCTC
SkillsUSA Members Qualify for Ohio Championships in Columbus
Englewood, Ohio -- Members of the Miami Valley Career Technology Center
(MVCTC) SkillsUSA chapter recently competed at regional SkillsUSA
Contest with 31 students qualifying to move to the Ohio SkillsUSA
Competitions in Columbus, Ohio on April 26-27, 2016. The
State
Contest, located at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, will bring
together thousands of SkillsUSA students from all over the state to
compete in everything...
read
more. |
Interagency
Cooperation… Darke
County
break-in suspects arrested in Mercer County
Sheriff Jeff Grey and Sheriff Toby Spencer report that their offices
working cooperatively have made arrests involving multiple cars being
broken into in Mercer and Darke County. Darke
County
Sheriff’s Detectives along with officers from Versailles Police
Department developed information involving multiple car and business
break ins in their jurisdictions in recent weeks. The
information
identified suspects...
read
more. |
|
DeWine…
Petition
for
Medical Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Amendment Rejected
- (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today
rejected a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution which
would attempt to legalize marijuana for medical and industrial use in
the state. On March 10th, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office received a
written petition to amend the Ohio Constitution, entitled “Medical
Cannabis and Industrial...
read
more. |
Education
Week… Online-Testing
Stumbles Spark Legislation
in Affected States, By Daarel Burnette II
The nationwide shift from paper-and-pencil tests to online standardized
assessment has caused serious heartburn for educators and students
alike in many places: server meltdowns, frozen computer screens, and
test-score dips. But in a handful of states, the sometimes-temporary,
but ill-timed glitches have fueled legislation that would crack down on
testing companies and have lasting impact on the role tests play in
evaluating schools and teachers... read
more. |
FBI…
National
Instant Criminal Background Check
System Posts NICS Index Data
March 18, 2016 -- The National Instant Criminal Background Check System
(NICS) was implemented on November 30, 1998 as a result of the Brady
Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993. NICS is a national system used
by Federal Firearms Licensees to instantly determine whether a
prospective buyer is eligible to buy firearms by checking available
records. The NICS searches three nationally held... read
more. |
Warrant
issued
on Kelly P. Miller
On March 17, 2016 at around 1208 hours, Darke County Sheriff’s Office
and the Greenville Police were dispatched to 205 Central Ave. on a
domestic violence complaint. The victim, Hannah Miller, drove
herself to Tri-Village Rescue for treatment of injuries. It
was
later learned that Kelly P. Miller, estranged husband of the victim,
had broken into 205 Central Ave. and waited for the victim to return
home. Upon the victim arriving... read
more. |
Historic
Farm
Families honored on National Agriculture Day
Ohio Agriculture Director Visits Highland County to Pay Tribute to
Area’s Oldest Family Farms - REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (March 15, 2016) – Ohio
Department of Agriculture Director David T. Daniels today honored the
area’s oldest historic farm families from Clinton, Fayette, Highland,
and Ross counties at a ceremony at Creekview Barn... read
more. |
Edison State Community College… $17,500
Student Emergency Fund at Edison
Beginning on March 21, 2016, Edison State Community College will offer
grants of up to $500 each to help low-income students weather financial
emergencies. Students can apply for small grants to help cover expenses
just beyond their means, which allows them to quickly return focus to
their academic pursuits. “Even the best planning can’t... read
more. |
FBI Food Stamp Fraud… Supermarket
Owner Imprisoned for Multi-Million-Dollar Scam
03/15/16 - Tessema Lulseged owned a supermarket in Decatur, Georgia,
but he was selling much more than groceries. He was trafficking in food
stamps, and, for a time, it made him a wealthy man. Lulseged owned the
Big T Supermarket, a convenience store just outside Atlanta. He
routinely and illegally allowed his customers to exchange food stamp... read
more. |
Single
Vehicle
Accident on Greenville Nashville
On March 20, 2016 at 8:18 PM Darke County Sheriffs Deputies, along with
Greenville Township Fire Department, Greenville Township Rescue and
Miami Valley Careflight, responded to a single vehicle injury accident
in the 3000 block of Greenville Nashville Rd. Preliminary investigation
reveals...
read
more. |
Kiwanis of Greenville… Kiwanis
fundraiser feeds hundreds, By Bob Robinson
At a nominal fee of $5 a plate, hundreds of patrons were able to walk
away stuffed with pancakes, their choice of sausage links or patties,
apple sauce and a drink. And their $5 went to a good cause… support to
a variety of Kiwanis of Greenville community service projects. The
annual Kiwanis fundraiser had a new look and feel this year... read
more. |
| Education
Week… States'
Accountability Systems Flawed for College Readiness, Report Finds,
By Catherine Gewertz - March 14, 2016 - As states press hard to ensure
that all students graduate from high school ready for college or good
jobs, many are hobbled by the very accountability systems they designed
to leverage improvement, according to a report released Monday. The new
study, by Achieve, argues that in reporting K-12 performance to the
public, states often aren't including factors that matter the most... read
more. |
Decolores
Montessori celebrates National Montessori Education Week
Open enrollment for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners - The
DeColores Montessori School located in Greenville, Ohio celebrated
Montessori Education Week, February 28 – March 4. During the week,
Mayor Bowers stopped by and declared the week “National Montessori
Education Week.” He also visited and talked with our students... read
more. |
Local Child Care Earns Highest
Five Star
Award For Excellence
Council on Rural Services is proud to announce that the Kids Learning
Place located in Union City has earned their “FIVE Star Rating” in the
Step Up to Quality program from the Ohio Department of Job and Family
Services. Kids Learning Place is the only Five Star Award
program
in Darke County. Congratulations go to each of the center’s team
members for their focused efforts, dedication... read
more. |
EUM Mission Teams Serve Families
Living in
Guatemala City Dump
Destination Known, the mission ministry of EUM Church, recently
returned from two back-to-back mission trips to Guatemala. This is
EUM’s eleventh year partnering with Potter’s House Association who has
been investing in serving at risk children and youth for 30 years. Over
the years, EUM mission teams have been blessed with the opportunity to
build fourteen sturdy, safe homes... read
more. |
ODE…
$10
Million
Available
Through Ohio’s School Mentorship Program
3/16/2016 - For a second year, community organizations, faith- or
values-based groups and businesses are being asked to partner to
encourage mentorship in Ohio’s schools and help give more students
access to role models who can motivate and inspire them. In 2015, more
than 4,600 mentors worked with nearly 13,000 students in Ohio’s first
successful year of the Community Connectors program, one of Gov. John
Kasich’s key...
read
more. |
Power of the Pen… Versailles
POP
Writers heading for State, By Bob Robinson
Versailles 7th and 8th graders won or placed in multiple events at the
Regional Power of the Pen Competition at Russia March 12. The combined
teams took the top Sweepstakes honor, collecting the rotating trophy,
which they will keep for a year and return to the competition in 2017.
Seventh grade writers repeated their District... read
more. |
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown… Be
Prepared for Severe Spring Weather
Spring is approaching and with warmer temperatures comes a greater
chance for severe weather. U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is
notifying Ohioans of resources available to better prepare for severe
weather. Spring hazards include: Tornadoes, Floods, Lightning, Heat -
Know Your Risk - Check weather.gov every morning. It is a simple action
that...
read
more. |
DeWine
Releases
2016 ‘Yellow Book’
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today released the
2016 edition of Ohio Sunshine Laws: An Open Government Resource Manual.
The release of the manual, commonly referred to as the “Yellow Book,”
coincides with the beginning of Sunshine Week. “A substantial number of
public records disputes arise because one of the parties... read
more. |
| Court
News Ohio… Gender-Specific
Terms Replaced in Ohio Supreme Court Rules, Forms,
By Bret Crow - March 14, 2016 - Gender-neutral terms within Ohio
Supreme Court rules and forms will become effective March 15 after
adoption by Ohio Supreme Court justices. The changes were necessary in
light of the June 26, 2015 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in
Obergefell v. Hodges, Case No. 14-556. The Ohio Supreme Court issued an
order on June 26 to provide some guidance to Ohio’s courts governing
references to...
read
more. |
Farm
Program
Payments Revisited, From Sam Custer, OSU
Extension, Darke
County
By Chris Bruynis, OSU Extension Educator, Ross County - Farmers May
Choose Between County of Administration or Geographic County Location…
Farmers with the administration of their farms consolidated at one FSA
office may want to examine their 2014 and 2015 ARC-CO payment
calculations. Original 2014 ARC-CO payments were calculated on... read
more. |
Bluebag Media… Arcanum
students
to serve community
ARCANUM – For the fourth year Arcanum students will spend a day out of
the classroom making a difference in their community. On May 6, the
students will take part in Serve Arcanum. Principal Jason Stephan is
excited about the program and what the students have been able to
accomplish over the past three years. The students... read
more. |
Court
News Ohio… Students
Learn
About Courts, Watch Oral Arguments, By
Kathleen Maloney
March 11, 2016 -- High school students watched Supreme Court oral
arguments from the convenience of their classrooms this week as part of
a Court program designed to inform them about the judicial branch. The
students viewed a live stream of a case involving a fired Dayton
teacher, learning how each side presents their positions before the
Court and what types of questions the seven justices raise. Before oral
arguments, volunteers talked... read
more. |
Court News Ohio… Teen
Court Lets
Students Judge Their Peers, By Jenna Gant
March 9, 2016 -- When a teen ends up in court for theft, trespassing,
or other misdemeanor offenses, he or she usually ends up before a judge
or magistrate. In Stark County, teens help other teens in a court
program that’s marking its 20th anniversary. Teen Court lets high
school students become prosecutors, defense attorneys, bailiffs, and
jury members to their peers... read
more. |
Edison State Employees Recognized
at Banquet
Twenty employees were recognized for a combined total of 180 years of
service in their careers at Edison State Community College’s 37th
annual employee recognition banquet on Friday, March 4. Prior to dinner
and the awards ceremony, a President's reception was held and
appetizers were served. Enrollment Managers, Stacey Bean and Christina
Raterman emceed the “red carpet” event... read
more. |
State
Sen. Keith Faber… Presidential
Candidates should Support Restoring Balance of Power
COLUMBUS - Senate President Keith Faber (R-Celina) announced today he
is spearheading a nationwide effort by state lawmakers and legislative
leaders to secure commitments from the leading presidential candidates,
Mr. Donald Trump, Governor John Kasich, Senator Marco Rubio, Senator
Ted Cruz, Secretary Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders, to
restore the balance of power between the States... read
more. |
Bluebag Media… South
students
work on display for Youth Art Month
GREENVILLE – South Intermediate fifth- and sixth-graders are learning
there’s more to art than meets the eye. Interpretation, evaluation and
opinion play an important role in looking at art, no matter the medium,
says teacher Julie Brewer. Five South students were recently honored
for their art and expressions of art in both painting and written... read
more. |
DeWine
rejects
Medical Marijuana Amendment
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today rejected the
petition for a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution which would
attempt to legalize marijuana for medical use in the state. On March
3rd, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office received a written petition to
amend the Ohio Constitution, entitled “Medical Use of Marijuana” from
the...
read
more. |
|
Technology and the Funeral Home… Braund
Pope and Oliver Floyd Funeral Homes Embraces Kiosk Technology
- Every industry has embraced new technologies to build and improve
their business and better serve their clients. Now the funeral industry
is just as progressive. Braund Pope and Oliver Floyd Funeral Homes in
New Madison and Greenville now offer an electronic guest registry —a
simple tool that allows them to serve their... read
more. |
Court
News Ohio… High
School
Students Compete for State Mock Trial Champion Title
March 10, 2016 - Today marks the start of the 33rd annual Ohio Mock
Trial Competition, as about 350 high school students representing 31
Ohio schools descend on Columbus to vie for the title of state
champion. Ohio Mock Trial is a program of the Ohio Center for
Law-Related Education (OCLRE) and is the largest high school academic
competition in the state. More than 3,500 students participate each
year...
read
more. |
BBBS… Bowl
for Kids Sake 2016
generates $42,000
This year’s Bowl For Kids’ Sake event was held on Friday, March 4th,
and Saturday, March 5th at Bel-Mar Lanes in Sidney and Treaty Lanes in
Greenville. The event was supported by 165 businesses that sponsored,
made general donations, or donate prizes for the event, and brought
together 358 bowlers to make up the 73 participating... read
more. |
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown… Now
Considering Service Academy Nominations
Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown is inviting Ohioans to apply for
nomination to the U.S. Service Academies. Ohio’s students have the
integrity, courage, and knowledge needed to succeed in the nation’s
prestigious military academies and Sen. Brown is honored to nominate
students to academies that develop the next generation of leaders. Each
year, Sen...
read
more. |
Bluebag Media… State
takes note
of Edison Career & Counseling Program
PIQUA – Edison State Community College has caught the attention of
state legislators for its continued efforts in student career planning
and counseling. On March 3, John Carey, Chancellor of the Ohio
Department of Higher Education, made his second visit this school year
to conduct a forum at the Piqua campus and hear testimonials... read
more. |
DeWine … Sexual
Assault Kit
Testing Update for March
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today released a
status update on the progress of DNA testing being conducted as part of
the Ohio Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) Testing
Initiative. As of March 1, 2016, 259 law enforcement agencies have
submitted 12,449 kits to be tested as part of the initiative. Of those,
3,118...
read
more. |
Fundraiser kicks “Empowering” off
to great
start,
By Bob Robinson
“We started to tell her what we were doing when she stopped us,” said
Kendra Chalmers. “I know what you’re doing,” the woman said. “I have my
daughter in tutoring and it is helping her!” Chalmers said she was
excited about the day. Traffic was steady during the five hours she and
family members stood in front of Walmart on March 5, offering baked
treats ranging from cakes and cupcakes to cookies... read
more. |
FBI… Putting
the Brakes on Crime; Getaway Driver
Sentenced to 121 Years
02/26/16 -- Sesley Williams was a ringleader and getaway driver for a
string of robberies involving multiple banks and commercial
establishments in Las Vegas and nearby Henderson, Nevada. Today she’s
in a federal prison after being sentenced last month by a U.S. district
judge. It all started on a winter afternoon in 2012. While Williams sat
in her car outside an outlet mall clothing store in Las Vegas... read
more. |
DeWine… Over
116,000 Concealed
Carry Licenses in 2015
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today issued a
report indicating that more than 116,000 concealed carry licenses were
issued or renewed in Ohio in 2015, according to data compiled by Ohio’s
county sheriffs. The following total concealed carry numbers were
reported to the Attorney General's Office from county sheriffs in Ohio... read
more. |
FBI Tip Line… Web
Portal,
Created in 2001, Receives ‘Actionable’ Tips Daily
03/01/16 - In the pre-dawn hours of October 22, 2014, a New Hampshire
man was browsing a popular Internet message board when he came across
what appeared to be an anonymous threat: “I’m going to shoot up
University of Louisville’s Miller hall [sic] tomorrow at 10 a.m.” The
man went to the FBI website and submitted a tip at 4:23 a.m. Eastern... read
more. |
Where’s the ham? Celebrating
Dr.
Seuss, By Bob Robinson
Do you like green eggs and ham? I do not like them, Sam-I-am. I do not
like green eggs and ham. Dr. Seuss’ birthday was March 2 and there has
been a week-long celebration in Greenville. Woodland students dressed
“wacky,” ‘Cat in the Hat’ hats have popped up ‘here and there,’ and
some of the good doctor’s most popular books have been shared... read
more. |
ODA celebrates Weights &
Measures Week
REYNOLDSBURG, OH (March 1, 2016) – To honor the hard work of all
weights and measures officials, including those housed at the Ohio
Department of Agriculture (ODA), Gov. John Kasich has declared the week
of March 1-7 Ohio Weights and Measures Week. Weights and measures
officials work to both protect consumers and provide fair competition
among businesses. Weights and Measures Week is celebrated March 1-7
each year...
read
more. |
Darke County Sheriff… Deputies
respond to shots fire, theft in progress
On March 3, 2016 at approximately 1:13 AM the Darke County Sheriff’s
Office received a 911 call from a subject reporting shots fired and
that he believed the suspect was trying to break into a vehicle at an
automotive business in the area of State Route 49 and Alt. State Route
49 North. Darke County Deputies and the Arcanum Police Department
responded to the area but the suspect and suspect... read
more. |
State Representative Jim Buchy… Opt
Out Impact on Adjusted Report Cards
Buchy Voices Growing Concerns About the Impact of Opt-Outs on Local
Schools - COLUMBUS- State Representative Jim Buchy (R- Greenville) has
released adjusted report cards for schools in Auglaize, Darke, Mercer
and Shelby counties as concerns grow about the impact on local scores
from students who opted out of the 2014-2015 PARCC... read
more. |
Attorney General Mike DeWine… Naloxone
Rebate Agreement Extended
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)— Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today
that a rebate agreement that has saved agencies thousands of dollars on
the cost of the opioid reversal medication naloxone is being extended
for one year. The renewed agreement with Amphastar Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. will allow non-federal public entities in Ohio to continue
receiving a...
read
more. |
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