County News Online, Early Bird
Joining together for Darke County Youth 

The Early Bird and County News Online will be holding an auction at 5:30 p.m. on May 31 of Paul Ackley cartoons that have appeared in the two media outlets. The auction will take place at the event’s co-sponsor business, The Bistro Off Broadway. 

Featured will be Ackley’s original editorial drawings, signed by the artist. The purpose is to provide scholarships to help Darke County teens with their college expenses. 

According to Fred Foutz, Early Bird publisher, and Bob Robinson, Early Bird associate editor and former CNO editor, this is the first time competing media outlets have joined together for Darke County young people. 

“It is almost mandatory that our students pursue higher education in order to achieve their professional goals,” Robinson said. “And most families can’t afford what that education costs today.” 

Robinson added that there are many organizations and businesses that provide scholarships to young people, adding that he was delighted County News Online and The Early Bird could come together with The Bistro and Rapid Printing to add another opportunity. Money raised from the auction will be presented to the Senior Scribes Scholarship Fund, a 501c3 not for profit organization, for awarding to the students. 

Foutz and Robinson both said they were pleased that the Darke County Commissioners agree about the importance of the event. They will be signing a Proclamation today supporting the auction and all organizational efforts to help county youth. The signing will take place just prior to their regular meeting in the Commissioners building.