Tips for a Healthy (and Hopefully Flu-Free) Season from Dr. Julia Bowlin

Provided by Dr. Julia Bowlin a physician at Family Health in Greenville, Oh.

Happy Holidays!!!! Yes, it is that time of year when family and friends gather around for holiday cheer and gift giving. Many of us spend the time searching for the perfect gift in hope the receiver will be joyful and we can witness or be a part in their joy. However, with all the sharing and loving going on during the holidays we as a population will no doubt be sharing a few “unwanted” gifts. That gift being the spread of many viral infectious diseases such as cold and viruses. The gift of viral infections can be one your family and friends never forget which isn't what you want to be remembered for.

But alas….there is hope this holiday season and with some awareness and precautions you can minimize your chances of getting these viruses by avoiding sick people and participating in frequent hand washing, not touching your face with your hands, and always cover your mouth in your inner elbow when coughing and sneezing.

However, if you do get the flu – please don’t re-gift it!!! Stay home, sleep, and drink plenty of liquids. Please know there is NO CURE for colds and viruses – they must run their course. You may take over the counter medications (if approved by your provider) for your symptoms such as Tylenol and Robitussin DM. If you are seen in the office during the first 24-48 hours of the onset of symptoms your provider may suggest an antiviral therapy which MIGHT reduce the severity and length of illness by 1-2 days– but remember this is NOT a cure. The average person will get better in 1- 2 weeks and you can expect to have yellow-green sputum around day five (this does not mean antibiotics are necessary). The most common cold, viral infection, or flu symptoms are nasal congestion, body aches, fever and a cough. Always call your doctor if you have trouble breathing, chest pain, confusion, or severe vomiting.

The best step toward staying healthy is by getting the flu vaccine and living a healthy lifestyle involving exercise and eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It has been proven that people who have had the flu vaccine have a lower chance of illness and death compared to non-vaccinated individuals. The elderly, infants and people who are chronically ill should highly consider the flu vaccine. The vaccine usually protects people from getting the flu by about 50-80% and IF you DO get the flu it is usually less severe and takes less time to recover. It is important to know that because the flu vaccine mutates (changes) every year it is necessary that you get re-vaccinated on a yearly basis.

For prevention get your flu shot and avoid sick people and if you are sick please stay home and take care of yourself!!!! Have a wonderful holiday and a blessed 2015!!!!

Dr. Julia Bowlin a physician at Family Health in Greenville and is the founder of PAWAR TM (Personal Awareness Medicine). For more information on PAWAR TM --- visit JuliaBowlinMD.com

New Year's Resolutions: Steps to Success

The new year is a great time to start fresh, with your diabetes management. A lot of Americans set goals of eating healthier, exercising more, or losing weight. It is possible to make healthy changes that can stick. Setting specific, realistic goals and making a plan can help you achieve your goals.

Start by thinking of your resolution as a health goal for 2015. Specific goals will increase your chance of success compared to a goal that is very general. Stating that you will increase your intake of vegetables or that you will be more active is a very general goal. A more specific goal would be to fill half of your plate with non-starchy vegetables or walk for 20 minutes after supper on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Make sure that your goal is realistic, and something that is attainable. For example, losing 10 pounds in the next week is not a realistic or attainable goal. Healthy weight loss is 1/2 to 2 pounds a week. A more realist goal may to be losing ½ to 1pound for the next 10 weeks.

It can be overwhelming to making a lot of changes at the same time. Break your goals up into smaller goals to help you stay motivated and focused. If your overall goal is to walk for 45 minutes five days a week, try starting out by walking for 15 minutes 3 days a week in January. You can set a new goal in February to walk longer and more frequently.

When setting goals remember the following: 1) What do you want to change and how often will you do this? What are the specifics? 2) Is your goal realistic and attainable? 3) Set one or two small goals and determine the time frame to achieve the goal. 4) Write down your goals and put them somewhere visible. This will serve as a reminder to stay accountable and motivated.

Setting your goals is easy; however, it is harder to achieve your goals. Determine what you need to start working toward your new goals. Example: buy a pair of comfortable shoes or purchase non-starchy vegetables. Determine what might get in the way of your plan. Example: What will I do if it is raining outside? If this happens you may decide to walk inside. Determine what you can do when you hit an obstacle of barrier. Example: If it is cold and snowy outside, you may have a plan to do another type of exercise at home. Make sure that you have a support system that can help you brainstorm ideas when barriers occur and are able to provide encouragement to help you reach your goals.

ACOs moving ahead: 89 new Accountable Care Organizations to join program to improve care for Medicare beneficiaries

The Reid Accountable Care Organization (ACO) has been selected as one of 89 new Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), providing approximately 1.6 million additional Medicare beneficiaries with access to high-quality, coordinated care across the United States, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today. That brings the total to 405 Shared Savings Program ACOs serving over 7.2 million beneficiaries.

Doctors, hospitals and health care providers establish ACOs in order to work together to provide higher-quality coordinated care to their patients, while helping to slow health care cost growth. The Reid ACO will be one of 405 ACOs participating in the Shared Savings Program as of this January 1st. Beneficiaries seeing health care providers in ACOs always have the freedom to choose doctors inside or outside of the ACO.

ACOs share with Medicare savings generated from lowering the growth in health care costs when they meet standards for high quality care. ACOs are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers that work together to give Medicare beneficiaries in Original Medicare (fee-for-service) high quality, coordinated care. ACOs can share in any savings they generate for Medicare, if they meet specified quality targets.

“The Reid ACO will be joining a program that is one part of this Administration’s vision for improving the coordination and integration of care received by Medicare beneficiaries”, said Sean Cavanaugh, Deputy Administrator and Director, Center for Medicare. “We look forward to continuing this partnership with the Reid ACO in increasing value and care coordination across the health system.”

Since ACOs first began participating in the program in early 2012, thousands of health care providers have signed on to participate in the program, working together to provide better care to Medicare’s seniors and people with disabilities. The 89 new ACOs will bring approximately 23,000 additional physicians and other providers into the ACO program starting January 1.

Agriculture Fertilizer Applicator Certification

Agricultural fertilizer applicator certification is now required for farmers who apply fertilizer to more than 50 acres of agricultural production grown primarily for sale. This requirement was signed into law in June, 2014, and also requires certification for commercial agricultural applicators. Farmers who have their fertilizer applied by co-ops or custom applicators are not required to be certified.

Farmers and applicators need to attend a training course offered by Ohio State University Extension to become certified. Those who have a pesticide applicator license need to attend a two-hour fertilizer certification. If an applicator does not have a pesticide license, they will be required to attend a three-hour fertilizer certification.

A two-hour certification program for any applicator who has a pesticide license will be offered on February 16, 1:00 p.m. This meeting is in conjunction with the pesticide recertification will meet the certification requirements only for those with a pesticide license. Pre-registration is required and you can register for the fertilizer certification program only by calling Sam Custer at 937.548.5215. Register for the combined pesticide and fertilizer training at pested.osu.edu.

A three-hour certification program for any applicator who does not have a pesticide license will be offered on March 25, 2015, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Romers, Greenville, Ohio. This free meeting which will also include a sponsored lunch and a keynote address by Dr. John Fulton on Big Data and Precision Agriculture will meet the certification requirements for those with and without a pesticide license. Pre-registration is required and online registration is available at nutrienteducation.osu.edu.

Fertilizer is defined for the regulation as any substance containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, or other plant nutrient in a dry or liquid formulation. All application types such as broadcast, side dress, sub-surface, knifing and other are included in the certification requirement. Lime and limestone are not included as fertilizer for the certification and farmers who only use starter fertilizer in their planter boxes are exempted. Applicators who are a Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) or Ohio Certified Livestock Manager are not required to attend the training. The agriculture fertilizer certification is not required for manure applications as these are currently regulated.

Applicators who meet the criteria for the certification must attend training by September 30, 2017. The Ohio Department of Agriculture is the agency issuing the certification for agriculture fertilizer applications. Their website has information regarding the regulation at agri.ohio.gov. For more information about other training session or general materials for the agriculture fertilizer certification, visit nutrienteducation.osu.edu or contact Sam Custer at OSU Extension, Darke County at 937.548.5215 or custer.2@osu.edu.

Committee Members Sought to Establish Arcanum Distinguished Alumni and Honorary Trojan Hall of Fame

The Arcanum Alumni Advisory Committee is working to establish a Distinguished Alumni and Honorary Trojan Hall of Fame to recognize and honor those individuals who have made a significant impact through achievements, actions and contribution within their communities and professions and serve as exemplary role models for Arcanum students.

A Selection Committee is being formed consisting of graduates representing the various decades. If you are interested in serving on the Selection Committee, please contact Superintendent, John Stephens, at john_stephens@darke.k12.oh.us.

January is School Board Recognition Month

COLUMBUS — The Ohio School Boards Association is celebrating School Board Recognition Month in January 2015 to build awareness and understanding of the vital function an elected board of education plays in our society. School Board Recognition Month honors the members of Ohio’s more than 700 city, exempted village, local and joint vocational boards of education and educational service centers governing boards for their commitment to providing quality public education to Ohio’s school children.

The Arcanum-Butler Local School District is joining with other districts throughout the state to recognize the important contributions school board members make to their communities. “Our district benefits from the dedicated energies and countless hours devoted by our board members as well as the more than 3,400 men and women across the state representing public education,” said Superintendent, John Stephens. “Furthermore, they represent a continuing commitment to local citizen control and decision-making in education. Even though we are making a special effort during January to show appreciation to our school board members, we recognize their contributions reflect a year‑round commitment on their part. On behalf of the students, staff and administration of the Arcanum-Butler Local School District I would like to thank our board members for their continued service.”

The men and women serving Arcanum-Butler Local Schools and their years of service are: Board President, Ed Everman, has served on the Arcanum-Butler Local Board since 1998. Vice President, Tracy Fout, began serving in 2010, Mark Trask in February of 2011, Bev Delk in January of 2012 and Kelly Norris in April of 2013.

After surviving Thanksgiving plane crash, Reid doctor’s family expects great Christmas

Note: The following was submitted prior to Christmas...

Mirhta Morales, Bryce, Barbara and Dr. William Fisher clasp hands
while talking to a TV reporter at Reid

Dr. William and Barbara Fisher remember praying for a safe trip – as they always do before a flight – before taking off from the Richmond airport on a Thanksgiving trip to Michigan with their son, Bryce, and his girlfriend, Mirhta Morales.

Mrs. Fisher remembers grabbing Mirhta’s hand and praying again as she felt trees brushing the underside of the single-engine Piper. She knew it was crashing in Berrien Springs, Michigan, suffering an engine failure just a couple of miles from their destination. She doesn’t remember anything else until she woke up later in a hospital.

With Mrs. Fisher now recovering in the Acute Rehab Unit at Reid, the Fisher family says there is one thing they will never forget – the power of prayer. “God preserved the lives of all of us,” Dr. Fisher said recently while the four gathered in Mrs. Fisher’s room at Reid. A pilot for 45 years, the doctor finds it truly miraculous that all four are alive.

The plane came down within a few feet of a home in one direction, a river in the other and trees and power lines all around. Photos at the time show the plane in at least two pieces on the ground. They were strapped in seats upside down, with Dr. Fisher and Morales able to get out but with Bryce and Mrs. Fisher pinned inside.

Dr. Fisher immediately began helping get the rest of his family out of the plane, not knowing he had broken ribs and five cracked vertebra in his back. “I didn’t even know I was injured,” he said, with his immediate reaction to be a physician to his injured loved ones.

Earlier this week, right after they gathered in Mrs. Fisher’s room to tape an interview with a Sound Bend area TV station, they said they just wanted everyone to know how thankful they are for their survival. They believe they experienced a miracle and answer to their prayers of protection. “The Lord gave us new life again,” Dr. Fisher said.

EUM CHURCH OFFERS WINTER CLASSES

There is just something about a fresh start of a new year that gives us the feeling of a new beginning. Start out your new year at EUM Church as they are hosting several classes that offer enrichment for your spiritual life. Find out how God can work in your life to give you a new start and spiritual growth! These classes include:

• Christianity 101 – Take this class to get grounded in the basics of the Christian faith and begin to grow spiritual roots that will sustain you in your walk with Jesus Christ. It will help you lay a spiritual foundation and understand what it means to love God fully and love others as yourself. Discover six spiritual practices that will help you become a fully submitted follower of Christ.
• Financial Peace University (FPU) – We all need a plan for our money. Financial Peace University (FPU) is that plan! It teaches God's ways of handling money. Through video teaching, class discussions and interactive small group activities, FPU presents biblical, practical steps to get from where you are to where you've dreamed you could be. This plan will show you how to get rid of debt, manage your money, spend and save wisely, and much more!
• Biblical & Early Church History – During this class, we will be taking a look at the historical significance of the world during biblical times, the implications of culture during biblical times and the history of the early church.
• God’s Kingdom – What is the Kingdom of Heaven? What is the Kingdom of God? Find out if there is a difference between the Kingdoms and what they have to do with you, the church and what we may conclude God wants us to do with what we learn!

Versailles Boys Varsity Bowlers Now 3-1

After getting off to a tough start on the season again Ottowa Glandorf, the Versailles Boys Varsity Bowlers have bounced back to improve their season record to 3-1. The final score was Versailles 2,667 to OG’s 2,800. Leading the Tigers were Kenny Nagel with a 232 and Zach Marshal with a 224.

The Tigers bounced back against Van Wert at Plaza Lanes in Celina with a final score of 2,760 to 2,329. Leading the Tigers the 2nd week was Dustin Ruhe with a 241 and Kenny Nagel with a 224.

The 3rd week was not going to get any easier against a solid Lima Central Catholic team. “This was a very crucial match for us. If we would have lost this match, we would have started at 1-2 with S, WOHSBC leaders, St. Henry the following week,” said Coach Davidson. This match looked as if the Tigers were going to run away with it after the 1st 2 games. “We were up by 161 pins and were rolling the ball well,” said Davidson. LCC was not ready to throw in the towel as they came out firing in the Baker games. They started with a 243 and ended with a 236 for a 204 Baker game average, well over their season Baker average. The final score ended in the Tiger’s favor, 2,922 to 2,885. Leading scorers for Versailles was Alex Groff 256, Kyle Cotner 235 and Zach Marshal 210.

Speedway Lanes in New Bremen was the setting for the Versailles/St. Henry match. “In my 5 years as head coach, we have faced St. Henry at Speedway Lanes 2 other times and have come out on the losing end. There is something about this center that they like. However, since we were bowling 2nd shift on burned up lane conditions, I felt we had the upper hand due to our ability to adjust to tougher lane conditions,” said Coach Davidson.

As with all match ups against St. Henry, it was close through 2 games with the Tigers only leading by 111 pins. The Tigers steadily kept increasing their lead through game 3 of the baker games and then game 4 the Tigers started to fall apart opening 4 out of the first 5 frames and St. Henry was starting to strike. “I pulled the guys together and told them they were bowling to not lose. You must bowl to win and cannot go up there forcing shots. It seemed to work and the guys finished the 4th and 5th games strong,” said Davidson. The final score was Versailles 2,754 to 2,598. Leading scorers were Kenny Nagel 216-203 and Alex Groff with a 207.

“As the season progresses, all of the guys are improving and a different guys have stepped up when needed. Overall, I am pleased with our performances, but we still have a lot of improvement to do if we want to compete and win against the other top teams in the WOHSBC,” said Davidson.

The Tigers will be facing St. Marys and Ansonia this Saturday and possibly Parkway on Monday for a make up match (if they are able to get it scheduled for then) All results and standings can be found at www.wohsbc.com.

Two Local Events Raise $1,500 For Corynna’s Wish Hospice-sponsored Program

Pictured, left to right front row, Ryan Gathard, Kristi Strawser and Mindy Stebbins, Director of Business Development for State of the Heart. Pictured behind, are State of the Heart Hospice Nurse Heather Bankson, who cared for Corynna, and Sean Strawser.

Corynna’s Wish, a wish granting program initiated by State of the Heart Hospice in memory of a local teenager who died while under hospice care, recently received a $1,500 donation from two fundraisers. The funds were raised with the events, Ladies Night Out, and the Shine on Corynna 5K.

Kristi Strawser, mother of Corynna who passed away last December, recently presented the check for $1,500 to State of the Heart Officials. She explained that the Ladies Night Out is an event organized by the All About You Therapeutic Massage. The event is an annual one, she said, and organizers chose to donate the funds to Corynna’s Wish. The 5K was held with 424 runners and was sponsored by the Shine on Corynna Committee. A gift of $750 from each event went to Corynna’s Wish.

Corynna Strawer, from Greenville, suffered from Mitochondrial Disease, a fatal disease for which there is no cure, and it is difficult to diagnose. Through her efforts to educate people about the disease which claimed her life, she inspired many not only locally, but throughout the United States and abroad. She had a strong belief in carrying it forward. State of the Heart established Corynna’s Wish in honor and in memory of Corynna. The program is for those patients who have a wish before they die, and they cannot physically or financially do it without financial assistance.

“Sean and I love the fact that Corynna’s Wish was established as Corynna was so lucky to have State of the Heart there to make the last months of her life amazing and everything she wanted it
to be,” Strawser said. “The staff at State of the Heart helped her live her final time here at home with us.”

Man Crashes Head On into Police Cruiser, Arrested for OVI

On December 28, 2014 Darke County Deputies along with Greenville City Police, Greenville City Fire, Greenville Rescue and Darke County Crash Reconstruction Team responded to an accident with injuries in the 1200 block of Sweitzer Street, Greenville Ohio, involving a Greenville Police Officer.

Investigation revealed a 2011 Ford F-150 driven by Brent Obringer was North bound on Sweitzer Street. Mr. Obringer’s vehicle traveled left of center striking the Ford Crown Victoria patrol vehicle driven by Greenville Police Officer Jennifer Freeman of the Greenville Police Department. Officer Freeman was South Bound On Sweitzer when she was struck head on by Mr. Obringer.

Officer Freeman was transported by Greenville Rescue to Wayne Hospital for non life threatening injuries. Brent Obringer refused medical treatment at the scene and was arrested for operating a vehicle while impaired.

This accident remains under investigation by the Darke County Sheriff’s Office.

Greenville Woman Air Lifted After Striking Tree Near Gettysburg

On Monday December 29, 2014 at approximately 7:02 AM, Darke County Deputies along with Gettysburg Fire and Rescue and Care Flight, responded to the 6900 block of Horatio-New Harrison Road on a report of an injury crash involving a vehicle into a tree.

Preliminary investigation revealed Chelsea Howard 24, of Greenville was driving a Maroon 2009 KIA Spectra southbound on Horatio-New Harrison Road and lost control of her vehicle traveling off the left side of the roadway striking a guard rail and then colliding head on into a tree. The driver was trapped inside of her vehicle and was mechanically extricated by Gettysburg Fire Dept. Howard was transported to Miami Valley Hospital aboard Care Flight. It's unknown at this time why Howard lost control of her vehicle.

This accident remains under investigation by the Darke County Sheriff's Office.

Stay Up to Date with the Darke County Parks!

With the New Year quickly approaching, we don’t want you to miss out on any of the many upcoming opportunities offered by YOUR Darke County Parks! There are many ways to keep in touch, here are a few:

• Sign-Up to receive our Nature Notes and emails. The Nature Notes is a quarterly publication with information on upcoming programs. When you receive your Nature Notes, you will be the first to view all of the new events and you can be sure to sign up for your favorites before they fill up! Emails are sent near-weekly and include program reminders, park updates and current happenings occurring around Darke County. Stay in the loop and sign up to receive weekly emails and Nature Notes on our website or by calling the Nature Center at 937.548.0165.
• Visit our Website at www.darkecountyparks.org. Our website has contact information, maps, upcoming events, volunteer opportunities and much more.
• Like us on Facebook! Like the “Darke County Parks” on Facebook for the most current updates regarding programming and current events at the Parks. You can also check out photos of past events.  

Don’t forget to visit our website at www.darkecountyparks.org. If you have any questions or would like to sign up to receive our Nature Notes and do not have access to a computer, call us at 937.548.0165. We hope to see you out enjoying YOUR Darke County Parks!

COMMISSIONER’S CORNER - December 2014

December is finally here. Families have gathered together for the Holidays, schools have taken a much needed break, and decorations are everywhere to celebrate this most wonderful season. Since this is the last month of the calendar year, it is always a good time to reflect on our many blessings the good Lord has given us this past year. If I were to list all the good things happening to Darke County this year, it would take a whole page of the paper. So in favor of expediency, let’s just say we have been blessed in so many areas.

Economically, we have had one of the best years ever! People are buying locally, new businesses have sprung up, more business has expanded, unemployment is way down, and there is a new more positive attitude around. We feel like we are improving, and getting better. We are receiving national attention (the Holiday Horse parade made the Chicago Tribune!) The Wall Street Journal, Dayton Business Journal, and all news outlets have done stories on our success. New schools are being built, and old ones are getting a face lift, another sign that the attitude is changing here after so many attempts before. The attitude that “we don’t need each other” between local Governments is long gone. The County, and all the villages and Greenville are all rowing the boat in the same direction, all in an effort to make our little corner of the world better. People are happier, and complaints
about the County are almost non -existent anymore, and the ones we get are usually fixed very quickly. (We are very happy about that!!)

As with most places, crime and drugs are a problem. However, through the work of law enforcement and citizen involvement, we are seeing a marked increase in apprehension of criminals. Cases are up almost 20%, so our Law enforcement is doing the job. As long as our citizens continue to help, we will eventually hope to get a handle on this problem. I guess, all in all, we have been truly blessed. We, the Commissioners are very proud of where we have come from, and where we are going. We will continue to do our best to make Darke County better. It is an honor to serve all of you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

- The Board of Darke County Commissioners

Henry promoted to Assistant Vice President

GREENVILLE, Ohio –Second National Bank (SNB) is pleased to announce that Mike Henry was recently promoted to assistant vice president.

Mike began his career at Second National Bank in 2006 as a Financial Advisor with Raymond James Financial Services and has over 15 years of banking experience. Mike graduated from Versailles High School and earned his bachelor’s degree at Bowling Green State University. He holds his Series 7 securities license along with life and health insurance licensure.

Mike is the current secretary and treasurer of the Darke Economic Foundation, board member of the Wayne Hospital Foundation, a long-time Versailles youth baseball coach and past president of the Greenville Kiwanis Club. Mike and his family currently reside in Versailles.

Lower Crop Prices Make Grain Marketing More Important

Growers wanting to brush up on their grain marketing skills or those who want to learn how to improve their farm operation’s profitability can participate in a series of online grain marketing courses taught by experts from Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

Grain Marketing in Challenging Times, to be offered Feb. 3, Feb. 10, Feb. 17, Feb. 24 and March 3, will offer farmers and growers proven tips and techniques to improve marketing skills, said Chris Bruynis, an Ohio State University Extension educator.

OSU Extension is the outreach arm of the college.

With lower crop prices forecast for next year, grain marketing will be one of the more critical decisions farm managers will have to make this year, said Bruynis, who is also an assistant professor in the college’s Department of Extension.

“Grain marketing will be increasingly more important to the future success of the farm business in the next few years due to tighter profit margins associated with lower grain prices,” he said. “The course is designed to be introductory in nature, helping participants hone their grain marketing decision-making skills.”

The marketing webinar will be hosted by Bruynis and taught by Matt Roberts, an associate professor in the college’s Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics and an OSU Extension economist.

Greenville BPW Club Celebrates Christmas!

Greenville, OH. The Christmas Committee of the Greenville Business & Professional Women’s (BPW) Club hosted the December 11th meeting in the Formal Dining Room at the Brethren Retirement Community (BRC) in Greenville.

Deb Niekamp and Diana Frazier from the Christmas Committee planned the evening. Deb showed off her decorating skills and shared ideas for sprucing up our homes for the holidays. She suggested mixing items from outdoors, such as twigs, branches and pine cones with whatever you have in the house to decorate with. Think outside the box by mixing fabrics. Add miniature lights! Use white, gold or silver spray paint to transform everyday stuff around the house into a holiday decoration!

The local BPW group collected non-perishable food items for the BRC employee food pantry and children’s mittens, gloves and hats for the mitten tree located at the BRC.

Ohio BPW President Elect Leona Philips attended the meeting and revealed her ideas for the 2015 BPW state agenda.

The Greenville BPW Club’s mission is to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education, and information. The Club holds fund raisers throughout the year to raise money to grant scholarships to the young women of Darke County. The Club meets the second Thursday of every month for a dinner meeting. Those interested in learning more about the club can contact Membership Chair Tasha Anderson at tasha.anderson05@gmail.com. Check us out on Facebook at Greenville BPW Club.

Edison names Shimp as Head Volleyball Coach

Shimp

Jessica ‘Shelby’ Shimp makes a return to Edison Community College to lead the volleyball team in the upcoming 2015 season.

Shimp is no stranger to Edison Community College. Joining Edison’s Volleyball team as the libero in 2009, Shimp received numerous accolades during her time at Edison including Best Defensive Player and Most Valuable Player. Upon graduating from Edison, she continued intramural volleyball play at Bowling Green State University.

The former Charger understands what is expected of student-athletes. “As a former Charger myself, I know the level of play and expectations that Edison holds for its student-athletes. Edison student-athletes are students first. The expectation is for students to be successful in the classroom and on the court.”

Shimp’s coaching career began in 2013 when she served as the assistant volleyball coach at Edison. “I am very excited to be coaching the lady Chargers this upcoming season! As a former Charger myself, I know what this program has to offer to its athletes and understand the level of play and expectations that Edison holds for its student-athletes.”

Haupricht

Shimp understands how important is for students to be successful in the classroom and on the court. “My first expectation for this season is to gather a team of young women who are not only strong athletes but driven students. As a teacher, I value the importance of a good education and will expect my athletes to excel in their academics at Edison.”

With recruiting efforts underway, Shimp is looking forward to the upcoming season. “My goal is for us to be a disciplined team both offensively and defensively. Consistency wins games. I also want this to be an enjoyable experience for the girls. Athletics are a great way for young women to stay healthy, build friendships, and have a good time. I want them to look back years from now and be fond and proud of their time at Edison.”

Outside of coaching, Shimp is a high school mathematics teacher at Mississinawa Valley High School in Union City, Ohio and resides in Versailles, Ohio.

Joining the team as assistant coach is Julia Haupricht. Haupricht brings over eight years of volleyball experience to the program. Prior to becoming the assistant coach at Edison, Haupricht received numerous accolades during her time spent on the court. Beginning her volleyball career in 2006, Haupricht was part of a Division II State Champion team in the high school. Since then, she has competed internationally with Premier Volleyball Academy; played for Owens Community College where she holds the record for tenth overall in career kills; and received numerous accolades while playing for Siena Heights University. Haupricht currently resides in Piqua.
For more information on upcoming Edison athletics, visit www.edisonohio.edu/athletics.

PICTURES ATTACHED: Head Volleyball Coach Shelby Shimp and Assistant Volleyball Coach Julia Haupricht

Versailles Lady Bowlers Suffer First Loss

It was a tough week for the Lady Tigers as they rolled against the Coldwater Cavs at Olympic Lanes in Van Wert. Nerves affected the girls initially but they all came together and gave Coldwater a challenge. The Tigers were ahead 69 pins heading into the five baker games. The first game was a victory for the Tigers 906 to 854. Leading the way for the Tigers in the first game were Hannah Niekamp (233), Megan Ward (212), and Makenzie Berning (187). The remainder of the ladies all contributed as they were subbed in and pulled through when needed. The second game was also won by the Tigers 892 to 875. The best bowlers of this game were Brooke Condon (229), Megan Ward (189), and Hannah Niekamp (176). Heading into the baker games Coach Phlipot warned the girls that the lanes were changing and drying out and to keep their focus as Coldwater is a great baker team. They continued to put up a fight during the baker games but Coldwater was on fire racking up 3 out of 5 of the baker games with a score over 200. The final baker scores were Coldwater 984 and Versailles 727. Unfortunately this became the first loss of the season for the Lady Tigers with a score 2525 to 2713. “The girls really fought to the end. We faced a tough team and credit needs to be given to Coldwater ringing in such high scores in the baker games while heading into them with a deficit. This was a great learning experience for the girls and they should all keep their heads held high,” said Coach Phlipot.

The girls will be back in action on January 3 rolling against Mississinawa Valley at Speedway Lanes in New Breman. If you want to follow the Tigers progress with stats go to www.WOHSBC.com

Old Fashion Hymn Sing

The Pitsburg Church of the Brethren will sponsor an Old Fashion Hymn Sing on Sunday, January 4, 2015 at 6:00 PM. This event is offered to the public in keeping with the church’s monthly Gospel Concert Series. The public is invited to come and request their favorite hymns be sung by the congregation. Whether you are a ‘singer’ or a ‘listener’, it’s an evening of great music and fellowship. Feel free to come and challenge our pianist and organist, and enjoy some of the old hymns that are not necessarily sung in today’s services. The church is located at the west edge of Pitsburg, 8376 Pitsburg-Laura Road.

Reid Auxiliary cookbook project stirs up funds to support patient care

Committee members Kay Karn, Elsie Bragg
and Patsy Goble review finished cookbook.

A little bit of this and a little bit of that, and a lot of volunteer hours created a wonderful cookbook by Reid Hospital volunteers.

The project to make and sell cookbooks as a fundraiser began in June when a committee was formed by the Reid Auxiliary Board. Committee members Elsie Bragg, Romaine DeLucio, Patsy Goble, Kay Karn, Joan Martin and Leanna Reid asked volunteers to share their favorite recipes for inclusion in the cookbook.

This is the first cookbook put together by the Reid Auxiliary volunteers and the first fundraiser of this kind taken on by the group. None of the committee members had ever worked on a cookbook project before. “They just put their heads together and came up with a plan to collect, print and assemble the books,” said Becky Jewison, director of Volunteer Services. After some creative collaboration, they decided to call the book, “A Little Bit of This-N-A Little Bit of That.”

Most of the recipes were all different, however there were a few duplicate recipes which include the names of both who submitted it. There are two mother-daughter pairings represented in the book—Jane Retz and her daughter, Penny Scales, and Mildred Ryan and her daughter, Kay Karn.

Goble typed the 250 recipes at home and sent the files to the Volunteer Services office. The cover was produced by Reid’s Marketing department and printed by a local printer. DeLucio, Martin and Reid proofread all of the entries. Goble, Bragg and Karn printed, cut, hole-punched and bound 564 copies. They worked on assembling the books in batches of 25 with each batch taking about three hours.

The group hopes to make about $5,000 which will be donated to support hospital services. “The Reid Auxiliary has donated over $2 million dollars to the hospital since its inception in 1948,” said Jewison.

Other fundraising events carried out by the Auxiliary include a bake sale with items donated by volunteers and sales events from outside vendors who donate part of the sales to the Auxiliary. These have included books, jewelry, candy and Dillard’s Department Store.

The committee is pleased with the results of their hard work. Not only is the cookbook itself a great resource for tried and proven recipes, but the process was very rewarding as well. While all of the committee members are active volunteers, they had never worked together on an assignment. They enjoyed getting to know each other and appreciated the opportunity to create something with input from many of Reid’s 300 adult volunteers.

Early sales of the book have received positive comments. “A Little bit of This-N- A Little Bit of That” is available for $10 in the Ginkgo Boutique, Reid’s gift shop on the main campus of the hospital.

Darke County Park Board to Hold Special Meeting

The Darke County Park District Board of Commissioners will hold a Special Board Meeting on Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. at the Shawnee Prairie Nature Education Center, 4267 St. Rt. 502 W., Greenville, OH. This is a work session to complete end of the year 2014 paperwork and approve the 2015 Park District Appropriation Budget.

Trail Maintenance Volunteers Needed

Want to get some exercise or relieve some stress? The Darke County Parks is looking for several volunteers to help with pruning back trails along with removing trees from wetlands and levy areas. The Park District plans to start these maintenance projects in January of 2015. Whether you can join us once or on a monthly basis you can help make a difference in Darke County Parks. Before coming out to join the trail maintenance group please complete a Volunteer in the Parks Application, the application is on our website at www.darkecountyparks.org or stop by the office to complete an application. More information is available from Volunteer Coordinator Laura Schwieterman at 937-548-0165.

Volunteers Work Hard to Keep Kids Warm

Students in the Cornerstones Classroom at Kids Learning Place are thrilled with their gifts from the RSVP Program.

Every child was thrilled at the prospect of choosing a gift from the multicolored pile of handmade caps and scarves that was on the table in the Head Start classrooms at Kids Learning Place. Each child picked their favorite, sometimes by color or maybe just the one they liked the best; but everyone tried them on for size and to see just how warm they were.

All of these hats and scarves were made and donated by the Knit and Stitch group, which consists of a small group of RSVP volunteers that work to turn skeins of donated yarn into items to be given out to people in need over the holidays and during the year. Most of the group works at home on the projects all year and many of the volunteers also make lap blankets, afghans, and baby blankets that are donated through the local nursing homes, Veterans Hospitals, Hospice of Miami County, and Early Head Start.

Krissy McKim-Barker from Miami Co. Hospice said, “We express our deepest appreciation for the partnership with the RSVP program. Because of their generosity, we have been able to begin a new program called “Comfort Quilts” whereby each and every new patient is provided a hand-made quilt or afghan that is personally delivered by Hospice.”

Wouldn’t you like to volunteer? There are SO many opportunities available in Darke County for those who are age 55 and over through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). The Knit and Stitch group is just one option available, our volunteer opportunities will help you can get out of the house and benefit your community. Remember volunteering is good for your physical and mental health and a great way to make new friends.

Call today and we will get you signed up and ready to volunteer! Contact Abhy Mangen, the RSVP recruiter at 937-548-8002 or email her at rsvpdk@councilonruralservices.org. She can answer your questions and enroll you in the program.

RSVP is a program of Council on Rural Services … programs for innovative learning for more info check the Web site at www.councilonruralservices.org

Darke County Parks Wins 2014 Award of Excellence

Ohio Parks and Recreation Association (OPRA) has announced its 2014 Annual Awards of Excellence winners and a local agency has been recognized. The Darke County Park District won a 2nd place award in the Historical and Cultural Arts Programming category for the Blacksmith Shop Historical Education Center project. The Darke County project competed against 7 other projects around the State of Ohio in this category: Cincinnati Recreation Commission-Art4Artisits, Cincinnati Recreation Commission-Black History Celebrations at Madisonville, Gahanna Parks and Recreation-Gahanna History Mural, Green Parks and Recreation-Community Art Quilt, Lorain County Metroparks-Three Sisters, 3rd place winner Worthington Parks and Recreation-Griswold Center 20 Year Anniversary Events and 1st Place winner Westerville Parks and Recreation-Westerville Mural on the Path.

As the Darke County Park District continues to develop its pioneer education program around its Log House, completed in 2006, there have been increasing requests from interested parties in the community about adding to the cultural programs held there. The blacksmithing trade would have been of utmost importance to the pioneer's survival during the time-period this historical area represents (late 18th century.) This project was made possible because of the amazing number of volunteers donating countless hours, materials and equipment. The Blacksmith Shop has become one of the most popular spots for volunteers and visitors alike at Darke County Park’s Shawnee Prairie Preserve. It has brought a community of like-minded individuals of all ages together within the Park District Community and is passing on an age-old trade to future generations.

The OPRA Annual Awards of Excellence will be presented at a banquet hosted by the association on February 3, 2015 at the Kalahari Convention Center in Sandusky, Ohio. One first place award winner will be presented with the 2014 Governor’s Award for Parks and Recreation, a “best-in-show” award which includes a $500 contribution to the parks and recreation foundation of the agency winner.

“Parks and recreation professionals throughout Ohio work every day to improve the quality of life of the people they serve,” said OPRA Executive Director Woody Woodward. “This effort is a shining example of that kind of work, and we are pleased to be able to present this award.”

The awards are judged by a panel of parks and recreation professionals from around Ohio.

Incorporated in 1963, OPRA is a non-profit, public interest organization representing over 1400 professionals and citizen board members striving to provide quality parks and recreation facilities and opportunities for all Ohioans while protecting and preserving Ohio's natural resources, positively impacting local economies and health and wellness of its citizens.

Greenville Boys and Girls Club Hold Christmas Pizza Party

The Greenville Boys and Girls Club enjoyed our Annual Christmas Pizza Party Sponsored by Lambda Phi Sorority, Mr. and Mrs. Richard & Carolyn Rose, And Mr. and Mrs. Thomas & Mary Mcbride.

Congratulations to our Christmas Pool Tournament Winners! They played very well.

8-Ball Winners

• 1st Place- Amber Jennings
• 2nd Place- Abbie Barton
• 3rd Place- Jenna Horne

9-Ball Winners

• 1st- Jared Fender
• 2nd- Erin Miles
• 3rd- Caisen Swallow

Thanks to Our Sponsors & Merry Christmas
From The B&G Club Staff.
Tom Jenkins, Tyler Jeffers, & Justin Ord/Dr. Dark

DCCA PRESENTS “A TASTE OF WINE AND JAZZ XXVIII”

Darke County Center for the Arts will present “A Taste of Wine and Jazz XXVIII” on Friday, January 16 at Montage Cafe in downtown Greenville. The wine tasting party, a fundraiser for the local arts organization, will feature food and music in addition to a selection of fine wines. “DCCA invites our community to shrug off the chill of winter and join us for a warm and wonderful evening of fun,” said DCCA Executive Director Andrea Jordan. “This popular party often sells out, so I'd suggest making your reservations now so that you don't miss out on the excitement,” Ms. Jordan advised.

Music will be provided by Deron Bell and his “Jazz For You” band, a group that has earned a large local following. “Deron and the band are extremely skilled musicians who love to play and are dedicated to making sure that their audience has a good time,” DCCA Artistic Director Keith Rawlins explained. The band's performance is made possible by the following sponsors: Merry Lee Cross and Shaun Hayes of GHHS Pro Realty; Edward Jones Investment representatives Ryan Carpe, Dave Connelly, Andria Haworth, Todd Subler, and Bill Wolke; Fry and Company; Kent and Melinda Myers; and Jim and Julie Poeppelman.

“A Taste of Wine and Jazz” provides a casual social setting where attendees can enjoy the music or visit with friends while discovering the differing attributes of a variety of wines. Montage proprietors Aaron and Michelle Cox will prepare an exciting array of hors d'oeuvres to complement the wine selections. “Montage provides the perfect setting for our event,” Ms. Jordan said. “It's a place where everyone feels comfortable and ready to enjoy a truly amazing party,” she concluded. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; the event closes with the awarding of door prizes at 8:30 p.m.

Tickets to “A Taste of Wine and Jazz” are $35 each, and are available at Montage and at www.centerforarts.net, or can be ordered by contacting DCCA at 937-547-0908 or dcca@centerforarts.net.

Christmas Eve Service at St. John Lutheran Church

“O Come Let Us Adore Him”

― An Entire Congregational

Christmas Eve Program

December 24th at 7:00 P.M.

Festival Service with

Holy Communion & Candlelight

St. John Lutheran Church

7418 St. Rt. 121 North, Greenville, OH

Pastor Patti Morlock, Interim

937.548.5404 www.stjohngreenvilleohio.org

Community Park Improvement Grant Awards Distributed

The Darke County Park District awarded over $21,000 in Community Park Improvement Grants in 2014.

Projects ranged from restroom renovations to playground equipment to security lighting and pool slides in 14 county park areas. Due to budget constraints, many of these local projects come about only with the aid of the Park District’s small grants and the work of many community volunteers. 

Shown accepting checks for their communities last evening at the Darke County Park’s Nature Education Center are: City of Greenville, Deb Berger, Park Manager, Village of Ansonia, Jerry Koverman, Mayor, Village Arcanum, Bill Sinnes, Village Administrator, Esther Clark, Village of Gettysburg, Park Board Member, Village of Hollansburg, Dana Heck, Mayor, Village of New Madison, Patty Jackson, Council Member, Village of North Star, Joe Wagner, Council Member, Village of Osgood, Dan Grieshop, Park Board Member, Village of Rossburg, Dan Howe, Mayor, Village of Union City, Ohio, Marcia Kiser, Park Bard President and Barb Long, Park Board Member, Village of Versailles, Rodd Hale, Village Administrator, Village of Wayne Lake, John McRoberts, Council President. Also receiving awards but not in attendance were: Village of Palestine, Village of Pitsburg and Village of New Weston.

Darke County Park Commissioners Steve Shaltry, John Cook and Roger Brocious along with Park Director Roger Van Frank awarded checks and thanked all the communities for keeping parks alive for their local citizens’ health and recreational needs.

The Darke County Park District promised the Community Park Improvement Grants Program 20 years ago after the first ½ mil levy passed. The grant was designed to help local Darke County governments afford active recreational areas in their communities. Since the first year of awards over Six Hundred and Seventy Three Thousand dollars ($673,000) have been awarded to the twenty-one Villages and city in Darke County. Research shows that parks of all kinds lead to better physical and mental health and a better quality of life for the communities. Parks and trails are also desired by young professionals and workers with families who are needed to continue the next generation of businesses in the Darke County economy. “The Darke County Park District is proud to be able to encourage and support each local community in Darke County with this grant program” stated Park Board Commissioner L. Stephen Shaltry.

For more information about the Park District and programs please visit www.darkecountyparks.org or call 937-548-0165.

VERSAILLES HEALTH CARE CENTER WELCOMES STACY BRANDEWIE TO TEAM

Kristy Earick, CEO and Administrator at Versailles Health Care Center, is excited to announce Stacy Brandewie as the new Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Director at Versailles Health Care Center. Stacy has been a registered nurse for 17 years and has worked in long-term care for 12 years. She has spent the past nine years as a Minimum Data Set (MDS) Coordinator. Earick said, “We are happy to welcome Stacy to our team. She brings enthusiasm and knowledge. Stacy is excited to lead the care management team at VHCC. Her knowledge and experience will help VHCC continue to grow and prosper!”

Brandewie resides in Fort Loramie with her husband, Jeff, and their three daughters, Colleen, Avery, and Olivia. She loves to read, play sports with her kids, and spend time with her family. “I enjoy getting to know the residents and their family members. The residents become a part of my extended family.”

Versailles Health Care Center is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center that offers short-term rehab services, outpatient therapy, and long-term care. Versailles Health Care Center sent home 166 patients that utilized its short-term rehab services in 2013 and 177 so far in 2014! If you are interested in learning more about Versailles Health Care Center, please call at 937-526-5570 or visit on the web at www.versailleshealthcare.com.

ACES PROGRAM HELPS TEENS BE SUCCESSFUL

Teaching assistant Marcia Schlechty mentors with Pablo,
an ACES student, on his assignment.

GREENVILLE – The Achievement Center for Educational Success (ACES) has a special focus – to help at-risk students that are credit deficient. So what is at-risk? There is no simple definition, but ACES finds each of the students in their program is unique and has his/her own set of strengths and problems.

At ACES, an alternative education program, students are given a different option of learning at an off-site learning setting from their home school district. Jeff Vaughn, program coordinator said, “ACES works to help students to get caught up on their credits through self-directed courses, regular classroom instruction and additional online courses. The overall goal is to assist students to thrive and succeed in achieving their high school diploma and move forward to a positive future. If the students are willing to put the effort forth and work hard, we’ll get them to their goal. It’s up to them!”

This school year, ACES has worked with 51 students in 9th through 12th grade from six schools in Darke County, one Miami County School and one Mercer County School. At the end of the 1st nine weeks, we are excited to report that students earned a total of 63.5 credits and two students completed all their requirements to obtain their diplomas from their home schools in May, 2015.

Jeff went on to say, “We are seeing several different trends over the last few years; first there are more mental health issues that keep students from functioning well in a regular school setting and this year we are seeing more female students in our ACES classrooms.” To help with these and other trends, ACES along with Gateway Youth Programs provides support services, which include providing mentors to the students and referrals to other service providers to ensure the students’ needs are being met throughout the school year. In addition, Kelly Harrison from Darke County Wellness and Recovery facilitates Life Skills courses that provide education in health and personal development, along with how to handle independence and the responsibilities they encounter as young adults. Also starting in January, Jamy Hanes from the OSU Extension Office will be teaching food and nutrition courses.

Greenville Federal Provides Funds for Poinsettias for Hospice Patients

Pictured with some of the poinsettias are, left to right, Christy Baker, Development Specialist, State of the Heart; Ryan Gathard; Susan Barker, SVP & CFO , Greenville Federal, and Betty Hartzell, AVP, Greenville Federal.

A tradition that began over 20 years ago at State of the Heart Hospice is continuing again this year with all patients under the care of the nonprofit agency receiving a beautiful poinsettia as a Christmas gift from the agency. This year, the funding for the poinsettias was provided by Greenville Federal in Greenville.

“We appreciate the generosity of Greenville Federal,” stated Ryan Gathard, director of Fund Development for State of the Heart. “This gift is meaningful not only for our staff, but for the many patients and families we serve.”

“Giving back to local communities has long been a trademark of Greenville Federal, the oldest bank headquartered in Darke County. We are happy to help State of the Heart Hospice with the continuation of this tradition.” stated Susan Barker, SVP & CFO of Greenville Federal.

Recently, 139 poinsettias were collected by State of the Heart volunteers Bruce Miller and Ralph Gels to be distributed to the three hospice offices – Greenville, Coldwater and Portland. In addition, poinsettias were taken to the State of the Heart Care Center at Wayne HealthCare.

This year, Hannah’s Garden Center located on U.S. Route 36 East in Greenville, partnered in supplying the poinsettias. “We are delighted to be involved in this project,” stated Jim Meade, who along with his wife Patti, own Hannah’s Garden Center. “We are grateful for their support this year,” Gathard said. “We are pleased to join with Hannah’s on this outreach to our patients and families.”

For 34 years, State of the Heart has provided care to patients and families in eastern Indiana and western Ohio who are confronting a life limiting illness. For more information about any of the services provided by the nonprofit agency, visit the web site at www.stateoftheheartcare.org.

Help Wanted at BRC

Still Unsure About Your Farm Bill Decisions

Top New Year’s resolutions typically include pledges to lose weight, exercise more, get organized or quit smoking.

But one New Year’s resolution farmers and farm land owners may want to include on their list is to make sure they understand all of the factors they should consider before making decisions about crop programs offered as part of the 2014 farm bill, according to a farm policy expert with Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

That’s especially true this year, because farm bill commodity programs have the potential to make significant payments for the first time in several years due to low prices and revenue for corn, soybeans and wheat, says Carl Zulauf, an agricultural economics professor and farm policy expert in the college.

While these payments are not a given, if they materialize they could help farmers and land owners transition during this period of low crop prices and revenues by the standard of the past eight years, Zulauf said.

“Understanding the questions one should ask is always important, as it is hard to get to the best answer if the question is wrong,” he said. “But the questions are even more important when uncertainty is sizable, such as with the farm bill commodity program choice decision.

“You’ve got to think about the programs, what they offer, and what matches your farm. Every farm is unique, so you have to really think about how the decisions will impact your individual farm needs.”

To help frame their decisions, Zulauf offers a series of questions landowners and farmers should ask online at go.osu.edu/farmbillquestions. They’re based on the following topics:

• Farm Yield Update Decision
• Program (Base) Acre Reallocation Decision
• Farm Program Choice Decision
• Insurance Decisions

Some of the questions Zulauf discusses include:

• What is the difference between your current program acres and reallocated program acres?
• Should the reasonably well-known 2014 crop year payments have a higher weight in your decision than uncertain payments for later years?
• If you have multiple Farm Service Agency (FSA) farms, should program choice be diversified across FSA farms?
• Does the Agriculture Risk Coverage Individual Farm Coverage (ARC-IC) fit my farm?
• Zulauf spoke on this issue during the Dec. 1 meeting of the 2014-2015 Agricultural Policy and Outlook Conference Series.

The event kicked off the statewide agriculture policy and outlook meetings, which will go on through Jan. 29 at numerous locations across Ohio. The meetings will feature presentations by CFAES experts on key issues in the agricultural community for 2015, including policy changes and market behavior with respect to farm, food and energy resources, and the environment.

The county meetings are open to the public. A meal is provided with each meeting and is included in the registration cost. More information on the meetings, including policy briefs and presentation files from each of the presenters, is available at aede.osu.edu/policy-outlook.

In addition to the January 5 Outlook meeting in Darke County, OSU Extension Darke County and the Darke County FSA will host another meeting on February 11.

For more information about OSU Extension, Darke County, visit the Darke County OSU Extension web site at www.darke.osu.edu, the OSU Extension Darke County Facebook page or contact Sam Custer, at 937.548.5215.

Like father, like son: Heart issues a family affair

Steve and Derick Wilson

Steve Wilson and his son, Derick, share a love for cars and fishing. Unfortunately, they also share something less enjoyable: heart problems.

Steve’s began about five years ago when he was just 39. “I was having these episodes where my heart rate would slow down to around 25 beats a minute. It happened so often that some days I couldn’t work or even walk around because I was worried I’d faint,” Steve explained. “I saw a cardiologist in Indianapolis, but because of my age it seemed he didn’t believe my heart was in any kind of trouble. I got to where I was really frustrated and worried about the future.”

In 2010, Steve’s aunt urged him to see her cardiologist, Robert Fleming, M.D., at Richmond Cardiology Associates. Dr. Fleming explained that Steve had bradycardia, an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes slow heartbeat. Within a few weeks, Steve underwent surgery and got a pacemaker, and his life soon life returned to normal. Little did he know that his son, Derick, would one day be making an appointment with Dr. Fleming as well.

Derick was only 18 when he began to notice that his heart was beating erratically. “At first, it was just some fluttering, but after a couple of years it was getting worse and worse,” he explained. “My dad’s heart problems were in the back of my mind, and I finally told my parents what was going on.”

Knowing how Dr. Fleming had helped his father, Derick made an appointment with him. Tests revealed significant electrical issues in his heart, and Dr. Fleming recommended Derick see Vuy Li, M.D., a cardiac electrophysiologist at Reid Heart & Vascular Center. Dr. Li suggested radiofrequency ablation, a minimally invasive procedure that has a high success rate and very low risk of complications. The procedure took place in February 2014 and was a success.

“I’ve been feeling good ever since the surgery—my heart still flutters a little bit, but Dr. Li said that’s normal and will probably happen less as time goes on,” Derick says. “I don’t even have to be on medication.”

Now, thanks to the care they received from Reid physicians, Derick and his dad are able to fully enjoy restoring old cars together—without the worry of heart problems to distract them.

Help Wanted at Comprehensive Health Network

Comprehensive Health Network is an equal opportunity employer offering a competitive wage and benefit package. CHN looks to attract employees that share the company’s passion for helping the residents of our community remain safely in their homes. There is flexibility in a home care work schedule that is not available in many other health care fields.

CHN is currently accepting applications in the following area of employment:

Experienced Home Health Aides
Immediate positions are available for Experienced Part Time and Casual home health aides.
Qualifications

• Successful completion of a formal aide training program.
• Minimum of one (1) year experience in a hospital, nursing home or other home care agency.
• High school diploma or GED preferred, otherwise demonstrated ability to read, write, complete basic math.
• Organizational and time management skills.
• Able to work over time when necessary.
• Valid driver’s license and required auto insurance.

Essential Functions of Job

• Renders services in strict accordance with a written Plan of Care.
• Provides personal care services, basic range of motion exercises, and assistance with transfers and ambulation.
• Performs homemaking services, meal preparation, and shopping.
• Able to follow therapeutic diet plans.
• Recognizes emergency situations and is able to implement emergency procedures when indicated

Black Sheep Christmas

Can you imagine if we hadn’t spent our entire lives knowing the story of Christmas? Can you imagine how our lives would change if He had not yet come? What would December look like? What would our faith look like? Cold, dark, and hollow? After waiting centuries, actually millennia for the Messiah, would we have given up hope by now? But what if He came today? What if He came here? Who would be told? Who would search for Him? Who would spread the word?

All are welcome to to join us for the Christmas Eve service, A Black Sheep Christmas, at Castine Church of the Brethren, December 24 at 8pm in the church sanctuary. http://castinecob.org/

Darke County Fair Holiday Office Hours

Through Tuesday, December 23, 2014, the Fair Office will be open 8am to 4pm. Wednesday, December 24 the Office will be open 8am-Noon. To celebrate Christmas, the Office will be closed December 25 and 26.

December 29 and 30, the Fair Office will be open 8am to 4pm. Wednesday, December 31 the Office will be open 8am-Noon.

To celebrate the New Year, the Office will be closed January 1 and 2.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

HEARTLAND OF GREENVILLE – Career Opportunities

Through our doors you will find the career opportunity that you have been looking for!

At Heartland of Greenville, we make a difference in the lives of our patients every day. Here,
you will find a rewarding and stable career that allows you to take part in the patients’ journey
back home. Our goal is to get patients back to their lives and you can help us make that happen!

HCR ManorCare provides a range of services, including skilled nursing care, assisted living,
post-acute medical and rehabilitation care, hospice care, home health care and rehabilitation therapy.
Our candidate is a state-licensed nursing professional and will be accountable for providing care in
order to maintain the patients’ physical and emotional well-being. In return for your expertise, you’ll
enjoy excellent training, industry-leading benefits and unlimited opportunities to learn and grow. Be
a part of the team leading the nation in healthcare. Join our team today!

STNAs (State Tested Nursing Assistants):
Full-time and Part-time opportunities available – Apply today as interviews are underway!

Our candidate will possess the ability to communicate with patients and other staff members.
Successful completion of a State approved Nursing Assistant Training and Competency Evaluation Program required.

If you have passed your state exam, good standing in the state registry is also required.

Prior experience as a nursing assistant preferred, but not required.

Interested candidates may apply in person or on-line at www.hcr-manorcare.com or you may copy this LINK into your browser: https://www.appone.com/MainInfoReq.asp?R_ID=976176

Dietary Aide:
We have a part-time opportunity currently available.

Our candidate is able to perform a variety of tasks usually not requiring cooking skills in the preparation, service, and clean-up for meals served to residents and staff in the nursing center and other special events. Excellent customer service skills a must! Experience in food service preferred, but not required.

RNs/LPNs:
We also have opportunities for PRN status RNs or LPNs. Experience preferred.

Heartland of Greenville, 243 Marion Drive, Greenville, OH 45331
For more information, please contact Human Resources: 937-548-3141
or
Apply online at jobs.hcr-manorcare.com ● EEO/Drug-Free Employer

Family Health Closing Early Today: After Hours Will be Open

Family Health will close on Thursday, December 18th at 1:45pm for a Staff Christmas Party. After Hours will open at 5:30pm. We apologize for any inconvenience.

‘Tis the Season: To Mark Your Calendars

Mark those calendars! Bowl For Kids’ Sake 2015 is scheduled for March 6 & 7, 2015, at Bel-Mar Lanes in Sidney & Treaty Lanes in Greenville. Bowl for Kids’ Sake serves as the largest fundraiser for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County. We invite you to join us in the challenge of making 2015 the largest fundraising event to-date. Hundreds of area bowlers have teamed up every year to support this event and partake in the self-proclaimed “bowling event of the year.” Don’t miss out on your chance to be a part of this event in 2015. Between the bowling, prizes, free t-shirt & food and the smiles you’ll put on the faces of the youth in the local communities, this truly is a ‘can’t miss’ event.

Bowl for Kids’ Sake is open to the public, with $40 admission or $25 for those under the age of 18. For registration forms and more information please visit www.bigbrobigsis-shelbydarke.org. You can also register by calling (937) 492-7611 or (937) 547-9622. All individuals and businesses from the surrounding areas are invited to participate. You can choose to form a team with friends, family and/or co-workers and raise money or bowl individually. High school students are also encouraged to participate and are eligible to bowl for just $25. Lanes are available Friday, March 6th from 4-6:00pm & Saturday, March 7 from 12 noon to 2:00pm at Bel-Mar Lanes in Sidney & Treaty Lanes in Greenville. You get to choose what one-hour block of bowling works the best for you.

Sponsor opportunities are available for the 2015 Bowl for Kids’ Sake event as well. This is a wonderful way to promote your business and help an organization that gives back to the community by providing positive interaction for the youth. Different sponsorship levels are available and prize donations are greatly appreciated. If you want to jump on this opportunity to create a positive association for your business directly within the community in which you serve, please call (937) 492-7611 or (937) 547-9622.

GREENVILLE AREA DOG CLUB OFFERS DOG TRAINING CLASSES

GREENVILLE – The Greenville Area Dog Club winter session of obedience, agility, and conformation classes begins the week of January 6th., 2015. Through the years more classes have been added to meet the growing interest in dog training. Many people like the variety of classes available.

The Greenville Area Dog Club will be offering classes at the former U.S. Chemical building, located in the 5400 block of State Route 49.

Obedience classes begin Tuesday, January 6th. Classes offered include Puppy (12 weeks to five months), Beginner Obedience, Novice Rally Obedience and Conformation.

“Our puppy and beginning obedience classes are designed to teach basic house manners, grooming and care of the dog, heeling, sit, down, stay, come and other commands,” said Barb Rhoades, Director of Obedience Training.

She also added that a new class will be offered to those who have completed beginner or have some past training in classes and want to continue with training. The Novice Rally Class is for students who want to try something new in obedience and challenge themselves and their dog. The requirement for this class is that the dog and handler be able to execute all the basic obedience commands without difficulty. CLASS SPACE IS LIMITED FOR RALLY, MUST PREREGISTER WITH BARB 548-0338.

The goal of the class is to introduce students to a new form of Obedience which involves walking a course with your dog and performing the exercises as illustrated on numbered signs along the path of the course. This class also preps the team of dog and handler to enter and work towards a novice title in Rally if so interested.

The classes are designed to be building blocks in obedience. We start with puppy and continue to build upon that training thru each of the later classes. However, if you missed the puppy class when your dog was a baby, you can still get great results with the dog starting with our Beginner classes.

Registration for obedience classes is from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, January 6th. with orientation and classes to follow registration.

Dogs must be up-to-date on vaccinations, and participants must bring a copy of the dog’s vaccination records to registration. Puppies must have had their first two sets of vaccinations to enroll in puppy class. Veterinarians need to certify all vaccinations given at home or by a breeder.

For information about obedience classes, and to register your intent to attend please call 937-548-0338 or 937-337-0292

AGILITY CLASSES
Charlotte Wisener, Director of Agility is also announcing that dog agility classes will be offered on, Wednesday & Thursday evenings. The classes offered include Introduction to Agility, Beginners, Intermediate Agility, Advanced Agility, Shaping and Competition. All agility classes will begin January 7th. and 8th.

Pre-registration is required for agility classes. To pre-register, please call 937-692-5580, or cell #937-459-9170.

Those participating in Greenville Area Dog Club classes are reminded that parking is available both in front of the building as well as near the rear entrance. The entrance for dog classes is located on the north side of the building, near the rear.

Those bringing dogs to class are reminded to feed the dogs earlier in the day, rather than before class.

Most classes use dog treats as training aids. Participants are reminded to bring small, bite-sized soft treats that can be used for rewarding their dogs.

All Dogs Must Be Leashed When Entering The Building

Participants also are reminded to wear comfortable, tie-on shoes.

Anonymity for Those Involved in Executions

Guest Column from State Representative Jim Buchy

A few months ago, I learned that state officials would not start executions again until certain protections were in place to keep the identity of those involved with the process private. What that means is the drug manufacturers and the physicians who are involved with the executions can rest easy knowing their names aren’t tied to the execution. This is a big roadblock that we need to get past so that we can begin the execution process again. The criminals on death row are murderers and have been on death row for an average of 17 years. We need to get this process moving so we don’t extend that timeframe.

Carrying out the court-ordered death penalty in the case of a heinous murder is very important for providing legitimacy across the legal system in Ohio. Potential criminals need to know that there will be punishment for their crimes and in the case of a murderer; they need to know that their punishment could very well be death.

Right now on death row, they are so slowed down that only a small fraction of inmates have received their court-ordered executions scheduled. This can be attributed to lawyers drawing out the process and pushing back the dates.

The pharmaceutical companies that make and sell the chemicals used for these executions may refuse to sell to the state anymore because they want anonymity. House Bill 663 keeps the pharmacies anonymous when it comes to their participation in the transactions that supply Ohio with the lethal-injection drugs we use.

All too often, lawyers see opportunities to take advantage of other people’s suffering. There are concerns that we may start seeing tort involving private citizens and companies that were just carrying out the will of the court system.

To carry out the lethal-injection process we need professionals who can administer drugs and conduct the executions in a humanitarian manner. Ensuring that their identity is protected will allow us to have the best possible people involved with the process. This is the largest step to restarting the capital punishment process and getting our court-ordered executions started again.

Please give me your opinion on this topic and others in the news this month by completing an online survey at tinyurl.com/buchydecember2014.

Note: County Offices to Close December 25th and 26th, January 1st & 2nd

**The County Offices will be closing on Thursday & Friday, December 25th and 26th, 2014, for the Christmas Holiday. Also, the Offices will be closed all day on Thursday & Friday, January 1st & 2nd, 2015, for the “New Year” Holiday. The Offices will be open all day on the 24th of December and also December 31, 2014.

Fort GreeneVille Chapter DAR donates

Fort GreeneVille Chapter DAR members donated mittens/gloves to the FISH Mitten Tree at Montage in downtown Greenville.

West Ohio Agronomy Day

West Ohio Agronomy Day will be held on Monday, January 12th at St. Michael’s Hall, 33 Elm Street, Fort Loramie. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m.; breakfast sandwiches, donuts, orange juice, and coffee will be available. A Grain Market update from Jerry Meyer (Cargill) and John Leighty (Trupointe) will be held at 8:30 a.m. The programs dealing with Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification Credits for farmers, Continuing Education Units for Certified Crop Advisors, and Fertilizer Certification Training for those with Pesticide Applicator Licenses then begin at 9:00 a.m.

Once again, Purdue’s Dr. Fred Whitford (AKA “Fred from Purdue”) will be with us, this time talking about “Adjuvants and the Power of the Water Droplet.” This year’s line-up will also see Dr. Andy Michel from OSU talking about “Insects in Soybeans and Corn – What, When, Controls;” OSU’s Soil Scientist Dr. Steve Culman presenting on “Soils, Soil Testing, Interpreting a Soil Test; How Phosphorus Reacts in the Soil;” and OSU Corn Specialist Dr. Peter Thomison talking about “Corn: An Overview of Crop Inputs and their Relative Importance.”

Additional topics to be addressed include weed management, fumigation, managing pests of livestock and forages, and on-farm solar energy development. Private Pesticide Recertification Credits are available in CORE and Categories 1, 2, and 6. Up to five (5) CCA credits are also available.

The same program/same categories (except for the solar energy discussion) will be held that evening beginning at 5:30p for those not able to attend during the day. A light supper and the marketing update begin at 5p.

Farmers who want to recertify their private pesticide applicator’s license should go online at http://pested.osu.edu either to register with a credit card or to download the form to pay by check. Forms may also be picked up at any Ohio Extension office. If not registered online, the completed form can be submitted with the $35 fee on January 12. However, pre-registration is needed by January 2nd in order to ensure enough food.

For those just wanting to attend for the information (and the fellowship!), the cost is $10 if signed up by January 2nd, to be paid at the door on January 12 ($15 for “walk-ins”). A single call to 937-498-7239 or email to brown.1522@.osu.edu saves you Five Bucks!

DARKE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU JOINS REGIONAL PARTNERS AT AAA GREAT VACATIONS TRAVEL EXPO

Young boy enjoying the Eldora Speedway Sprint car simulator at
AAA Great Vacations Travel Expo Show.

COLUMBUS, OH – Deanna York, Tourism Marketing Professional and Executive Director of the Darke County Visitors Bureau announced today that the company will participate in the Great Vacations Travel EXPO presented by AAA, January 16-18, 2015, at Columbus Convention Center in downtown Columbus.

Billed as a ‘one‐stop shop’ for everything related to travel, the event offers Central Ohio consumers information and EXPO‐only deals, along with the best ever travel values on everything from exotic cruises to affordable escapes that are close to home.

With more than 250 exhibits, attractions and events ‐ including Darke County Visitors Bureau and regional partners of West Ohio Adventures ‐ the EXPO is a destination in itself. Favorite travel spots come alive with interactive events and experiences that are as entertaining as they are helpful and educational.

The six counties of West Ohio Adventures (Darke, Auglaize, Mercer, Miami, Shelby and Van Wert) will showcase the best of the region with interactive exhibits, live cooking demonstrations and food tastings as well as friendly travel experts. Many great prizes will be given away during the show to highlight Darke County and the region. For more information and to win free tickets to the show, visit West Ohio Adventures on Facebook.

The Great Vacations Travel EXPO opens Friday, January 16 and runs through Sunday, January 18, at the Columbus Convention Center in downtown Columbus. EXPO hours are Friday Noon to 7 pm, Saturday 10 am to 7 pm, and Sunday 11 am ‐ 5 pm. Tickets are $8 at the door (AAA members receive 50% off admission). Children 16 and under are admitted free. For additional event details or to purchase tickets in advance, visit www.AAAGreatVacations.com.