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A teacher’s advice for parents Page 6

Enough is enough Page 4 Volume 130, Number 223

Local team to host playoff games Page 7

an award-winning Civitas Media newspaper

Home. Grown. Great.

Miami County Visitors & Convention Bureau launches new logo and brand Melanie Yingst

Staff Writer myingst@civitasmedia.com

MIAMI COUNTY — Miami County Visitors and Convention Bureau sums up life in Miami County in three simple words: Home. Grown. Great.

Those words, along with a classic logo, now is part of the agency’s new logo and brand to spread the word about Miami County life to attract new residents, new business and welcome visitors to the entire county.

According to Miami County Visitors Bureau executive director Diana Thompson, the brand and logo project took a year to launch to the public and is a collaborative effort of the entire county’s chamber of commerce,

city and county officials.

With financial support from multiple sources and city foundations, North Star Destination Strategies of Nashville, Tenn., designed and implemented the new Miami County brand for $88,000.

Thompson said she saw a presentation two years ago from the North Star company, which is one of the leading destination branding companies in the country.

Thompson said Miami County “really didn’t have any viable recognition” and so the project was presented to officials around the county to jump start the county’s branding project.

“We were all for it and felt that it was important,” Thompson said Thursday. “Specifically, we’re trying to make Miami

County more noticeable in the market place.”

Thompson said the tag line “Home. Grown. Great” touches both the agricultural roots of the county as well as the innovation companies in the county.

“When people think of Miami County, we want them to think of ‘Home. Grown. Great.,’” Thompson said. “Miami County is truly an innovative place that plays such an important role on a national level.”

Thompson noted companies such as Piqua-based Hartzell Propeller and other global corporation, which calls Miami County home. Thompson also said the brand would be found on items that are shipped to customers around the nation such as Winans chocolates who have been placing stickers on their

products as part of the launch on Thursday.

Thompson provided thumb drives and boxes of the Winans chocolates to promote the new brand and logo at its launch at the Crystal Room in Troy on Thursday evening. Thompson said the logo could be used on local websites, stickers for prod-

Living healthy

Miami East FFA holds ‘Healthy Lifestyles Week’ Colin Foster

Staff Writer colinfoster@civitasmedia.com

CASSTOWN — The Miami East football team has been generating headlines this week with its playoff game against TriCounty North on the horizon tonight at home.

There is, however, another good team of students at the school deserving of some credit — the Miami East-MVCTC FFA chapter.

The Miami East FFA Chapter, which consists of 83 members, recently received a $500 grant from the Small Grain Marketing Group to encourage good lifestyle choices at the school.

Through dedication and hard work from everyone in the the group, aacordng to Marie Cariety, FFA adviser, the Miami East FFA Club has dubbed this week “Healthy Lifestyles Week” at the school — and arranged a variety of activities for students to participate in throughout the week.

The FFA Club has encouraged students to keep a “food for thought log” all week long, with the incentive of getting a healthy snack and yogurt during study hall.

The club also has held a canned food drive, with the foods going to the See HEALTHY | Page

Classified.....................10-11 Opinion.............................. 4 Comics.............................. 9 Entertainment................. 5 Parenting......................... 6 Local................................. 3 Obituaries........................ 2 Sports............................. 7-8 Weather............................. 3

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Byers named regional content director TROY — Veteran newspaper executive Joshua Byers has been named regional content director for a group of newspapers in Ohio owned by Civitas Media, including the Piqua Daily Call and Troy Daily News.

The announcement was made Wednesday by Jim Lawitz, director of content for the com- Byers pany. Byers will lead the editorial operations for the newspapers, which include markets along the Interstate 75 corridor. He will be based in Troy and his responsibilities will include playing

an active role in Troy’s community affairs.

“Josh’s depth and breadth of experience will serve him well in his new role,” said Lawitz.

“I’m pleased to have his leadership at our publications during this exciting period in our industry.”

Prior to his promotion, Byers served as the regional editor for seven West Virginia and Kentucky publications owned by Civitas. Under his leadership, the newspapers won numerous industry awards including first places in special See BYERS | Page 2

Nichols arrested days after court no-show Will E Sanders

tional charge of failure to appear, a felony.

Nichols, who allegedly abducted his girlfriend PIQUA — A Piqua last year at a city car man who skipped his wash, was originally sentencing hearing in charged with abduction, common pleas court but entered a plea of Monday and had a bench guilty to the lesser count warrant placed on him of aggravated assault, as a result was arrested a felony of the fourthin Piqua on Wednesday degree, on Aug. 13. night.

Authorities say According to the Piqua Nichols assaulted a Police, Cory M. woman he was Nichols, 33, was in a relationship taken into cuswith at a Piqua tody in the city car wash Nov. of Piqua without 8, 2012, before incident near grabbing her by Anthony Weber | Troy Daily News the intersection the hair, putting Phlebotomist Erika Moore works with Miami East High School junior Makayla Spillman while giving of Cleveland and her inside his 2 blood at the school Thursday in correlation to a week-long event at the school.

Third streets. vehicle and fleePolice were Nichols ing the scene. called to the Police reports scene at 8:19 p.m. after a state Nichols then member of the Greenville “assaulted her sevPolice Department was eral more times before Staff report Wintrow, his girlfriend and a 2-year-old baby also in the area looking returning and attemptwere at the Canal Street duplex when teen- for Nichols, authorities ing to have her clean up TROY — The lone adult charged in the Oct. aged masked intruders burst into the home said. the blood.”

30 shooting death of Nathan Wintrow appeared through a back door, pulled out guns and fatally The Greenville offiNichols faces between at his preliminary hearing Thursday in Miami shot Wintrow in the head. Wintrow was trans- cer spotted Nichols and six to 18 months in County Municipal Court. ported to the hospital, but was later called Piqua police to prison for the felony Brendon A. Terrel, 19, of Troy, pronounced dead. the scene, at which point conviction of aggravatappeared before Judge Elizabeth Terrel is being held on a $250,000 Nichols was arrested ed assault, but with a Gutmann and waived his right to a bond at the Miami County Jail. and transported to the new felony for failure preliminary hearing, which means the In addition, he has also been charged Miami County Jail. to appear being filed case will now be bound over to Miami in an unrelated case with possession of Nichols was scheduled against him he also faces County Common Pleas Court for grand drugs and drug paraphernalia. That case to be sentenced in court another year in prison jury consideration. is still pending with municipal court.

Monday but refused to on top of that.

Terrel and a 16- and 17-year-old have Two other teens, Jason Sowers, 16, show up at the hearing, He had originally been been charged with the aggravated mur- Wintrow and Patrick McGail, 17, both of Troy, at which time a bench jailed on a $50,000 sureder of Wintrow, 20, who lived at a are currently at the county’s juvenile correc- warrant was ordered by ty bond, but that was duplex located at 218 E. Canal St., Troy. tions facility. The cases of both teens are being the judge. posted shortly after he Authorities say that on the night of Oct. 30 handled in juvenile court.

He now faces an addi- was charged last year.

Staff Writer wsanders@civitasmedia.com

Grand jury to hear Troy shooting case

Index

ucts and even will be visible on window clings for local businesses throughout the county.

‘There’s some freedom to it,” Thompson said with the variety of logos available to businesses.

For more information about the new Miami County logo and brand, visit www.visitmiamicounty.org.

For home delivery, call 773-2725

2 Friday, November 8, 2013

www.dailycall.com • Piqua Daily Call

Obituary MARK MCCLURE PIQUA — Mark D. “Marko” McClure, 35, of Piqua, died at 5 a.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, at his residence.

He was born Sept. 30, 1978, in Frankfort, Germany to Lonny Bruce McClure of Piqua and the late Pamela J. (Gutherie) McClure.

Other survivors include a paternal grandmother, Agnes McClure of Piqua; paternal grandparents, William and Phyllis Gutherie of Bellefontaine and the late Delores Gutherie; a brother, Paul (Joann) McClure of Piqua; five nephews, Ryan McClure, Damien McClure, Aiden McClure, Collin McClure, Shay McClure; a niece, Serenity McClure; and was a beloved nephew to many aunts and uncles.

Marko was a 1999 graduate of Piqua High School and the Upper Valley JVS. He was employed as a welder for the Shaffer Manufacturing Corp. of

Urbana.

He enjoyed his family, bicycling, the Dallas Cowboys, and fishing as evidenced by he and his father catching the largest catfish caught at Grand Lake St. Marys since 1848.

He was a member of Victory Baptist Church.

A service to honor his life will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, at the Victory Baptist Church with the Rev. Phillip DeLorme officiating.

Private burial will be at Beechwood Cemetery, Lockington.

Arrangements are being handled through the Jamieson & Yannucci Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Victory Baptist Church, 1601 South St., Piqua, OH 45356.

Guestbook condolences and expressions of sympathy, to be provided to the family, may be expressed through jamiesonandyannucci.com.

Death Notices WILLIAMSON VANDALIA — Arianna Isabella Ann Williamson, infant daughter of Sheena Williamson of Vandalia, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in the Emergency Room at Upper Valley Medical Center. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. today, at Fisher-Cheney Funeral Home, Troy.

VORDEMARK SINDEY — James “Jim” W. Vordemark, 74, of Sidney, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, as the result of an

auto accident. Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, at Cromes Funeral Home, Sidney, with the Rev. Philip K. Chilcote officiating. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery.

EMMONS PIQUA — Mary Patricia “Marie” Emmons, 72, of Piqua, died at 9:46 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013, at Good Samaritan Hospital, Dayton. Funeral arrangements are pending through the Jamieson & Yannucci Funeral Home, Piqua.

Obituary policy Please send obituary notices by email to pdceditorial@ civitasmedia.com. Notices must be received by 3 p.m. the day prior to publication. There are no Sunday or Tuesday editions of the Piqua Daily Call.

For more information, call 937-773-2721. Obituaries submitted by family members must be paid prior to publication.

Healthy

Barbara Ortutay AP Technology Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of Twitter went on sale to the public for the first time Thursday, instantly leaping more than 70 percent above their offering price in a dazzling debut that exceeded even Wall Street’s lofty hopes.

By the closing bell, the social network that reinvented global communication in 140-character bursts was valued at $31 billion — nearly as much as Yahoo Inc., an Internet icon from another era, and just below Kraft Foods, the grocery conglomerate founded more than a century ago.

The stock’s sizzling performance seemed to affirm the bright prospects for Internet companies, especially those focused on mobile users. And it could invite more entrepreneurs to consider IPOs, which lost their luster after Facebook’s first appearance on the Nasdaq was marred by glitches.

In Silicon Valley, the IPO produced another crop of millionaires and billionaires, some of whom are sure to fund a new generation of startups.

Twitter, which has never turned a profit in the seven years since it was founded, worked hard to temper expectations ahead of the IPO, but all that was swiftly forgotten when the market opened.

Still, most analysts don’t expect the company to be profitable until 2015.

Investors will be watching closely to see whether Twitter was worth the premium price.

Thursday’s stock surge was “really not as important as you might think,” said Kevin Landis, a portfolio manager with Firsthand Funds, which owns shares in Twitter. “What really matters is where the stock is going to be in six months, 12 months.”

The most anticipated initial public offering of the year was carefully orchestrated to avoid the dysfunction that surrounded Facebook’s IPO. Trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TWTR,” shares opened at $45.10, 73 percent above their initial offering price.

In the first few hours, the stock jumped as high as $50.09. Most of those gains held throughout the day, with Twitter closing at $44.90, despite a broader market decline.

The narrow price range indicated that people felt it was “pretty fairly priced,”

Associated Press

that was exceptional. I’ve been pretty passionate about giving blood, I’ve given blood four times myself. People are pretty scared about giving blood.

It’s a little prick, it’s easy to do — and it helps saves people’s lives.”

A team of six FFA members — sophomores Katie Bendickson, Trent Church, Kelsey Kirchner, who was voted FFA Member of the Month, and Sydney Oaks and juniors Lindsey Roeth and Casey Copeland — were in charge of organizing activities throughout the week.

The week culminates with the “Healthy Lifestyles Fair” today spread out during Miami East’s two lunch periods from 11:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be many groups and individuals on hand — including the Miami Valley Hospital, Upper Valley Medical Center (Sports Medicine Department), the Family Abuse Shelter of Miami County, American Cancer Society, Miami County Public Health, American Red Cross, along with Miami East school nurse Jeanelle Adkins. Dr. Mark T. Bentley (DDS) will provide door prizes for the event.

MINI BAZAAR Sat. Nov. 9, 9:00 -2:00/2:30

In the white house at SpringMeade Retirement Center at end of lane-4385 S. Co. Rd. 25 A Tipp City Large Bake Sale (free coffee) and raffle of vendor’s items each hour (do not need to be present to win)

All proceeds from bake sale and raffles will go to local family in need.

Come Christmas Shop with us!!

40520996

Local artisans will be selling their creations at reasonable prices.

Jewelry, scarves, photography, holiday arrangements, and Scentsy products, etc.

**Kathy Davidson will be available for personal tours of our beautiful Independent Living Coach Homes.**

said JJ Kinahan, chief strategist at TD Ameritrade.

The price spike “clearly shows that demand exceeds the supply of shares,” said Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter.

Earlier in the day, Twitter gave a few users rather than executives the opportunity to ring the NYSE’s opening bell. The users included actor Patrick Stewart, who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek: The Next Generation”; Vivienne Harr, a 9-year-old girl who ran a lemonade stand for a year to raise money to end child slavery; and Cheryl Fiandaca of the Boston Police Department.

Twitter raised $1.8 billion Wednesday night when it sold 70 million shares to select investors for $26 each. But the huge first-day pop left some analysts wondering whether the company could have raised more. Had Twitter priced the stock at $30, for instance, the company would have taken away $2.1 billion. At $35, it would have reaped nearly $2.5 billion. That’s a lot for a company that’s never made a profit and had revenue of just $317 million last year.

If the price stays this high, or goes even higher, shareholders will no doubt be happy. But the money that they might make from any stock sale doesn’t go to the company.

Named after the sound of a chirping bird, Twitter’s origins date back to 2005, when creators Noah Glass and Evan Williams were trying to get people to sign up for Odeo, a podcasting service they created. Odeo didn’t make it.

By early 2006, Glass and fellow Odeo programmer Jack Dorsey began work on a new project: teaming with co-worker Christopher “Biz” Stone on a way to corral text messages typically sent over a phone.

It was Glass who came up with the original name Twttr. The two vowels were added later. The first tweets were sent on March 21, 2006.

By 2007, Twitter was incorporated with Dorsey as the original CEO and Williams as chairman. Dorsey and Williams would eventually swap roles. Both remain major shareholders, though neither runs the company.

Glass, meanwhile, was effectively erased from Twitter’s history, writes New York Times reporter Nick Bilton in “Hatching Twitter: A true story of money, power, friendship, and betrayal.”

Since those early days, the site has attracted world leaders, religious fig-

ures and celebrities, along with CEOs, businesses and countless marketers and self-promoters.

The company avoided the trouble that plagued Facebook’s high-profile debut, which suffered technical glitches that had lasting consequences. On that first day, Facebook closed just 23 cents above its $38 IPO price and later fell much lower. The stock needed more than a year to climb back above $38.

The Securities and Exchange Commission later fined Nasdaq $10 million, the largest fine ever levied against an exchange.

Those problems likely led Twitter to the NYSE. At its IPO price, Twitter was valued at roughly 28 times its projected 2013 revenue — $650 million based on its current growth rate. In comparison, Facebook trades at about 16 times its projected 2013 revenue, according to analyst forecasts from FactSet. Google Inc. meanwhile, is trading at about 7 times its net revenue, the figure Wall Street follows that excludes ad commissions.

Research firm Outsell Inc. puts Twitter’s fundamental value at about half of the IPO price, said analyst Ken Doctor. That figure is based on factors such as revenue and revenue growth.

“That’s not unusual,” Doctor said.

“Especially for tech companies. You are betting on a big future.”

As a newly public company, one of Twitter’s biggest challenges will be to generate more revenue outside the U.S. More than three-quarters of Twitter’s 232 million users are outside the U.S. But only 26 percent of Twitter’s revenue comes from abroad. The company has said that it plans to hire more sales representatives in countries such as Australia, Brazil and Ireland.

Twitter shares entered a declining market. Wall Street had its worst day since August as traders worried that the Federal Reserve could cut back on its economic stimulus.

Investors grew concerned about a surprisingly strong report on U.S. economic growth in the third quarter, which led many to believe the Fed could start pulling back as soon as next month, earlier than many anticipated.

After 33 record-high closes this year, an increasing number of investors believe the stock market has become frothy and is ready for a pullback.

Arafat’s mysterious death becomes a whodunit John Heilprin Mohammed Daraghmeh

From page 1 Fletcher Food Pantry.

Wednesday was “Hat Day” — where students could donate a dollar to wear a hat to school with the proceeds going to the Fletcher Food Pantry. On Thursday, Miami East held a blood drive, which had to be extended by an hour to accommodate the overwhelming amount of students and staff who wanted to give blood. “(The blood drive) was only scheduled to go to noon, but we had to have it go to one o’clock because there were so many kids that wanted to do it,” said Marie Carity, FFA adviser and agriculture teacher at the school.

Senior member Lauren Williams — a four-year member of FFA — coordinated the blood drive.

Williams got in touch with teacher Megan Arnold, who had organized blood drives for National Honor Society in the past, and learned about how to bring a blood drive to Miami East.

“We’re always looking for new opportunities through our chapter, and I thought giving blood would be an exceptional thing to do,” Williams said.

“Our goal was to get 20 people and we got 29 —

Dazzling Twitter debut sends stock soaring 73 percent

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Yasser Arafat’s mysterious 2004 death turned into a whodunit Thursday after Swiss scientists who examined his remains said the Palestinian leader was probably poisoned with radioactive polonium.

Yet hard proof remains elusive, and nine years on, tracking down anyone who might have slipped minuscule amounts of the lethal substance into Arafat’s food or drink could be difficult.

A new investigation could also prove embarrassing — and not just for Israel, which the Palestinians have long accused of poisoning their leader and which has denied any role. The Palestinians themselves could come under renewed scrutiny, since Arafat was holed up in his Israeli-besieged West Bank compound in the months before his death, surrounded by advisers, staff and bodyguards.

Arafat died at a French military hospital on Nov. 11, 2004, at age 75, a month after suddenly falling violently ill at his compound. At the time, French doctors said he died of a stroke and had a blood-clotting problem, but records were inconclusive about what caused that condition.

The Swiss scientists said that they found elevated traces of polonium-210 and lead in Arafat’s remains that could not have occurred naturally, and that the timeframe of Arafat’s illness and death was consistent with poisoning from ingesting polonium.

“Our results reasonably support the poisoning theory,” Francois Bochud, director of Switzerland’s Institute of Radiation Physics, which carried out the investigation, said at a news conference.

Bochud and Patrice Mangin, director of the Lausanne University Hospital’s forensics center, said they tested and ruled out innocent explanations, such as accidental poisoning.

“I think we can eliminate this possibility because, as you can imagine, you cannot find polonium everywhere. It’s a very rare toxic substance,” Mangin told The Associated Press.

Palestinian officials, including Arafat’s successor, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, had no comment on the substance of the report but promised a continued investigation.

The findings are certain to revive Palestinian allegations against Israel, a nuclear power. Polonium can be a byproduct of the chemical processing of uranium, but usually is made artificially in a nuclear reactor or a particle accelerator.

Arafat’s widow, Suha, called on the Palestinian leadership to seek justice for her husband, saying, “It’s clear this is a crime.”

Speaking by phone from the Qatari capital Doha, she did not mention Israel but argued that only countries with nuclear capabilities have access to polonium.

Israel has repeatedly denied a role in Arafat’s death and did so again Thursday.

Paul Hirschson, a Foreign Ministry official, dismissed the claim as “hogwash.”

“We couldn’t be bothered to” kill him,

Hirschson said. “If anyone remembers the political reality at the time, Arafat was completely isolated. His own people were barely speaking to him. There’s no logical reason for Israel to have wanted to do something like this.”

In his final years, Arafat was being accused by Israel and the U.S. of condoning and even encouraging Palestinian attacks against Israelis instead of working for a peace deal. In late 2004, Israeli tanks no longer surrounded his compound, but Arafat was afraid to leave for fear of not being allowed to return.

Shortly after his death, the Palestinians launched their own investigation, questioning dozens of people in Arafat’s compound, including staff, bodyguards and officials, but no suspects emerged.

Security around Arafat was easily breached toward the end of his life.

Aides have described him as impulsive, unable to resist tasting gifts of chocolate or trying out medicines brought by visitors from abroad.

The investigation was dormant until the satellite TV station Al-Jazeera persuaded Arafat’s widow last year to hand over a bag with her husband’s underwear, headscarves and other belongings.

After finding traces of polonium in biological stains on the clothing, investigators dug up his grave in his Ramallah compound earlier this year to take bone and soil samples.

Investigators noted Thursday that they could not account for the chain of custody of the items that were in the bag, leaving open the possibility of tampering.

Byers From page 1 sections, editorials and continuing coverage.

“Whether it was waiting on the front porch for the afternoon newspaper growing up or writing front-page news stories, journalism has always been a part of my life,” Byers said. “What really excites me about our industry is the depth with which we now have to tell stories. The Internet allows us to tell stories on many more levels.”

Byers will be relocating to the area with his wife, Barbara, and their three boys, Cade, Jaekob and Jackston.

“We as a company are committed to expanding

and improving our core content in digital and print,” Lawitz said. “Josh is the perfect person to lead the charge at these Ohio newspapers.”

Byers, a native of Syracuse, N.Y., graduated in 1995 from the College of Charleston, in Charleston, S.C., with a bachelor’s degree in media communication/journalism. He began his newspaper career at the Roswell (N.M.) Daily Record.

“The Record was where I really got to learn some of the basic tenants of journalism from New Mexico Journalism Hall of Fame Editor Jerry McCormick,”

he said.

Byers has previously held leadership positions with MediaNews Group and Gannett Co. “I’m excited about this new opportunity,” he said.

“Civitas Media has a strong commitment to excellent community journalism, and I look forward to working with Jim and the rest of our team of content producers in the exciting months and years to come.”

Centrally located in Davidson, N.C., Civitas Media encompasses more than 100 publications, many of which have served their communities for more than a century.

Civitas, Latin for “community” or citizen” is a union of four media entities formerly known as Heartland Publications, Freedom Central, Impressions Media and Ohio Community Media.

Civitas, which employs more than 1,400 associates across 11 states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee, publishes 35 daily, 28 weekend editions and 63 weekly publications for a combined circulation of more than 1.6 million.

Local

www.dailycall.com• Piqua Daily Call

Friday, November 8, 2013

3

Project Search uses outdoors Sunny and cool today for team building

TROY — Upper Valley Project SEARCH took a journey on the wild side recently with 11 interns participating in an outdoor leadership and team building program.

Project SEARCH is a one-year, high school transition program that provides training and education with the goal of competitive community employment for individuals with disabilities.

The Upper Valley Project SEARCH interns engaged in a series of outdoor adventures coordinated by the Wilderness Inquiry Canoe Mobile program. The program is a non-profit organization that provides all people access to the outdoors.

The activities were paid for with a grant from the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation.

The Project SEARCH interns serving at Upper Valley Medical Center for the next year received employment-related skills from this opportunity including: interviewing, dealing with others, team building, mobility, defining and overcoming fears and making life choices such as healthier meal selections.

This is the fourth year for the Upper Valley Project SEARCH collaboration between the Upper Valley Career Center, Upper Valley Medical Center, Boards of Developmental Disabilities in Miami and Shelby counties, the state

Highs will be running about seven degrees below normal today. We will see sunshine, but breezy conditions will add an extra chill to the air.

High 48, Low 30

Extended Forecast Saturday Partly sunny

HIGH: 56 LOW: 34

Sunday Mostly sunny

HIGH: 51 LOW: 38

Provided Photo

Project SEARCH interns Ellie Bowman of Miami East schools, Valerie Leanza of Troy schools, Sara Mullins of Bradford schools and Stefen Lemmon of Tipp City schools participate in a tent building exercise.

Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation and Capabilities Inc. The program Oct. 1012 was held on land and water.

Participants spent part of one day on the UVMC campus working on team building and leadership activities.

Among these activities were tent set up and tear down, a trust fall exercise and healthy meal project, including making the day soda-free. The goals were to develop a realization of ways to exercise, relax with friends, and recognize the beauty of the environment and the desire to seek out other local outdoor opportunities.

“ These activities empowered the interns to problem solve, define personal space and develop a real sense of ‘what they bring to the table,’” said Patti Moore, Project SEARCH coordinator.

She said the UVMC campus provided a great learning environment.

Other activities included paddle safety instruction, exposure to public parks and time in canoes on the Great Miami River and Lake Loramie, in Shelby County.

Members of the Upper Valley Project SEARCH Alumni group also had the opportunity the tap into the Wilderness Inquiry experience on Lake Loramie. Similar

skill sets were taught concluding with a two-hour paddle “ The Wilderness Inquiry program went beyond my expectations for interns to be empowered. I love my job and desire that each person with a disability has the same opportunity to discover what they are born to do,” Moore said.

“This ‘wilderness experience’ has opened doors, empowered these interns, and has made a lasting impression that is affecting their personal career journey.”

The program will resume in May when the Project SEARCH interns will participate in a camping trip.

Provided Photo

The Melody Men Barbershop group will perform during Monday’s Veteran’s Day program at 7 p.m. at the Piqua Public Library.

Veterans Day concert set at library PIQUA — The Piqua Public Library will host the Melody Men at 7 p.m. Monday. In honor of Veteran’s Day, members of the Melody Men will perform a variety of patriotic and World War II era songs. In addition to the musical performance, Library Director James Oda will be reading aloud excerpts from the library’s collection of local letters home from World War II. Two different exhibits on the first floor will highlight military

service. Near the checkout desk, postcards and other paper memorabilia from the personal collection of local resident Brian Szwajkos are on display.

There also will be a case in the lobby highlighting military uniforms from various branches of the service.

This free Veterans Day event will be held in the library lobby.

For more information, or to arrange for group seating if necessary, call 773-6753.

Brukner Nature Center to host public programs TROY — The following programs are taking place at Brukner Nature Center: •Nature Art Gallery: Brukner Nature Center invites the public to enjoy our autumn art exhibition featuring Charley Harper, the Cincinnati-based American Modernist artist, best known for his highly stylized wildlife prints, posters and book illustrations. From his groundbreaking mid-century illustrations for Ford Times Magazine and Golden Books, his impeccably composed posters for the National Parks and his whimsical serigraph and giclée prints, Charley Harper’s art is a beloved treasure and an inspiration to an entire generation of artist and designers. A percentage of sales of the artists’ work will support Brukner Nature Center’s mission of wildlife conservation through preservation, education and rehabilitation. The exhibit will run through Dec. 15. Free with admission to the center.

•Wild Journeys: Come meet Wildlife enthusiast and accomplished nature photographer, Fay Yocum, and enjoy her presentation featuring the amazing wildlife of Yellowstone National Park at 7 p.m. Nov. 11. Through every season, Ms. Yocum captures the beauty, frailty and life experiences of Yellowstone’s diverse populations — from osprey to wolves, bison to eagles, you won’t want to miss this awe-inspiring presentation.

This program is free for BNC members. Non-member admission is $2 per person.

•Dine to Donate: Brukner Nature Center will be having a Dine to Donate community fundraiser at Bob Evans in Troy, located at 1749 W. Main St., from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15 through Sunday, Nov. 17.

Bob Evans will donate a percentage of all sales to the wildlife at Brukner Nature Center when you present a flyer at check-out. Flyers can be found on our website: www.bruknernaturecenter.com, at our Interpretive Building, or by emailing: info@bruknernaturecenter. com. This is good for dine-in or carryout.

•Nigh Hike: Brukner Nature Center will have a Night Hike, “Winter Preparations,” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. Every month BNC Naturalists plan a nighttime adventure into the Brukner woodlands. As many of us prepare for the busy days the last few weeks of the year, it is important to remember that many Ohio critters are also busy making last minute preparations for the cold winter months ahead. Most snakes have already found their hibernacula, many squirrels have cached away hundreds of nuts, and most birds that are going to fly south are already on their way. Join us as we use the bright light of the full moon to watch for those fall migrants and discuss and search for evidence of a variety of Ohio animals and learn what each does to prepare for the long winter ahead. Come dressed for a family-friendly hike as we discuss other ways animals

are getting ready for the winter. Free and open to the public.

•Public Stargaze: Join the Stillwater Stargazers and explore the starry night sky at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at Brukner Nature Center. Members will have their telescopes set up to answer questions. This program is free and open to the public, following the night hike.

•View from the Vista: Brukner Nature Center will be having its View from the Vista from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17. Join members of the Brukner Bird Club for a relaxing afternoon.Enjoy home-baked refreshments and the camaraderie of the Tree-top Vista as you learn all about our winter residents. Already the species present are changing with white-throated sparrows at the lower vista and golden-crowned kinglets ‘see,see,see”-ing throughout the woods. It won’t be long until we see our first dark-eyed junco — Ohio’s snow bird. All levels of birders welcome. Free and open to the public.

•PEEP winter sessions: Keep your preschooler active this winter by registering them for hands-on, outdoor exploration with BNC’s Preschool Environmental Education Program (PEEP). Each class will be filled with wildlife discovery as we share a story, make a craft, enjoy a snack, then take an exploratory hike.

Winter I session runs Jan. 7 through Feb. 14. This program offers a unique opportunity for children, ages 3 through 5, to learn through nature hikes, crafts and story time. Winter is a great time to get outside and explore. Classes run for six weeks and are offered one day a week. Classes take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:30–11:30 a.m. An additional afternoon class is offered on Friday from 12:30– 2:30 p.m. The fee is just $45 for BNC members and $60 for non-members. All fees are due upon registration.

Open registration begins Sunday, Nov. 17. Class size is limited to 12 children so be sure to sign up early.

•Junior’s Overnight Adventure: Come explore the world of birds during this fun and educational overnight adventure for your Girl Scout troop. You’ll meet BNC’s Wildlife Ambassadors and discover birds’ awesome adaptations as you explore the mysteries of migration, practice bird identification and learn the songs of our common species. This program is just $25/scout and $20/leader, and is filled with nature games and lessons, as well as a late night snack, night hike, cool craft and continental breakfast. ‘Camp out’ in the comfort of the Heidelberg Auditorium and create lasting memories during this overnight adventure. Deadline for registration and payment is 5 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 11. Call Brukner Nature Center at 937698-6493 for more details.

•Homeschool Nature Club: Sign-up your homeschooled student for an afternoon of discovery!

Board to welcome Fellers

Varicose Veins More Than Just A Cosmetic Issue

Melanie Yingst

Staff Writer myingst@civitasmedia.com

CASSTOWN — Miami East Local Schools will welcome Brandon Fellers to its board of education.

Fellers, a city of Troy police officer and Troy High School school resource officer, earned 822 votes to capture a seat on the board.

Incumbents Kevin Accurso and Mark Davis will keep their seats on the board. Accurso earned 752 votes and Davis earned 859 votes. This will be the

fourth term for Davis and a second term for Accurso to serve the district.

Gayle Carson, who served on the board for one term, earned 692 votes to lost his seat on the board to Fellers.

All election results are considered unofficial until the Miami County Board of Election certifies results in the coming weeks.

The next board of education meeting for Miami East Local Schools will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 18.

For more information, visit www. m i a m i e a s t . k 1 2 . o h .u s .

Pain Heaviness/Tiredness Burning/Tingling Swelling/Throbbing Tender Veins

Program is scheduled for every 3rd Wednesday of the month from 2-4 p.m., September-May. Staff naturalists have developed hands-on educational and lesson plans, using live wildlife and outdoor exploration. The fee for these innovative programs is only $2.50 for BNC Members and $5 for non-members. Registration and payment are due by 5 p.m. on the Monday before each program.

•Arts and Crafts Show: Don’t miss Brukner Nature Center’s Annual Winter Arts & Crafts Show, a Miami Valley holiday tradition for more than 27 years. The hours of the craft show are 9 a.m. to 4 pm. You’ll find hundreds of one-of-a-kind gifts for that special someone on your list. This year our talented juried artisans will amaze you with unique nature-related items from jewelry to soy candles, homemade biscotti to sock monkeys, felted mittens to bird feeders, rock sculptures to folk art, wildlife photography to woven baskets! Drop off your heavy coat at the free coat check, pick up some sustainably harvested mistletoe springs, the perfect gift for everyone on your list (who doesn’t need a kiss during the holidays?), drop off your presents at the gift wrap booth filled with natural kraft paper and raffia ribbon and leave the wrapping to us. And as you head out the door, pick up a whole pie to take home for the family at the “Pies for Possums” booth. Admission is free so spend those extra few dollars on some raffle tickets to win items donated by the artisans and support our mission to promote the appreciation and understanding of wildlife conservation through education, preservation, and rehabilitation. Drawings take place throughout the day and you do not have to be present to win. All proceeds from this event benefit our amazing wildlife ambassador and rehabilitation programs. Come one and all! HO, HO, HO, RIBBIT!!

Phlebitis Blood Clots Ankle Sores /Ulcers Bleeding

If you have any of the above, there are effective treatment options, covered by insurances.

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Tel: 937-619-0222 Tel: 937-335-2075

Call Today For A Visit With a Vein Specialist Physician. No Referral Needed

Please recycle this paper!

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Opinion

Contact us For more information regarding the Opinion page, contact Editor Susan Hartley at 773-2721, or send an email to shartley@civitasmedia.com

FridAY, November 8, 2013

Piqua Daily Call

Piqua Daily Call

POLITICS

Serving Piqua since 1883

U.S. economy grows at surprising 2.8 pct. rate in Q3

“He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

(John 7:38 AKJV)

Mother of the Munchkins

Enough is enough Many moons ago I read advertisers getting deepa report on a company er into my personal life that wanted to advertise is bothersome, but not in the sky. It was a horrif- because I don’t want anyic production that would one to realize I’m human leave the populace look- and need toilet paper, too. ing up to the heavens at However, there may be a an enormous, brightly lit resolution on the horizon floating billboard, prob- before this problem of ably for upset stomach advertising and our lost relief. privacy gets too out of Fortunately, this adver- control. As discussed in tising never came to frui- Jaron Lanier’s fantastic piece on prition, perhaps vacy, what is it was the in the works price or proin terms of tests, I never advertising heard.

But and the potenthe memory tial of setting of this floata price for our ing billboard information returned after in the Nov. a number of 2013 issue sales calls came across bethany j. royer of Scientific American the phone at Columnist magazine. the new digs I want to take Lanier’s over the weekend, including an individual with concept on pricing a a robust, holier-than- little further, however, thou declaration that if such as what if every we wanted to be saved individual in the United we best call such-n-such States immediately had number with an ID code their name trademarked or copyrighted? Forcing —can I get an AMEN?! those who seek our AMEN!!

If telemarketing is not names and attached inforbad enough there’s the mation to first solicit our never-ending deluge of permission followed by junk mail, whether snail payment. Whether our or email, but all of this information is used to pales in comparison to sell body spray or breakrecent reports of a bill- fast cereal, sold between board in Britain with an companies, or for the unsettling capability. A development of the next camera attached to the ad futuristic advertising first determines whether horror show to entice or not a person is looking customers to their latest at it, then sums up the sales. We must be asked, gender and age of the we must be paid.

Advertisers pay good looker and customizes money for the use of a itself, accordingly.

That’s right, if the ad name, address, phone determines you are a number, email account, woman it may change to and much, much more, advertise something sex- why not get in on the ist, like wrinkle cream action?

Before anyone can call or a pair of shoes, no doubt, and if it thinks for the head of household you are a guy —a nice set at dinnertime they’ll have of wheels? I don’t know, to deposit an x-amount whatever it does, the of funds directly to the customer’s scenario plays out very potential much like the scene in bank account. And before the Tom Cruise movie, a Nigerian prince can Minority Report, where spam an email box for a stores greeted customers request to deposit $50 by name and referenced billion dollars into our their previously pur- bank account, he’ll have to really cough up some chased items.

This means the poor, dough.

Now, I realize the hapless gent who already struggles in the shopping irony and hypocrisy here world will be accosted by but when I can’t even a billboard along his walk- buy gas for the Orange ing route as to whether Crusader without the or not he still prefers box- gas pump blaring a commercial at me. Or worse, ers over briefs.

I once knew a woman the possibility of said gas who was so terrified of pump calling me out by public inspection she name, “Hey, BETHANY sent her kids into the ROYER, we know you grocery store to purchase can’t possibly make it toilet paper. She didn’t through the day without want anyone to know she six cups of coffee so why visited the bathroom for not stock up during our anything save powdering great sale?” I say enough her nose. She will never is enough. survive in a talking, Bethany J. Royer is the mother of two personalized billboard munchkins and third-year psycholworld. ogy student. She can be reached at For me, the idea of broyer@civitasmedia.com.

Moderately Confused

www.dailycall.com

Commentary

Things go better with Koch (coke) “When I use a word, it means just what college.”

I choose it to mean — neither more nor I excused myself and left. That was less.” Humpty Dumpty who talks with more than enough for me that day. In the Alice in Wonderland. next months I continued the interviews I had a chance to interview the Koch in the other brother’s spacious New York brothers. The brothers are tied for the apartment and several of their seven palasixth richest individuals in the world tial homes. I started nailing them down at 690 billion dollars each. They are on their hidden political and societal the founders of conservative think tanks manipulations in America. To my amazeand political organizations and ment they were quite honest major contributors to right in agreeing to all the facts I wing politicians and voter issue brought up. In fact they added campaigns. They fight pubto them and corrected my lic education, worker salaries errors. They seemed bemused (especially minimum wages), by the conversations. protection of the environment I went over how they helped found the Cato Institute, the (Koch industries is one of top Heritage Foundation, the polluters), and regulating busiAmerican Enterprise Institute, ness, among others. and on and on. How these orgaI met them met in Charles’ jack robinson nizations deluge news-hungry, palatial New York apartment. budget-strapped newspapers My first question was “Why is Columnist with right wing “press releasyour name pronounced “coke” es” to fill up space with needed “facts” rather than “koch” like it’s spelled?”

Charles, or as he likes to be called and “research.” How they offer “expert” Mr. Koch, spoke first. “Well, that’s one talking heads to TV and news talk show. of those devilishly funny stories of our How they bankroll scientists and scientiffather, or as he liked to be called Father. ic studies to “prove” right wing fantasies.

He got very rich in Russia helping Stalin How they hire “Fellows” to write books develop his oil industry. After this he was and then buy up the first week to get them afraid that Americans might think badly on the New York Times “Best Seller” list.

I went into how they and others of the of him. He heard happy jingles and saw all the rosy-cheeked girls in coke commer- super-rich work with PR firms to form cials, and he knew what he wanted people phony “grass root” organizations to make to call him. We grew up thinking things it seem that ordinary people are behind their wishes. Even how they bankrolled went better with us.”

Charles (he can’t control everything) the Tea Party from the very start.

“Then you don’t care if I write all you went on to describe their childhood when they heard their father describe how have confirmed and revealed to me?” I everyone else had everything wrong. Only asked. Charles leaned forward, smiled a the lazy were not rich like them. Roosevelt condescending smile and said, “No. Go had made people lazy by helping them. ahead it won’t bother us.”

“Aren’t you afraid of what Americans Business could not get so big or so powerful that government would ever have to will think when they hear the truth?”

He shook his head and in a low intiregulate it.

The brothers bragged that their father mate voice said, “We are not afraid of the after World War II was a leader in The truth.” He smiled at my reaction and went John Birch Society which espoused segre- on. “I keep telling you that we are now gation as being just and right and which living in Wonderland. We have got main claimed communists were taking over the stream media to realize that the truth is government. I stopped him and pointed only part of the story.

“Talk radio. Fox News. Congressmen on out that for a man who had helped Stalin so much to then accuse people in govern- C Span. All of our spokesmen only briefly ment of being communist, even President refer to any of your facts and truths. And the mainstream media find us way more Eisenhower, was the height of hypocrisy.

Charles chuckled and said, “That was interesting and news worthy than they the beauty of our father’s perspective. do you. It’s our American Wonderland!

What is up is down. What is here is there. Words mean what I say they mean. Get It is like the children’s book Alice in used to it.”

They both were giggling as I slunk out Wonderland. He taught us to look through the Looking Glass and see what she saw. of the room.

A smiling Cheshire Cat, a giant White Hare, a crazy Mad Hatter, all talking and Jack Robinson of Piqua is a University of Akron graduate who 25 years worked his way up from the factory floor to a senior asking silly pointless questions, turning over materials management position with General Tire. After the logic upside down. It was our favorite Akron plant closed, he worked at numerous companies, most story. Father had our mom read it to us of which either went broke or moved to Mexico. Contact him at every night until our sophomore year in piquajack@yahoo.com.

Letter to the editor To the Editor: The Kiwanis Club of Piqua, proud sponsor of the 57th annual Halloween Parade, thanks the community for their continued support of this annual event.

Special thanks is extended to the city of Piqua, Piqua Police Department, Piqua Fire Department, Jeanie Bates, Piqua

Daily Call, PHS Pride of Piqua Marching Band, PHS Key Club, PJHS Builders Club, Mainstreet Piqua and the Downtown Merchants, YMCA, Unity National Bank, Annie Buckles and the Salvation Army Youth Group along with Kiwanis Club members and their families.

A huge thanks to these

individuals, businesses and groups along with the participants and their families for helping to make this another very successful event for the youth in Piqua. We look forward to seeing you again in 2014.

Doug Francony and Dwayne Cooper Kiwanis Halloween Parade chairpersons

The First Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Public officials can be contacted through the following addresses and telephone numbers: n Lucy Fess, mayor, 5th Ward Commissioner, warD5comm@piquaoh.org, 773-7929 (home) n John Martin, 1st Ward Commissioner, ward1comm@piquaoh.org, 937-570-4063 n William Vogt, 2nd Ward Commissioner, ward2comm@piquaoh.org, 773-8217

n Miami County Commissioners: John “Bud” O’Brien, Jack Evans and Richard Cultice, 201 W. Main St., Troy, OH 45373 440-5910; commissioners@co-miami.oh.us n John R. Kasich, Ohio governor, Vern Riffe Center, 77 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215, (614) 644-0813, Fax: (614) 466-9354 n State Sen. Bill Beagle, 5th District, Ohio Senate, First Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215; (614) 466-6247; e-mail: SD05@sen. state.oh.us n State Rep. Richard Adams, 79th District, House of

n Joe Wilson, 3rd Ward Commissioner, ward3comm@piquaoh.

Representatives, The Riffe Center, 77 High St. 13th Floor,

org, 778-0390

Columbus, OH 43215, (614) 466-8114, Fax: (614) 719-3979;

n Judy Terry, 4th Ward Commissioner, ward4comm@piquaoh.

district79@ohr.state.oh.us

org, 773-3189

n Jon Husted, Secretary of State, 180 E. Broad St. 15th floor,

n City Manager Gary Huff, ghuff@piquaoh.org, 778-2051

Columbus, OH 53266-0418 (877) 767-6446, (614) 466-2655

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy expanded at a 2.8 percent annual rate from July through September, a surprising acceleration ahead of the 16-day partial government shutdown.

But much of the strength came from a buildup in unwanted stockpiles.

Home construction also rose and state and local governments spent at the fastest pace in four years. But businesses spent less on equipment, federal spending fell and consumers spent at a slower pace. All are troubling signs for the final three months of the year.

Overall, growth increased in the third quarter from a 2.5 percent annual rate in the April-June period to the fastest pace in a year, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

The third-quarter growth was nearly a full percentage point stronger than most economists had predicted. But analysts noted that much of the unforeseen strength came from a buildup in inventories. That suggests companies overestimated consumer demand.

Restocking contributed 0.8 percentage point to growth, double the amount from inventory building in the second quarter.

“The large inventory build was likely unintentional,” said Sal Guatieri, an economist at BMO Capital Markets. He predicts that companies will cut back on restocking in the OctoberDecember quarter, which along with the impact from the shutdown will slow growth to a rate below 2 percent.

Consumers stepped up spending on goods in the third quarter.

But overall spending weakened to a 1.5 percent annual rate, down from the second quarter’s 1.8 percent pace. That’s because spending on services was essentially flat, partly because of a cooler summer that lowered utility spending.

Spending by consumers is critical to growth because it drives roughly 70 percent of economic activity. Higher taxes this year and slow wage growth have weighed on consumers’ wallets since the start of the year.

Exports rose at a 4.5 percent rate in the third quarter, helped by stronger economies overseas.

Still, businesses cut back sharply on investment in equipment by the most in a year.

Overall government activity grew at a slight 0.2 percent rate, reflecting a 1.5 percent rise in state and local government spending, the best showing since the spring of 2009. Federal government spending continued to drop, falling at a 1.7 percent rate in the third quarter.

Many analysts say the shutdown could cut more than half a percentage point from growth in the October-December quarter. The shutdown cost the U.S. economy $24 billion, according to Beth Ann Bovino, an economist at Standard & Poor’s.

Letters

Send your signed letters to the editor, Piqua Daily Call, P.O. Box 921, Piqua, OH 45356. Send letters by e-mail to shartley@civitasmedia. com. Send letters by fax to (937) 773-2782.

There is a 400-word limit for letters to the editor.

Letters must include a telephone number, for verification purposes only.

Piqua Daily Call Susan Hartley Executive Editor

CHERYL HALL Circulation Manager A Civitas Media Newspaper 100 Fox Dr., Suite B Piqua, Ohio 45356 773-2721 WWW.DAILYCALL.COM

www.dailycall.com• Piqua Daily Call

Entertainment

Friday, November 8, 2013

5

A banner year for black films, hopes for momentum Jake Coyle AP Film Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Oprah Winfrey has heard this story before.

A wave of high-profile films about black people receives accolades. A heartwarming trend of greater on-screen equality is declared. Hollywood basks in its multiculturalism — and then returns to business as usual.

From the slavery odyssey “12 Years a Slave” to the day-in-a-life drama “Fruitvale Station,” this fall has been a banner season for films of racial struggle told without white protagonists and largely by black directors. As one of the stars of the Civil Rights history “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” Winfrey is a proud player in a rare moment for African-Americans at the movies. But she and many others have tired of celebrating occasional aberrations of what should be Hollywood’s regular output.

“We’ve been through this before,” says Winfrey. “I don’t want it to be, ‘Oh, gee, we had the 10 films and now it’s another five years before you see another one.’”

2013 is a historical highpoint for black-themed films, a culmination of Obama-era cinema. But the filmmakers and actors who made this confluence happen are resolutely against being resigned to a mere trend story, soon to be followed by another lull in diversity.

Spike Lee, whose nearannual turnout has been a steady line through the undulations of the industry, disdains black filmmakers being treated like “flavors of the year.”

“Every 10 years, we have the same conversation: ‘Oh, there’s lots of black films being made,’” says Lee, who will release his revenge

remake “Oldboy” later this month. “Then it drops off.

It’s not consistent.”

Opening Nov. 29 is “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” a sweeping biopic of the South African leader starring Idris Elba.

It joins a group of films that began with the Jackie Robinson drama “42” and runs through to the Langston Hughes adaptation “Black Nativity,” out Nov. 27.

Ryan Coogler’s “Fruitvale Station,” with Michael B. Jordan as 22-year-old Oscar Grant, is a humanistic portrait of a young black man seldom seen at the movies: as a caring, generous father. The box-office hit “The Butler,” with Forest Whitaker as a generationsspanning White House butler, chronicles the Civil Rights era not from the perspective of a passionate white liberal, but via the dinner table of an average black family.

Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave,” based on Solomon Northup’s 1853 memoir, has been nearly universally hailed as the most unblinking portrait yet of slavery, a long-overdue recalibration of Hollywood’s “Gone With the Wind” point of view. In a striking review, Grantland’s Wesley Morris said the film “radically shifts the perspective of the American racial historical drama from the allegorical uplift to the explanatory wallop.”

“If I was an alien and landed on Earth and looked at the history of films, I wouldn’t think that there would be no slave narrative, or very little,” says McQueen, the British video artist-turned filmmaker.

McQueen believes the confluence of films suits the times.

“With the unfortunate death of Trayvon Martin, with having a black president, with the 150th anni-

Ron Koeberer, The Weinstein Company | AP Photo

This film publicity image released by The Weinstein Company shows Michael B. Jordan in a scene from “Fruitvale Station.” From “12 Years a Slave” to “The Butler” to “Fruitvale Station,” 2013 has been a banner year for movies directed by black filmmakers. Like seldom before, African American stories are being told on the big screen without white protagonists.

versary of the abolition of slavery, the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, it’s sort of like this perfect storm which has occurred where, I think, people are ready to receive the film in a way maybe they haven’t been before,” he says.

If “12 Years a Slave,” starring the British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor as Northup, goes on to win the best picture Oscar (a prediction of many — though certainly not all — Academy Awards onlookers), it would be the first best picture winner directed by a black filmmaker. The best actor category, too, is full of black contenders, including Ejiofor, Whitaker, Elba and Jordan.

The Oscars (which Chris Rock once called a “million white man march”) have increasingly served as celebratory breakthroughs in Hollywood’s racial ceiling. For 2001, two black actors won the top acting prizes for the first time: Denzel Washington (“Training Day”) and Halle Berry (“Monster’s Ball”).

Dual wins for Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”) and Jamie Foxx (“Ray”) followed for 2004, as did the combination of Whitaker (“The Last King of Scotland”) and Jennifer Hudson (“Dreamgirls”) for 2006.

But those tipping points were followed by more incremental progress. The 2011 best-picture nominee “The Help” was viewed by many in the black community as the embrace of a stereotype (another story of racial injustice starring a white person).

Last week, a USC Annenberg study supplied a reminder of Hollywood realities. The school analyzed the 500 top-grossing films at the U.S. box office in recent years. Last year, AfricanAmericans represented 10.8 percent of all speaking characters. (Hispanics at 4.2 percent and Asians with 5 percent fared even worse.)

Between 2007 and 2012, the 565 directors of the top 500 films included only 33 black filmmakers, and just two of them black women.

The imbalance also affects the kind of roles black actors receive. Black males are notably less likely to play romantic partners or parents, according to the study.

Most of this year’s wave of films relied not on Hollywood studios for distribution, but independent distributors, and had to hunt hard for financing. Lee Daniels and the late producer Laura Ziskin sought out wealthy African-Americans to fund “The Butler.”

“It’s politically incorrect … to scream racism in Hollywood, in America,” says Daniels. “It’s time to now not do that. We’ve got to call it as we see it.”

Change, of course, can come in spurts, and the discussion generated by the films this year has only just started. Vanity Fair’s James Wolcott recently claimed the movies are provoking a national conversation on race that politicians have failed to generate. New York magazine’s Frank Rich lamented that even a film such as “12 Years a Slave”

can only accomplish so much outside of the movie theater.

“Dialogue is occurring,” says Whitaker, who also helped produce “Fruitvale Station” and stars in “Black Nativity.” ”People are taking their points of view about how they see their environment, their world.

All these films are engaging in that dialogue.”

But Whitaker emphasized there’s a long way to go, still: “People act like it’s a history as opposed to recognizing it as a movement,” he says.

One could look at these movies as chronological snapshots of that movement: from the 19th century Louisiana plantation of “12 Years a Slave” to the Civil Rights upheaval of 20th century Washington in “The Butler,” and finally to the contemporary prejudices of “Fruitvale Station.”

“They’re great stories which happen to tell the stories of black people,” says Ejiofor. “I kind of have a suspicion that that’s the way it should be.”

What food allergy sufferers don’t know can kill them Dish to close rest of its Blockbuster stores in U.S. individual winding up in experiencing these sympan emergency room or toms should be treated dying because of an aller- at the nearest emergency gic reaction. Exposure to room or hospital. This even a TRACE of a sub- information was prostance that an individual vided by Food Allergy is allergic to is danger- Research and Education, ous because “just a lit- an organization whose tle” CAN hurt you. The mission is to raise pubsymptoms of a poten- lic awareness about food allergies, provide tially fatal allergic education and reaction — which advance research. have appeared in Its website is this column before loaded with valu— are a tingling able information sensation, itching on this important or metallic taste subject. Check it in the mouth folout at www.foodallowed by hives, a sensation of Dear Abby lergy.org. warmth, asthma Abigail Van DEAR ABBY: Buren symptoms, swellLast week I attending of the mouth and throat area, difficulty ed two events for my breathing, vomiting, diar- grandchildren. One was rhea, cramping, a drop in a school concert, the blood pressure and loss other a dance recital. of consciousness. The Both times, during the symptoms can occur performance I saw elecin as few as five to 15 tronic devices turned on minutes after exposure, throughout the audience. but life-threatening reac- It seemed that parents tions may progress over were encouraging chilseveral hours. Someone dren to play video games, watch movies or surf the Internet instead of pay attention to the show. It drove me crazy.

n Contract Bridge — By Steve Becker

What are these parents teaching their children? Not only are they missing out on the experience, but they are also being taught terrible manners. I held my tongue, but it was a struggle because I wanted to slap the parents in the back of the head.

(I’m old school.) Am I wrong? — HOLDING MY TONGUE DEAR HOLDING: No, you’re 100 percent right.

Before many performances, the director or principal will request that electronic devices be turned off. That’s what should have been done at the concert and recital you attended. Parents who allow or encourage their children to behave this way aren’t doing their job, which is to teach them to be respectful of the performers and the effort that was put into the show.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.

DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Michael Liedtke AP Technology Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The final curtain is falling on the remaining Blockbuster videorental stores that Dish Network Corp. runs in the U.S. About 300 Blockbuster locations scattered around the country will be closed by early January. But 50 franchised stores will remain open in the U.S. As part of Dish Network’s retreat , Blockbuster’s DVD-bymail service is also shutting down next month.

About 2,800 people who work in Blockbuster’s stores and DVD distribution centers will lose their jobs, according to Dish Network.

The cost- cutting measures culminate a Blockbuster downfall that began a decade ago with the rise of Netflix’s DVD-by-mail service, followed by the introduction of a subscription service that streams video over high-speed Internet connections.

“This is not an easy decision, yet consumer demand is clearly moving to digital distribution of video entertainment,” Dish Network CEO Joseph Clayton said in a statement Wednesday.

The shift has been a boon for Netflix Inc., which now boasts 31 mil-

lion subscribers to its Internet video service and another 7.1 million DVD-by-mail customers.

The company’s success has minted Netflix with a market value of $20 billion.

But Blockbuster absorbed huge losses. It closed thousands of its stores before landing in bankruptcy court three years ago. Dish Network bought Blockbuster’s remnants for about $234 million in 2011 and then tried to mount a challenge to Netflix.

But the Englewood, Colo., satellite-TV provider couldn’t wring a profit from Blockbuster either, prompting even more store closures.

The chain’s near extinction serves as another stark reminder of how quickly technology can reshape industries. Just a decade ago, Blockbuster reigned as one of the country’s most ubiquitous retailers with 9,100 stores in the U.S. Dish Network is trying to keep the Blockbuster brand alive through an Internet video-streaming service that rents movies and TV shows by title, for a set viewing time.

Blockbuster suffered an operating loss of $35 million on revenue of $1.1 billion last year and posted an operating loss of $4 million during the first half of this year, according to regulatory filings.

Nov. 7 Solution: FRIDAY 11/08/13 ONLY

For the solution to today’s puzzle, see the next issue of the Piqua Daily Call.

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DEAR ABBY: I am a 25-year-old woman with a food allergy. Last year I was a guest at a Thanksgiving dinner where the host insisted I could eat the food “since there was just a little in there.”

I understand that making separate food is difficult, but all I ask is that people let me know if a dish contains an ingredient that will make me sick. At best, an allergic reaction is uncomfortable. At worst, it can be life-threatening.

Would you please print a message about allergy awareness before the holidays? If you do, perhaps someone will be spared what I went through. — NOT PICKY, REALLY ALLERGIC IN ILLINOIS DEAR REALLY ALLERGIC: I’m glad to raise awareness because every year there is at least one story in the media about some poor

6 Friday, November 8, 2013

Parenting

www.dailycall.com • Piqua Daily Call

Artwork helps parents of slain NY kids find solace Colleen Long Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Finding her two small children stabbed to death in her Upper West Side apartment last year, Marina Krim felt robbed of her entire existence.

But in a rare public statement Wednesday evening at the first benefit for her nonprofit, the Lulu and Leo Fund, Krim described a discovery in the weeks after the tragedy that has helped guide her back to life.

Wandering through her hometown of Manhattan Beach, Calif., in a daze, she noticed a piece of art under scaffolding at a construction site: the silhouette of a little boy and the pop of colorful hearts.

“After such an intense trauma, I felt like my brain wasn’t operating normally,” she said. “How was it possible that people were just walking by this inspiring art and not noticing it?”

She said she felt it was her children shouting out messages to her. The art, she said, allowed her to start healing.

“There was still a way to connect with Lulu and Leo, through art, beauty

and creative thinking,” Krim said.

The fund aims to support innovative art programs for children.

Late last month it announced its first grant would go to Free Arts NYC, a nonprofit that provides under-served children and families with mentoring programs through the arts. The fund specifically supports the Free Arts “Parents and Children Together with Art” program, where families work to increase communication and teamwork.

The family’s nanny, Yoselyn Ortega, has been charged with murder in the deaths and pleaded not guilty. Her lawyer unsuccessfully challenged a judge’s ruling that she is mentally fit for trial. The Oct. 25, 2012, killing shocked the city, where tens of thousands of nannies are employed by parents who entrust them with their children. Reports of serious violence by caregivers against children are exceedingly rare.

On the day of the killings, Marina Krim left to go pick up her third child, Nessie, from a swimming lesson. She returned

home to their darkened apartment and discovered Lulu, 6, and Leo, 1.

The nanny was found on the bathroom floor with self-inflicted stab wounds to her neck, prosecutors said. The children’s father, Kevin Krim, a CNBC digital media executive, was away on a business trip. Police met him at the airport on his return and escorted him to the hospital where his loved ones had gathered.

“We had every reason to feel alienated from the world after this happened,” Kevin Krim said at the benefit. “And to really, truly survive and to live again, we had to have a reason to live.”

The couple has found some solace in each other, their children and the outpouring of support. But the fund is also helping the family heal, he said.

“It’s impossible, really, to give up on the world, when you’re trying to help it,” he said.

While the criminal case against Ortega moves slowly through the courts, the Krims are trying to live their lives.

The couples uses the fund’s Facebook page to post updates on how they

Is our child on track to meet developmental milestones?

Associated Press

It is natural for parents to be curious about how their children are developing mentally, emotionally and physically. And it’s even natural for parents to experience some apprehension about what is “normal.” But experts say that by better understanding your child, you can put the anxieties aside and help guide your children through each age and stage.

“Each child grows at a different pace,” advises Dr. Lise Eliot, an early childhood mental development expert. “There are few hard and fast deadlines when it comes to a child’s milestones.”

To ease parents’ concerns, Dr. Eliot worked with VTech, a world leader in age-appropriate and developmental stage-based electronic learning products for children, to create a set of Developmental Milestones. These milestones can be used as a guideline to help parents better understand a child’s development and determine which toys and games are appropriate for that stage. Here are three areas of development to consider:

L a n gu a ge and Cognition Language immersion is absolutely key to children’s cognitive and emotional development.

Children use words to express themselves, but also to learn about the people and world around them. Research has proven that early, two-way conversations with babies and young children are critical to speech and later reading development.

“Look for interactive toys and books to expand your child’s vocabulary and awareness of letter sounds,” says Eliot.

At the same time, children learn important concepts through nonverbal play, like building and sorting, and so the combination of verbal and spatial play is very powerful to children’s overall development.

Social Development Relationships are at the core of all human learning. Babies look to their parents’ emotions and facial expressions to first learn about the world, and children continue to depend completely on other people to learn language and the rules of social engagement. Peers are an equally important part of the social equa-

tion.

“The fact is, we are a highly social species and the better children learn to read other people’s feelings and desires the easier time they will have learning and befriending others,” says Eliot.

Physical and Motor Skills Children learn through play. And as every exhausted parent knows, their play is extremely physical. Whether it is learning to crawl, run, or build a toy tower, young children are constantly exercising their gross and fine motor skills, honing brain pathways for smooth, purposeful movement.

“The more opportunity children have for physical exertion and exploration, the better for the development of both their minds and bodies,” says Eliot.

For a detailed milestones guideline, sorted by age group and area of development, along with other free parenting resources, visit www. v t e c h k i d s . c o m /m i l e stones.

With a broader understanding of child development, parents can relax, have fun and help their kids grow to their full potential.

Mary Altaffer | AP Photo

In this Oct. 27, 2012, file photo, photographs of six-year-old Lucia Krim and her 2-year-old brother, Leo, are displayed alongside balloons and stuffed animals at a memorial outside the apartment building were they lived in New York. Their parents, Kevin and Marina Krim, have started a non-profit in their honor, the Lulu and Leo Fund. The fund aims to support innovative art programs for children.

The family’s nanny, Yoselyn Ortega, has been charged with murder in the deaths of the children and pleaded not guilty.

are doing, an intimate and yet private way of dealing with the public interest in their lives. Hundreds of strangers have posted messages to the couple; nearly 35,000 people like the page. They, in turn, have written about trav-

eling around during the summer, returning to New York, and the arrival of their new baby boy Felix in early October.

On Wednesday, Marina Krim said a friend tracked down the Corona, Calif.based artist who made

the stencil of the boy with hearts, Wil Reyes. He created an original poster for her. A print of the silhouette was also for sale at the benefit.

“In a time of complete darkness, I felt some hope,” Marina Krim said.

Kimmel prank brings tears to eyes of kids David Bauder AP Television Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Kimmel brought tears to the eyes of many children recently. But they weren’t tears of joy.

ABC’s late-night host conducted what’s becoming an annual prank during the past week, encouraging parents to tell their children they had eaten all of their Halloween candy, film the response and upload the video so he could show it on his TV show and on YouTube.

Predictably, many of the fooled children were quite upset.

“Pranking your own children is not harmless fun, but is cruel and potentially damaging,” said Mark Barnett, a professor and graduate program coordinator at Kansas State University’s department of psychological sciences.

A child’s trust in his parents shouldn’t be trifled with, he said.

“A parent who would violate this trust for a big laugh or 15 minutes of fame is, in my opinion, acting irresponsibly and not looking out for the best interests of the child,” Barnett said.

No one from Kimmel’s show, broadcast on a network owned by the traditionally kid-friendly Walt Disney Co., was available to comment, representatives said Wednesday. A YouTube posting of Kimmel’s on-air highlights was viewed more than 7 million times through late Wednesday, with more than 45,000 giving it a “thumbs up” and 2,191 offering a “thumbs down.”

Since starting the feature in 2011, Kimmel’s show said the post-Hallow-

een videos have been viewed more than 106 million times online.

Kimmel said this year he received an “avalanche” of great responses and it took much of last weekend to work through them all.

This year’s videos include two blond boys who break out in uncontrolled tears when their father tells them, “it’s all gone.” An empty candy wrapper is on the table in front of them.

One girl, still in costume, tells her mother that “you ruined my whole day.”

Children throw stomping tantrums, one so vigorous the toddler’s pants fall down. One angry girl throws an envelope at her parents. Another bawling child is hardly mollified by news that it’s a prank: “Well, that’s not very kind,” the boy said.

Kimmel’s studio audience laughs at most of the reactions.

Jane Annunziata, a McLean, Va.based psychologist who deals with family issues and is the author of the book, “Sometimes I’m Scared…,” said she thought the prank was inappropriate parental behavior.

“Parents should always serve as role models for their children, role modeling most appropriate behaviors and the most constructive ways to express feelings,” Annunziata said.

Kimmel, 46, said on the air two years ago when introducing the first round of stolen candy videos that “I guess I didn’t expect so much crying” in response.

“To the children whose fears are about to be immortalized on television, I apologize in advance,” he said.

A teacher’s advice for parents Eva Longoria gets animated with ‘Mother Up!’ A recent session of Parent Teacher confer- lives is impacted in a positive way.

Allow Consequences to Occur. Don’t shelences has just concluded for Piqua families, and as a teacher, parents ask me for advice on how ter children from the consequences associated to help their children improve in school. I often with their decisions. Allow children to stumble respond not with school-based strategies, but in order to help them learn a lesson. For examwith strategies that parents can implement at ple, if kids choose not to complete homework, there are consequences associhome. Here are just a few of the ated with that decision. Allow approaches I share with parents. them to experience those outAssign Household Chores. comes, which may include poor Chores are part of life, and for grades, loss of privileges, not kids they are an excellent way to making honor roll, or ineligibilteach the trait of responsibility. ity for a sports team. As they The earlier parents implement a regular routine of household struggle through the consequencchore assignments, the more es, they will understand how to accustomed children will be to improve their decision making completing them. Parents should for the future.

Keeping It Real expect that children complete Model Ideal Behavior. Little chores in a timely manner. A eyes watch every move their parHolly McElwee simple chart on the refrigerator ents make and little ears hear can help parents monitor chore assignments every word their parents say. Parents should and completion. model the behaviors that they want their chilHomework is Child’s Play. Parents can help dren to use. That common old phrase, “Do as kids succeed by having high expectations for I say, not as I do,” doesn’t really make sense to homework. Homework should be part of the a child. Teach by example, and show kids what daily routine in a household, and the onus is types of behaviors they should be using. on the child for completion. Parents shouldn’t Recognize Improvements. We all enjoy sit with children and walk them through their recognition for our achievements and successes homework. Provide a quiet location with all the in life. As kids make improvements in behavior necessary materials, and then leave the child and in their levels of responsibility, give recogalone to do the work. nition to their achievements. Even small steps Be Consistent. This is an area in which I are worth celebrating. often see parents struggle. The more consistent Consistent leadership by parents along with parents are with household routines, chores, clear expectations for behavior will help develdiscipline, and expectations for behavior, the op traits such as responsibility and respect. Set more smoothly a household runs. Consistent the bar of expectations high and keep it high. discipline from parents is especially important. Children will rise to the occasion.

When children come out of a household with a high level of consistency, every area of their Read more at http://www.travelingteacheronline.com .

Lynn Elbert

AP Television Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Eva Longoria wants to shake up TV animation starting with one meaningful character: a woman stumbling through motherhood.

“I’m a fan of animation and I watch ‘Family Guy’ and I watch ‘American Dad!’ and you always see these really flawed fathers and the really perfect mom who is trying to hold the family together because the dads, they’re just idiots,” said Longoria.

She voices the character of Rudi Wilson in the 13-episode comedy “Mother Up!” debuting Wednesday on Hulu and Hulu Plus. Longoria also is an executive producer of the series in which Rudi, a former Manhattan music executive, resettles in suburbia with her two children.

She’s got street smarts but is fumbling in her new environment: When Rudi tries to compete in the can-you-top-this arena of kids’ birthday parties, disaster results.

Executive producer Michael Shipley (whose writing credits include “Family Guy” and “American Dad!”) was inspired by the “venting blogosphere” of mommy blogs that

chronicle the perils of childrearing, Longoria said. Marnie Nir and Katie Torpey are credited with original material.

Shipley’s approach is “a really fun, impressive way into poking fun at the different styles of parenting that moms have,” said the former “Desperate Housewives” star who is a producer on “Devious Maids.”

The cast includes Jesse Camacho and Rebecca Husain as Rudi’s children Dick and Apple; Gabrielle Miller and Cle Bennett as Rudi’s pals; and Helen Taylor as perfect mom Jenny.

A character like Rudi is overdue, Longoria said.

“People think that sometimes women aren’t funny. And in animation, specifically, everything you see is male-oriented. It is a large male audience watching animation,” she said. “But I don’t think there’s been anything women can watch that they can relate to and laugh at.”

Asked to compare Rudi and Gabrielle Solis, her “Desperate Housewives” character who had her own parenting issues, Longoria replies: “I think Rudi is Gaby on steroids. There’s things we can do in a more comedic way in animation that we could never do in live action.”

Information Call ROB KISER sports editor, at 773-2721, ext. 209 from 8 p.m. to midnight weekdays.

Piqua Daily Call • www.dailycall.com

In brief n Echo Hills to hold walk

Echo Hills will host a 5K walk/run Saturday.

The walk will begin at 9 a.m. and the entry fee is $20.

The proceeds will benefit wounded warriors.

Registration forms are available at Echo Hills Golf Course, Joe Thoma’s,, Piqua City Building, VFW, Piqua Chamber of Commerce and American Legion Post 184.

All registered participants will receive a t-shirt.

n Lehman selling playoff tickets

Lehman is selling tickets for its playoff football game set for Saturday night at Sidney Memorial Stadium.

Game time is 7 p.m. and the opponent will be 8-2 Bainbridge Paint Valley Ticket prices are $7 in advance and all tickets at the gate will be $9.

Tickets will be sold at Lehman during school hours and until 1 p.m. Saturday at both East 47 Marathon in Sidney and Reedmore Hallmark in Piqua.

n Buccs selling playoff tickets

The Covington footbal team will be hosting Portsmouth Notre Dame in the D-VII football playoffs at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Gate will open at 5:30 p.m. and everyone attending must have a ticket.

No passes will be honored. Reserve seat ticket holders will be allowed to seat in their seat, but must purchase a ticket.

All pre-sale tickets are $7 and all tickets will be $9 at the gate.

Tickets will be available at the Covington Middle School and Covington High School during the regular school day Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Joanie’s Floral designs will be selling tickets from noon today until 2:30 p.m.

Saturday Covington keeps a percentage of the pre-sale proceeds.

Sports Friday, November 8, 2013

Taking stroll down memory lane Paint Valley’s offense has familiar look for Roll

Ken Barhorst Civitas Media

SIDNEY — For Lehman football coach Dick Roll, Saturday night’s playoff game will be a stroll down memory lane.

The Cavaliers put their 9-1 record up against Bainbridge Paint Valley in the first round of the Division VII playoffs Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Sidney Memorial Stadium. And the Bearcats will feature, in Roll’s words, a “grindit-out” offense, much like his teams used to run before going to the wide open offense that has been so successful this season.

“They remind me a lot of our 2010 team,” said Roll, who is preparing his team for postseason play for the first time in the past three years. “They want to run the ball and control the clock. And defending against the run is probably our weakest part.

So we have our work cut out.”

Paint Valley faces a lengthy bus ride just to get to Sidney. Bainbridge is 114 miles from Sidney down in the southern part of the state. The

Civitas Media File Photo

Lehman running back John Husa dives for yardage against Ridgemont.

team was one of three to share the Scioto Valley Conference championship.

The Bearcats have two potent runners in the backfield, led by Teagan McFadden. The 5-foot8, 175-pounder is just a

sophomore, and rushed for 1,028 yards on 115 carries, an average of 8.1 per carry. He scored eight touchdowns.

Paint Valley lost back-to-back games to Westfall, 20-12, and Adena, 25-24, and it’s

interesting to note that McFadden was ejected from the Westfall game.

Because of that, he also had to sit out the following week against Adena.

Mark Clifford, a sixfoot, 210-pound senior, just missed giving the

team two 1,000-yard runners, finishing with 975 on 122 carries, 7.9 yards per carry. He scored 14 touchdowns.

Quarterback Anthony McFadden, a 5-10 See LEHMAN | Page 8

Buccs, Titans get it done quickly Passing to be at minimum in Covington playoff game

n Scores to air games

ScoresBroadcast.com will air two football playoffs games this weekend.

On Friday, Tippecanoe will host a D-III playoff game with Kenton Ridge at 7:30 p.m.

Air time is 7:05 p.m.

On Saturday, Lehman will host Bainbridge Paint Valley in a D-VII game at 7 pm.

Air time is 6:35 p.m.

Stumper

7

Ben Robinson | GoBuccs.com

Covington quarterback Justin Williams fights for yardage against Ansonia.

COVINGTON — For those planning to attend the Covington-Portsmouth Notre Dame D-VII playoff game Saturday night who have 9 p.m. dinner plans — there is no need to postpone them.

The kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., with the run-oriented offenses providing a close to a continuous clock as you can get.

“We will probably be out of here by 8:30,” Covington football coach Dave Miller said.

“They throw the ball even less than we do.”

But, it is hard to argue with the the two team’s success.

While Covington is in the midst of a 42-game regular season win streak dating back to 2009 and coming off its fourth straight 10-0 regular season, Notre Dame is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2007 after going 8-2.

The Titans played at Covington in the opening round of D-VI in 2007 as well, losing 44-12.

“They don’t have a lot of football players, but the players they have are good players,” Miller said. “They have nine players going both ways, so

they don’t have a lot of depth — but they are a good football team.”

Notre Dame uses a twopronged attack on offense out of wing-T. Dakota Smith and Will Haney both rushed for more than 1,000 yards, the first time in school history the Titans have had two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season.

“Sometimes, they will line the one guy up wide,” Miller said. “For the most part, they are both in the backfield and they are both very good running backs.”

On defense, the Titans will use a popular look.

“They play what we call an even defense and shade the center,” he said. “It is what you see most colleges doing now.

And they have pretty good size.

They will be one of the bigger teams we have seen.”

A.J. Ouellette again leads the Covington offense, with another 2,000-yard season — but he is far from the Buccs only threat.

“A.J. (Ouellette) is just amazing,” Miller said. “But, we feel like are sophomore quarterback See COVINGTON | Page 8

Tigers look for ‘banner’ finish

was the Q: Who first coach

Versailles two wins from state title

of the Cincinnati Bengals?

Kyle Shaner Civitas Media

A:

Paul Brown

Quoted “I mean, at some point and time you need to stand your ground as an individual.”

—Antrel Rolle on Jonathan Martin being a 340-pound offensive tackle

VERSAILLES — More than a dozen state championship banners adorn the walls of Versailles’ high school gymnasium.

This year’s Versailles volleyball team hopes to leave its mark on the school and add another banner to the collection, which would be the first of its kind.

“With all the support and stuff from our community, it’s something we’ve always wanted,” senior Brett Bey said. “It’d be nice to have a banner of our own up there.”

Versailles has won 14 state championships in baseball, basketball, cross country, football and track and field — which

Kyle Shaner | Civitas Media

Versailles’ Taylor Winner hits the ball against Sparta Highland last Saturday.

doesn’t even include the individual state titles from athletes in bowling, cross country and track and field — but the school has never won a state title in volleyball. The Lady Tigers intend to change that this weekend.

“Beginning of the season, that was one of our goals, was advancing to state, qualifying for state,” Versailles volleyball coach Karla Frilling said. “And as our season has progressed, that goal has obviously progressed with it. We’re there.

For home delivery, call 773-2725

We’re going to state. Now the goal is to come home with the title.”

Versailles will play in the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Division III state tournament with a state semifinal matchup against Upper Sandusky at noon today at Wright State University’s Ervin J. Nutter Center. The winner of that match will advance to play for the Division III state championship against either West Lafayette Ridgewood or Gates Mills Gilmour Academy at 3 p.m. Saturday.

“We’ve been personally working for this the whole season, like it’s been one of our goals since day one,” senior Kayla McEldowney said.

But the Lady Tigers’ dreams of making it to the state tournament go back beyond this season.

See VERSAILLES | Page 8

Sports

8 Friday, November 8, 2013

www.dailycall.com • Piqua Daily Call

AFC North upside down this year Bengals in control; Browns in second Only one team with a winning record? The Steelers and Ravens bringing up the bottom?

What’s up with the AFC North?

The NFL’s toughest division is having a tough year all-around. The mainstays are just trying to stay relevant at the midpoint of the season. The Bengals (6-3) are in control of a division that may send only one team to the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

“I’ve been used to seeing Pittsburgh and Baltimore so many years at the top of this division,” Bengals safety Chris Crocker said. “Things have really changed. Those teams have gone through transition and so have we.

“We got a lot of young talent and just been playing very well. When we do play well we play very, very well.”

The rest of the division?

Not so well. Cincinnati has a two-game lead and can pretty much scuttle the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens (3-5) with a victory in Baltimore on Sunday.

The Browns (4-5) are having an encouraging season — encouraging simply because they’re not bringing up the rear — while the Steelers (2-6) have taken over the bottom spot by playing as poorly as any

Pittsburgh team in the last 25 years. ___ Five things to watch in the AFC North in the second half: MORE THAN ONE? The division has sent 11 teams to the playoffs in the last five years, the most by any division. It’s the only division that has sent at least two each season, including three in 2011. Cincinnati is in good shape to win its first division title since 2009.

Can any of the other teams pull themselves together and make a strong run in the second half to give the North more than one playoff team? Last year, the Bengals were 3-5 at the midpoint and won a wild card with a strong finish, joining the Ravens in the postseason.

CAN THE BENGALS HOLD ON: The most encouraging part of the Bengals’ resurgent season has been the play of thirdyear quarterback Andy Dalton, who has become a playmaker instead of just a caretaker of the offense. The biggest concern is a defense that’s lost All-Pro tackle Geno Atkins and top cornerback Leon Hall for the rest of the season and middle linebacker Rey Maualuga indefinitely because of injuries.

“You’ve done enough to have a lead in the division, but to be honest, this isn’t the end,” left tackle Andrew Whitworth said. “So we’re really not where we want to be until 16 games are over and you’re at the top of your division. We still have a lot to go get and a lot to prove.”

HOPEFUL BROWNS: They took a big step back toward relevance with a 24-18 win over the Ravens last Sunday in Cleveland, ending Baltimore’s streak of 11 straight wins in the rivalry. Jason Campbell, the 20th starting quarterback since Cleveland returned as an expansion franchise in 1999, threw three touchdown passes as the Browns pulled into second place, a bit of a rush for a franchise that hasn’t won more than five games in any of the past five seasons.

“We’ve been a kid brother in this division for a long time,” first-year coach Rob Chudzinski said. “You have to go play and if you want to change that, then you have to go do things to change it.”

RAVENS IN TROUBLE: Baltimore expected a transition season with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed among those gone from the Super Bowl championship team.

Instead, they’ve gotten knocked around. They’re averaging only 71.6 yards

AP Photo

Cleveland Browns defensive end Armonty Bryant celebrates after sacking Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.

per game on the ground, 29th in the league. The offensive line has struggled, Ray Rice has only 259 yards while playing through a hip injury, and Joe Flacco has been hurried on many of his throws.

Baltimore needs a strong finish, beginning with its game Sunday against the Bengals, to reach the playoffs for the sixth season in a row.

“As far as we are concerned, as it stands, we’re in a tough spot,” coach John Harbaugh said.

CURTAINS FOR

Covington

Lehman

From page 7

From page 7

(Justin Williams) is really coming on and we have had some young guys like Nathan Blei really step up.”

And while Covington doesn’t do it a lot out of the triple option, Miller feels like they can throw if they need to.

“It is something we have worked on and gotten better at,” he said.

“We don’t like to do it, but if the situation calls for it, we can do it.”

Miller is excited about the Buccs defense, which has allowed seven points or less in seven of the last eight games.

“The defense has really progressed,” he said. “They have gotten better with every game.”

Overall, the Buccs success plan is a simple one — everyone “buys in” to the team concept.

“That is a very good way of putting it,” Miller said. “The kids have bought in. We don’t have any (major) problems around here.

We just have little corrections to make.”

It is one final home game for 14 Covington seniors.

Versailles

From page 7 Versailles only had one senior volleyball player for both the 2011 and 2012 seasons, so this year’s players — which include six seniors, six juniors and three sophomores — have played a lot of varsity volleyball during the past few seasons.

With that solid core, Versailles has had high expectations, including trips to state, and is starting to fulfill them.

“We had so much potential,” senior Olivia Schlater. “It’s finally fun to put it into use and go far.”

Even before the girls began their high school careers, they had aspirations of playing at state.

The Versailles volleyball team has been in the state tournament three times before — 1988, 2003 and 2008. The current players have some memories of those most recent teams to make state.

“We looked up to them so much since they were a lot older and bigger than us,” Schlater said. “And we just dreamed that one day we’d be there, too.”

The 2003 team was the state runner up, which is the best showing Versailles has had at the state volleyball tournament.

“We always pictured ourselves out there on the floor one day, and it’s finally happening,” McEldowney said.

One advantage this year’s team has over the past couple seasons is the amount of leadership on the roster.

“It was really nice having a lot more leadership this year because everyone will step up and play like they know how to play,” Schlater said.

To get to this point,

“We have big expectations — we have a lot more to accomplish,” Miller said. “This group of senior has accomplished a lot and they understood last week, it wasn’t going to be their final home game.”

For the second straight year, the Cross County Conference has four playoff teams.

“We get tested every week,” Miller said. “We can’t just show up and win. Tri-County North (a 22-14 win) gave us a heck of a game.

Miami East played us tough for a half. We just hit a couple big plays, but they still battled us all the way.

We got up on National Trail early, but they never quit they played hard the entire game.”

The Titans two losses are to Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph and Oak Hill, who both made the playoffs in D-VI. And Miller is happy it is not his team with a three-hour bus ride Saturday.

“I wouldn’t want it, that’s for sure,” he said.

As for a quick game — you can count on that.

Versailles had to face a lot of tough competition.

The Lady Tigers competed in the Midwest Athletic Conference, which has sent a team to the state volleyball tournament 20 consecutive years.

Facing tough competition each week in the MAC has prepared the Lady Tigers for the challenges of the OHSAA tournament.

“We go into tournament like thinking that we’re going to play a MAC team, and we just got to lay it all on the line,” McEldowney said. “I think that really gets our mental game up there, like we’ve got to be prepared.”

Versailles went 8-1 in MAC play, only losing in a fiveset match to Marion Local on Aug. 29. Marion Local, the defending Division IV state champion, went undefeated in conference play and advanced to the Division IV state tournament this year.

Versailles’ only other loss was on Aug. 24 in the Mercer Health Invitational to Leipsic.

With both losses coming early in the season, Versailles hasn’t lost in more than two months.

“One of our goals has been to be consistent throughout the season, and lately we’ve really been doing that and putting all of our hitters and setters connection together and really getting our defense working more,” Schlater said.

The strong play has continued in the postseason as Versailles hasn’t lost a set in tournament play. Among the teams Versailles has swept in the tournament were twotime defending state champion Miami East in the regional semifinal and the Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches

sophomore, added 468 yards rushing along with 893 yards passing on 56-for-107, 52 percent. He threw for 11 touchdowns and had six interceptions, and his favorite target is Dylan Estep, a 6-2, 165pound senior. Clifford is next with 13 catches this season.

Defensively, the Bearcats are led by Dakota Morgan, a 6-1, 205-pound linebacker who had 85.5 tackles this season.

He’s also blocked two punts and has 9.5 quarterback sacks. Teagan McFadden is next with 77.5, and third is Corey Freeman, a 5-8, 155-pound junior defensive back who also has three interceptions this season. Clifford, also a linebacker, had 54 tackles and nine QB sacks.

“I think they’ll try to jam it down our throats,” Roll said of the Bearcats.

Association’s No. 1 ranked team, Highland Sparta, in the regional final.

“I feel like we’re playing smart volleyball right now, like we’re feeding the people who will get us kills and like mixing up our offense a lot,” McEldowney said. “And then defense is just playing their hearts out, getting balls up.”

The Lady Tigers have a strong team and have been working well together, Bey said, and have to continue doing that in the state tournament.

“We’re finally starting to work together the way we should be,” Bey said. “We just need to keep coming out strong and stay focused on what we’re doing.”

Today’s opponent, Upper Sandusky, is similar to Versailles and the teams the Tigers have seen this season, Frilling said. To beat the Rams, the Tigers will have to try to set the pace and stay aggressive, she said.

“Get the ball beyond their front line and stay aggressive, work them hard to keep them out of system so they can’t run the offense that they intent to run against us,” Frilling said.

“They have a strong offense.

They have some height, so they’re going to put up a big block. If we can get it beyond that block and stay aggressive on them, hopefully keep them out of system enough that we can break down their offense a little bit.”

Upper Sandusky won the North Central Conference this year for the first time since 1995. The Rams are 25-2 with losses to Elgin and Buckeye Central, a 2012 Division IV state-qualifying team, a loss they later avenged.

THE STEEL CURTAIN: Pittsburgh’s offense has been sapped by injuries since training camp, making it reliant once again on Ben Roethlisberger’s improvisation. The biggest surprise has been the decline of a defense that ranked No. 1 last season but seems to have gotten old quickly. Pittsburgh gave up a franchise-record in points during a 55-31 loss to the Patriots last Sunday.

The Steelers have reached the Super Bowl twice in the last five seasons. They’re out of playoff contention

“Control the clock. And we can’t let them do that.

That’s what’s scary. They can milk the clock on us if we let them. They can put points on the board and they have some big guys up front. This is the strongest team we’ve faced since Fort Loramie.”

The Cavaliers, meanwhile, are coming off a 62-26 demolishing of Upper Scioto Valley that gave them the outright Northwest Central Conference championship last week. After lamenting his team’s slow starts all season, Roll was pleased to see the Cavs come out of the blocks strong a week ago.

“We actually got off to a good start,” he said.

“Something we’ve been trying to do all season. We didn’t have the mistakes last week. In the past, we’d have poor passes, blown blocking assignments,

Not only is this the first trip to the state tournament for the Rams, it is the first time they advanced to the district final and beyond. Uppper Sandusky beat Coldwater, another MAC team, in five sets in the regional final to get to the state tournament.

Upper Sandusky has one senior, 6-foot 2-inch middle hitter Taylor Graboski (No. 4), who has committed to play college ball at Valparaiso. She has 355 kills and more than 200 digs plus was first team all-Ohio and the District 6 player of the year.

Upper Sandusky has two more girls who are 6 feet 2 inches, sophomore outside hitter Jessi Holly (No. 5) with 308 kills and sophomore middle hitter Molly Owens (No. 9) with 197 kills. Junior middle hitter Kalene Johnson (No. 11) has 167 kills, and junior libero Jenna Holly (No. 3) has more than 1,000 career digs.

Versailles has the height and athleticism to match Upper Sandusky.

“I don’t know that there’s any disadvantage to having girls that are tall and that can be big blockers and work hard at the net for you,” Frilling said. “And then when you come up against a team that equals your size, matches your size pretty well, it’s nice to know that we have that advantage on our side of the court, also.

And so the girls are confident going in. We practice against that in practice against each other all the time so because we can create those match ups in practice and because we’ve gone up against teams throughout our season, we can use those experiences and things that we learned to hopefully break down that same

halfway through this one, with their loyal fans wondering how low they’ll go.

Pittsburgh has had only five losing seasons in the past 25 years. They haven’t won fewer than six games in a season since 1988, when they went 5-11 under Chuck Noll.

“We’re here to win,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “That’s our charge, that’s our job, that’s our passion. We’re not getting it done consistently to this point. So, that’s irritating and frustrating.”

PREDICTED WINNER: Bengals.

blocking the wrong guy…

But it all just clicked from the beginning.”

The Cavaliers have been ultra-explosive on offense, with quarterback Nick Rourke throwing for 2,356 yards this season and 27 touchdowns. His favorite target has been Drew Westerheide, who had 43 receptions during the regular season, 13 of which went for touchdowns. Max Schutt caught 31 passes, Greg Spearman 25 and Clay Selsor 23.

Rourke also leads the team in rushing yards with 418.

On defense, Spearman leads the way with 72 tackles and four interceptions.

Linebacker Skylar Brown leads in sacks with four and has 58 tackles.

He was named the N o r t hwe s t C e n t ra l Conference Defensive Player of the Year this week.

kind of offense and that same kind of defense they’re going to bring against us on Friday.”

Versailles has been working hard and has remained focused this week in practice, Frilling said, which included a jointpractice with Marion Local on Monday.

Even with all the hard work and preparation, Frilling still expects the team to have some nerves during today’s match.

“I don’t think there’s anything I can do that is going to help their nerves,” said Frilling, who was an assistant coach on Marion Local’s 2007 and 2008 state championship teams. “They’re allowed to be a little bit nervous. It’s going to be adrenaline; it’s going to be flowing. I think they just need to get a few balls out of their system probably. I think both side of the court are going to look that way at some point in time. And once these girls settle down and find their rhythm and play for each other as a team, I think we’ll be OK. I’d be surprised if they weren’t a little anxious. As bad as they want it, they are anxious to play. I think once they get a couple contacts and a few balls, they’ll settle down and they’ll get in their groove.”

Versailles has accomplished a lot this season, establishing itself as one of the best teams in the state and one of the best teams in school history. But the Lady Tigers don’t want to come home without the state championship.

“As always, I’m very proud of them,” Frilling said.

“They’ve worked really hard to get where they are today, and they have a very focused goal, and they don’t want to come home until the job is completely done.”

www.dailycall.com• Piqua Daily Call

MUTTS

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HAGAR THE HORRIBLE

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DENNIS the MENACE

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HOROSCOPE

BY FRANCES DRAKE

For Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You can accomplish a lot today because you have the energy, focus and endurance to get the job done. Make a list, and make it so.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) This is a great day for dancers, performing artists, professional athletes and anyone who uses vigorous energy to express him- or herself. You have discipline, control and focus today.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You can get an amazing amount done at home today. You can renovate, rebuild clean or shove furniture around. You're determined to make some changes for the better.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) In discussion with others, you will be forthright, direct and convincing today. In a way, you are like a stuck record -- relentless. This intense focus will bring results.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22) You will work hard to earn money today. You also will work equally hard to organize your finances and possessions, because you want to feel you are on top of your game. (You will be.)

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) This is a good day for careful planning and executing projects with care and finesse. You're disciplined, careful and detail-oriented.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) Work alone or behind the scenes today, because you will be diligent and successful in any research project you undertake. This is because you are feeling persistent, patient and focused.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) Work together with others to accomplish a great deal today. Cooperation, especially well-coordinated cooperation, can make a huge difference.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) Bosses, parents, teachers and VIPs will be impressed with your steady effort and output today. You're not going to stop until the job is done.

(Impressive.)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) You'll find it easy to study today, in large measure because you're prepared to work hard. Your powers of concentration are excellent, in addition to which you will not overlook details.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) Differences about shared property, inheritances and insurance matters might be settled today, because you are relentless and patient at the same time. Ultimately, you will steamroll over others.

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20) You can get a lot done working with others today, but you will have to be patient. With Mars opposite your sign now, you're inclined to be irritated by others. Easy does it.

YOU BORN TODAY You enjoy earthly pleasures and creature comforts, which is why you often think about temptation. This is because you live for the moment, and you approach life with physical intensity and passion. You are playful and love to discover new places, things and ideas. Good news! This year might be the most powerful year of your life.

Dream big!

Birthdate of: Eric Dane, actor; Susan Tedeschi, blues musician; Gaetan Hart, boxer.

SNUFFY SMITH

GARFIELD

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FUNKY WINKERBEAN

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Friday, November 8, 2013

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LEGALS SHERIFF’S SALE MIAMI COUNTY COMMON PLEAS Case No.: 13-042 JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA vs.

Terry A. Cotrell, et al Pursuant to the command of an Order of Sale in the above name cause to me directed by the Court of Common Pleas of Miami County, Ohio, I will offer at Public Sale in the lobby of the Sheriff on December 4, 2013 at 10:00 o’clock in the a.m. the following described premises, to-wit: Situated in the City of Piqua, in the County of Miami, and in the State of Ohio Parcel Number: N44-035530 Also known as: 534 McKinley, Piqua, Ohio 45356 A full legal description may be obtained in the Office of the Recorder of Miami County, Ohio.

Appraised at Thirty Nine Thousand and 00/100 ($39,000.00) Dollars and cannot be sold for less than two-thirds of the appraisement.

TERMS OF SALE: 10% of appraised value down time of sale and .5% of appraised value for conveyance and recording, balance within 30 days of confirmation.

Kevin L. Williams, Attorney 11/01, 11/08, 11/15-2013

Yard Sale

NOTICE OF CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION The Piqua City School District will administer an Open Competitive Examination for the position of TR-1 Bus Driver at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, November 25, 2013 in the Board Room on the second floor of the Piqua Board of Education Office. To be eligible to take the examination, applicants must have a current CDL with a SP endorsement. Applicants must obtain a test application at the Board of Education Office, 719 E. Ash Street. The test application must be completed and returned to the Board of Education Office by noon on Wednesday, November 20, 2013. In addition, an online application must be submitted through the Piqua City Schools website prior to the test date.

11/8, 11/15-2013 40521261 Notices Yard Sale

LEGALS SHERIFF’S SALE MIAMI COUNTY COMMON PLEAS Case No.: 13-038 The Bank of New York Mellon vs.

Larry D. Black, et al Pursuant to the command of an Order of Sale in the above name cause to me directed by the Court of Common Pleas of Miami County, Ohio, I will offer at Public Sale in the lobby of the Sheriff on December 11, 2013 at 10:00 o’clock in the a.m. the following described premises, to-wit: Situated in the City of Piqua, in the County of Miami, and in the State of Ohio Parcel Number: N44-069220 Prior Deed Reference: Survivorship Deed, Recorded in Book 682, Page 368, Filed on 11/07/1997 Also known as: 403 North Parkway Drive, Piqua, Ohio 45356 A full legal description may be obtained in the Office of the Recorder of Miami County, Ohio.

Appraised at Ninety Three Thousand and 00/100 ($93,000.00) Dollars and cannot be sold for less than two-thirds of the appraisement.

TERMS OF SALE: 10% of appraised value down time of sale and .5% of appraised value for conveyance and recording, balance within 30 days of confirmation.

Charles V. Gasior, Attorney 11/08, 11/15, 11/22-2013 40519315

PIQUA, 2008 Indian Ridge Drive, Saturday 8-3pm, Craftsman 42" riding mower 2-bin grass bagger, 24 ft alum. ladder, electric dryer, chain saws, heavy-duty chains and winch, tools, 4gal. buckets w/lids, office desk, 2 infant car seats, kids clothing (sz.4-7), toys, ladies clothing (sz.10-12), wedding dresses (sz. 12 & 14) and more.

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Miscellaneous LEGALS SHERIFF’S SALE MIAMI COUNTY COMMON PLEAS Case No.: 13-196 U S Bank, NA vs.

Martin P. Finfrock, et al Pursuant to the command of an Order of Sale in the above name cause to me directed by the Court of Common Pleas of Miami County, Ohio, I will offer at Public Sale in the lobby of the Sheriff on December 11, 2013 at 10:00 o’clock in the a.m. the following described premises, to-wit: Situated in the Village of Covington, in the County of Miami, and in the State of Ohio Parcel Number: H19-010170 Prior Deed Reference: Deed Book 789, Page 594 Also known as: 222 East Broadway Street, Covington, Ohio 45318 A full legal description may be obtained in the Office of the Recorder of Miami County, Ohio.

Appraised at Fifty Thousand and 00/100, ($50,000.00) Dollars and cannot be sold for less than two-thirds of the appraisement.

TERMS OF SALE: 10% of appraised value down time of sale and .5% of appraised value for conveyance and recording, balance within 30 days of confirmation.

Miranda S. Hamrick, Attorney 11/08, 11/15, 11/22-2013 40519292

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LEGALS SHERIFF’S SALE MIAMI COUNTY COMMON PLEAS Case No.: 13-421 Wells Fargo Bank, NA vs.

Jeanne Fritts, et al Pursuant to the command of an Order of Sale in the above name cause to me directed by the Court of Common Pleas of Miami County, Ohio, I will offer at Public Sale in the lobby of the Sheriff on December 4, 2013 at 10:00 o’clock in the a.m. the following described premises, to-wit: Situated in the Township of Newberry, in the County of Miami, and in the State of Ohio Parcel Number: H17-036950 Also known as: 8615 West US Route 36, Covington, Ohio 45318 A full legal description may be obtained in the Office of the Recorder of Miami County, Ohio.

Appraised at One Hundred Eighty Thousand and 00/100 ($180,000.00) Dollars and cannot be sold for less than two-thirds of the appraisement.

TERMS OF SALE: 10% of appraised value down time of sale and .5% of appraised value for conveyance and recording, balance within 30 days of confirmation.

Angela D. Kirk, Attorney 11/01, 11/08, 11/15-2013 40516313

LEGALS

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MACHINE MAINTENANCE Repairing Industrial Equipment, Mechanical, Electrical trouble shooting, Hydraulic/ Pneumatic repair, (PCLs) trouble shooting, 2 years experience, Benefits after 90 days.

Submit resume to: AMS 330 Canal Street Sidney, Ohio 45365 Email: amsohio1@earthlink.net ***Now Hiring*** 311 DRAFT HOUSE Bartending, Serving, and Line Cook positions available Day/Night shifts available Apply at Piqua Chamber of Commerce 326 N Main St, Piqua

COMMUNITY MANAGER Part-time position available for apartment community manager in Sidney. Forward resumes to amandas@1bcr.com. NO PHONE CALLS.

RECEPTIONIST Part Time position, evening hours in busy Medical Office, Must have excellent people skills, be a good multitasker, and work at a fast pace, Good computer skills and experience required. Competitive pay, Approx 15 Hours a week.

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SERVICE TECHNICIANS For Agricultural Equipment Dealership.

Will consider all Levels of experience with and without CDL. Health Insurance, 401K, Vacation Mail Resume to: APPLE FARM SERVICE, Inc. 19161 Kentner Rd Botkins, OH 45306 Or email: mattbot@ applefarmservice.com Sales / Business Development

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4 FREE SHERIFF’S SALE MIAMI COUNTY COMMON PLEAS Case No.: 13-364 Nationstar Mortgage LLC vs.

Helen E. Dooley, et al Pursuant to the command of an Order of Sale in the above name cause to me directed by the Court of Common Pleas of Miami County, Ohio, I will offer at Public Sale in the lobby of the Sheriff on December 11, 2013 at 10:00 o’clock in the a.m. the following described premises, to-wit: Situated in the City of Piqua, in the County of Miami, and in the State of Ohio Parcel Number: M40-059052 Also known as: 8446 North Bennett Drive, Piqua, Ohio 45356 A full legal description may be obtained in the Office of the Recorder of Miami County, Ohio.

Appraised at Forty Eight Thousand and 00/100 ($48,000.00) Dollars and cannot be sold for less than two-thirds of the appraisement.

TERMS OF SALE: 10% of appraised value down time of sale and .5% of appraised value for conveyance and recording, balance within 30 days of confirmation.

Angela D. Kirk, Attorney 11/08, 11/15, 11/22-2013 40519308

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Remodeling & Repairs

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Yard Sale TROY 1322 North Market Street Friday and Saturday 9am-5pm Furniture, garage storage cabinets/work bench, aluminum boat, refrigerator, gun cabinet, bedroom furniture, fish tank, drill press

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Houses For Sale RENT TO OWN, 8 miles North of Piqua, remodeled 3 bedroom, 2 bath, air, garage, (419)296-5796 Apartments /Townhouses 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom, Houses & Apts.

SEIPEL PROPERTIES Piqua Area Only Metro Approved (937)773-9941 12pm-5pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 2 BEDROOM apartment, 8 miles North of Piqua, includes stove, refrigerator, $355 plus utilities, (419)296-5796 2 BEDROOM, clean, spacious, upstairs, newer carpet, freshly painted, reasonable heat, w/d hook-up $425 (937)773-7311 2 BEDROOM, recently renovated, $500 monthly, no pets, (937)974-6333

Houses For Rent

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3 BEDROOM, Townhome, Piqua, all appliances including washer/ dryer, 2.5 bath, 2 car garage, (937)3357176, www.firsttroy.com

PIQUA, Colonial Terrace Apts., Water, Sewer, Trash, Hot Water, Ref., Range included.

2BR-$480, 1BR-$450. W/D on site. No application fee. 12 month lease. 937-773-1952

Very nice 4 BR, dishwasher, stove, garage disposal, CA, $800 monthly. Open house 11/9, 2-4, (937)214-1307

2004 NISSAN QUEST, 3.5 SL, spotless inside and out, loaded including power moon roof and sky roof option, all service records, tow package, asking $7200, (937)418-8797

Houses For Rent

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3 BEDROOM house. W/D hook-up. $500 monthly + deposit. No pets. (937)214-0689 3 BEDROOM, 1216 Madison Street, newly renovated home, $610 monthly, (937)547-9871 IN PIQUA, 3/4 Bedroom, 2 bath, garage, call after 2 pm.

(937)498-9842 PIQUA, 1709 Williams, 4 BR, newly remodeled, appliances, CA, fenced yard. $950 month, (937)778-9303, (937)6045417.

Pets

REGISTERED BORDER COLLIER puppies, beautiful black & white all males, 1st shots, farm raised, $250 (937)5648954 Autos For Sale 1996 GMC Sonoma SLS, 2 door, sport V6, 71K miles, extra clean, fully loaded, Fiberglass bed cover and liner. $4950 (937)492-4743

PILATES work out bench and extra bench. $150 for both.

(937)773-0406 Firewood FIREWOOD $150 split, delivered. Round wood $110/cord, delivered.

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Furniture & Accessories 2001 MITSUBISHI Eclipse Spyder auto V6, convertible top, all in good condition, runs great, 154K, $4375 (937)335-2812

2003 CADILLAC CTS 98k miles, silver, automatic, v6, Bose Sound system, leather heated seats, looks and runs like new, $7495 (937)295-2626

LEGALS SHERIFF’S SALE MIAMI COUNTY COMMON PLEAS Case No.: 12-745 Unity National Bank vs.

Deborah C. Millhouse, et al Pursuant to the command of an Order of Sale in the above name cause to me directed by the Court of Common Pleas of Miami County, Ohio, I will offer at Public Sale in the lobby of the Sheriff on December 4, 2013 at 10:00 o’clock in the a.m. the following described premises, to-wit: Situated in the Village of Fletcher, in the County of Miami, and in the State of Ohio Parcel Number: B05-000630 Also known as: 11 West Main Street, Fletcher, Ohio 45326 A full legal description may be obtained in the Office of the Recorder of Miami County, Ohio.

Appraised at Twenty Nine Thousand and 00/100 ($29,000.00) Dollars and cannot be sold for less than two-thirds of the appraisement.

TERMS OF SALE: 10% of appraised value down time of sale and .5% of appraised value for conveyance and recording, balance within 30 days of confirmation.

Dale G. Davis, Attorney 11/01, 11/08, 11/15-2013 40516293

Exercise Equipment

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LEGALS SHERIFF’S SALE MIAMI COUNTY COMMON PLEAS Case No.: 13-017 Unity National Bank vs.

Paul Ault, Jr., et al Pursuant to the command of an Order of Sale in the above name cause to me directed by the Court of Common Pleas of Miami County, Ohio, I will offer at Public Sale in the lobby of the Sheriff on December 4, 2013 at 10:00 o’clock in the a.m. the following described premises, to-wit: Situated in the City of Piqua, in the County of Miami, and in the State of Ohio Parcel Number: N44-020600 Also known as: 909 West High Street, Piqua, Ohio 45356 A full legal description may be obtained in the Office of the Recorder of Miami County, Ohio.

Appraised at Sixty Three Thousand and 00/100 ($63,000.00) Dollars and cannot be sold for less than two-thirds of the appraisement.

TERMS OF SALE: 10% of appraised value down time of sale and .5% of appraised value for conveyance and recording, balance within 30 days of confirmation.

Dale G. Davis, Attorney 11/01, 11/08, 11/15-2013 40516307

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12 Friday, November 8, 2013

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Greenhouse Gases Have Soared to Record Levels: WMO Associated Press

The amount of planetwarming greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached a record high in 2012, with rapid growth in both carbon dioxide and methane concentrations, according to a new report released Wednesday by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

The report provides new insights into the extent to which human activities, combined with natural processes, have reshaped the makeup of the atmosphere since the dawn of the industrial revolution.

As a result of all the extra CO2 pumped into the air, worldwide average temperatures have already risen by 1.6°F between 1901-2012 and are projected to increase by between 0.54°F to 8.64°F by 2081-2100 compared to 1986-2005 levels, depending on the future amounts of greenhouse gases in the air, according to a recent report from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The report from the WMO, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland, found that between 1990 and 2012 there was a 32 percent increase in the warming effect on the climate, known as radiative forcing. By far the biggest contributor to that trend was a steep rise in atmospheric concentrations of CO2, which came mainly from burning fossil fuels and land use change, the report said.

“As a result of this (increase in greenhouse gases), our climate is changing, our weather is more extreme, ice sheets and glaciers are melting

and sea levels are rising,” Michael Jarraud, WMO secretary-general, said in a press release.

Compared to the preindustrial era, the global average atmospheric concentration of CO2 — the most important long-lived greenhouse gas — has increased by 41 percent, the report found. During the same time period, the concentration of methane in the atmosphere jumped by 160 percent and nitrous oxide, which is another greenhouse gas and a contributor to smog, rose by 20 percent. Methane is a more powerful warming agent than CO2, but only lasts in the atmosphere for a few decades, whereas CO2 molecules can linger in the air for many centuries to more than a thousand years.

The long lifespan of CO2 means that if emissions are not curtailed soon, major impacts of climate change, from extreme weather events to melting glaciers and rising seas, will be locked into the climate for centuries to come.

“We need to act now, otherwise we will jeopardize the future of our children, grandchildren, and many future generations,” Jarraud said. “Time is not on our side.”

In 2012 the global average concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere was 393.1 parts per milion, or 141 percent of the pre-industrial level of 278 parts per million. The amount of CO2 increased at a faster rate between 2011 and 2012 when compared to the average yearly increase during the past decade.

Martial Trezzini, Keystone | AP Photo

Oksana Tarasova, Scientific Officer at the World Meteorological Organization, WMO, informs the media about the annual greenhouse gas bulletin in the atmosphere during a press conference at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday. The U.N. weather agency says concentrations of carbon dioxide pollution in the atmosphere have accelerated and reached a record high in 2012. WMO says carbon dioxide was measured at 393.1 parts per million last year, up 2.2 ppm from the previous year.

According to the recent IPCC report, CO2 is now at the highest level it has been in at least 800,000 years. That was a time when megatoothed sharks prowled the oceans, the world’s seas were up to 100 feet higher than they are today and the global average surface temperature was up to 11°F warmer than it is now.

During 2012, several Arctic observing stations recorded CO2 concentra-

tions peaking above 400 ppm and in 2013 that expanded to include other stations, including at Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, which is the oldest continuously operated station tracking greenhouse gas concentrations.

The WMO found that if current emissions trends continue, the global average annual concentration of CO2 will cross the 400 ppm threshold by 2016.

Some scientists and climate activists have said that CO2 concentrations need to be brought down to as low as 350 ppm in order to avert dangerous effects of climate change, although emissions trends show that the world is well on its way to reaching 450 ppm or more during the next several decades, unless drastic changes are made in energy policy.

According to the WMO report, which is its 9th annual report on greenhouse gases, about half of the CO2 emitted by human activities remains in the atmosphere. The oceans absorb much of the rest, but are becoming more acidic as a result, and more hostile to many marine species that depend on certain chemicals for making their shells, such as oysters and corals.

The report draws from observations collected by 50 countries that are members of the WMO, which is a U.N. organization. The report does not detail greenhouse gas emissions, but other assessments have found that global emissions reached a record high of 35.6 billion tonnes in in 2012, which was up 2.6 percent from 2011.

That increase was driven mainly by rapid economic growth in developing countries such as China and India.

In the U.S., CO2 emissions in 2012 declined relative to the previous year, largely due to the increased use of natural gas, which has been displacing coal as a favored source of electricity.

No evidence of Arctic

methane bubble, yet After remaining level between 1999 and 2006, methane concentrations have been on the rise again, reaching a new high of about 1819 parts per billion in 2012, which is 260 percent of the preindustrial level, the report found. Manmade sources of methane include natural gas drilling and transport, rice cultivation, cattle burning, and biomass burning.

The WMO said there is evidence that tropical and mid-latitude regions of the Northern Hemisphere have contributed to the rise in methane concentrations, and there has not yet been a detectable surge in methane coming from the Arctic. Studies have shown that rapid Arctic climate change could set free some of the methane stored in permanently frozen soil, known as permafrost, which is thawing as temperatures increase, as well as in frozen formations beneath the sea, known as methane hydrates.

If a considerable amount of methane were to be released from the Arctic, it would likely mean that global warming would accelerate even further, a scenario that has worried some scientists who have referred to this phenomenon as the Arctic “ methane bomb.”

The WMO report said more detailed observations are needed to determine how much of the recent methane increase is due to manmade factors compared to natural processes.

Minn. man’s cave collection is his hobby, passion Jeff Baenen Associated Press

SPRING VALLEY, Minn.

(AP) — John Ackerman is a big-time landlord of subterranean real estate.

Ackerman, 59, owns Spring Valley Caverns, the largest private cave in Minnesota but just the beginning of his underground empire, which he calls the Minnesota Cave Preserve. He holds the keys to more than 40 miles of caves hidden beneath the rolling farm fields of Minnesota and Iowa and is always seeking more.

“I think it’s just to be able to be the first human being to introduce light into the inky blackness of just unknown chambers that may go for miles,” he said of his motivation. “And then later it’s to protect them so that they’re available for scientific research. That’s what keeps me going. That’s the adrenaline rush, is ‘What’s around the next corner?’”

Ackerman estimates he’s spent $4 million on cave Courtesy of John Ackerman | AP Photo exploration and acquiring In this 1980’s photo provided by John Ackerman, Ackerman underground rights, but he stands inside his Spring Valley Caverns near Spring Valley, Minn. doesn’t charge admission to Ackerman, who has discovered various caves in the area that he is the nature groups, scientists and cavers who visit. It’s a helping preserve.

hobby made possible by his successful furniture restoration business, he said.

Ackerman, who lives in Farmington, just south of Minneapolis, said he discovered his love for spelunking as a boy when he poked around the caves along the Mississippi River in St. Paul. Spring Valley Caverns was his first acquisition, in 1989, when he bought 600 acres of farmland. A previous owner had tried and failed to commercialize the half-mile-long cave below.

Southeastern Minnesota and northeastern Iowa are prime cave terrain, with soluble rock such as limestone eroded over time by running water. For a person on the surface, sinkholes are a clue to finding caves, said Ackerman, who claims to have discovered 43 caves that he now owns. All but one are in southeastern Minnesota.

Once he finds a cave, Ackerman says he approaches the landowner to buy some surface land with underground rights to the rest of the land. He then has an entrance drilled.

On a recent trip to Spring Valley Caverns, which covers some 5½ miles, Ackerman wore a light on his red helmet to pierce the darkness.

Dripping water was the

only sound, and bats, just beginning to move into the cave to hibernate, were the only animal in sight. It was chilly; Ackerman says the cave stays a consistent 48 degrees.

A remote section of the cave has a roaring river and a room big enough to hold a house, Ackerman said.

“It’s really an underground paradise. It’s unbelievable down there,” he said.

E. Calvin Alexander Jr., an earth sciences professor at the University of Minnesota, describes Ackerman as both a friend and “one of the most Type A personalities that I’ve run into in a long, long time.”

“He has single-handedly made available to scientists more miles of cave passage in Minnesota than anyone by far,” Alexander said.

His pursuit of caving hasn’t always gone smoothly.

Ackerman skirmished with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources after the department bought a cave and erected a gate in 1999 to preserve it and keep out trespassers.

In 2004, Ackerman bought some adjoining surface land along with underground rights to part of that cave and drilled a 75-foot shaft to reopen it to cavers.

“That sort of thing

rubbed people the wrong way,” said Dean Wiseman, a spokesman for the National Speleological Society, a nonprofit dedicated to exploring and conserving caves.

“He chose a course of action that some people disagreed with.”

Ed Quinn, a resource manager in the DNR’s Division of Parks and Trails, said his division had no issues with Ackerman nor any plans to pursue any of his caves.

“We only acquire lands from willing sellers,” Quinn said.

Exploring caves is dangerous work, Ackerman said.

“I’ve had it all happen.

Rock falls, near drowning, being stuck, running out of lights,” he said. “Again, what I do (is) inherently dangerous, but the rewards for me, that’s the payoff.”

Ackerman is divorced and has three grown children who aren’t interested in taking over the caves. He has approached the Minnesota Land Trust about preserving them, something the organization is weighing, according to a spokesman.

“Caves are scarce,” Ackerman said. “And it’s my wish to make sure the scientific community has access to all these caverns when I’m long gone — perpetual access.”

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Jeff Baenen | AP Photo

In this Oct. 10 photo, John Ackerman gives a closeup look at his Spring Valley Caverns near Spring Valley, Minn., looking back to the place where he plans to be buried when he dies. Ackerman has discovered various caves in the area that he is helping preserve.