08/09/12 by I-75 Newspaper Group

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Miami East FFA Reds drop fourth members attend straight; swept conference by Brewers PAGE 3

PAGE 15

August 9, 2012 It’s Where You Live!

www.troydailynews.com

Volume 104, No. 189

THS football team to host scrimmages Wednesday’s edition of the Troy Daily News listed incorrect dates for the Troy football team’s two scrimmages this season. The Trojans first scrimmage will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Troy Memorial Stadium against Reynoldsburg. Troy’s second scrimmage will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 17 against Dunbar at Troy Memorial Stadium. The Troy Daily News apologizes for these errors.

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License fees to benefit area New taxes to bring in $700k starting in 2014 BY WILL E SANDERS Ohio Community Media wsanders@dailycall.com Hoping to get more miles out of the road maintenance program Miami County Commissioners last week unanimously adopted two permissive motor vehicle license taxes that will not only benefit the

county, but also cities, villages and townships. The two $5 license fees will go into effect beginning in 2014 and will bring in a combined $712,352.50 annually for the county. The estimated distribution to other jurisdictions in Miami County varies and is based on

total vehicle registrations, but a city the size of Troy would anticipate to receive approximately $61,500 a year, though a community like Tipp City, which already takes advantage of permissive license fees would receive none. In a municipality $2.50 of the $10 charge would go back to the city, while those collected outside

of a municipality would have $3 go to the township. In Piqua, which has over 20,000 registrations, that means the revenue generated by the county resolution is estimated at just over $50,000, according to data released by the Miami County Engineer’s Office. Piqua City Manager Gary Huff said Piqua already benefits from

• See FEES on Page 2

PLEASANT HILL

INSIDE

Life on the lam(b) 4-H projects keep Pleasant Hill teen busy

Ready to go back to school?

BY MELANIE YINGST Staff Writer myingst@tdnpublishing.com

The 2012-13 school year is almost upon us. For a quick glance at what’s new for area schools this year, See Pages

hen he’s not on the soccer field or baseball diamond, you’ll find 18-year-old Gavin Alexander on the “lamb.” Alexander, a senior at Newton High School, spends most of his days “hiding out” at his grandfather Don Coate’s farm in Newton Township with his 4-H club lambs and breeding flock. Alexander started breeding 4-H club market lambs to sell to other 4-H members recently and said he loves every minute of it. “What I’ve gained the most is responsibility,” Alexander said. “If I’m not out there in the barn, these guys aren’t too happy with me.” The Newton Blue Ribbon 4-H club member said he now has a sense of pride when he sees his hard work come to fruition in the show ring, whether its his own lamb or someone else showing his lamb. “It’s something that I did that I can put my name on it,” Alexander said, before heading out to watch a lamb he bred show at another county fair. “That’s why I like breeding — you can control everything about it.” Alexander said with the heat this summer, it has been hard on his four show lambs to get to the desirable weight and muscle growth. “I like the black faced lambs — they are bigger, stronger,” Alexander said of his cross-bred Suffolk

7-8.

Tipp BOE: No tax levy for Nov. ballot After a prolonged debate of what to place on the November ballot, Tipp City Board of Education members voted 3-2 to do nothing. The resolution of necessity to place a levy of 6.5 mill for a period of three years (a drop from the August ballot’s levy of five-year, 7.95-mill) had “no” votes from board members Scott Dixon, Carla Frame and Tom Merritt. See Page 2.

Correction A story in Wednesday’s Troy Daily News concerning the death of Dave Stace contained an error. It should have stated that Mr. Stace was in Virginia as part of a men’s backpacking trip from Grace Baptist Church in Troy when he suffered a 70-foot fall while on a trail in the Shenandoah National Park. We apologize for

INSIDE TODAY Advice ............................9 Calendar.........................3 Classified......................12 Comics .........................10 Deaths ............................6 David J. Stace Nova M. Rogers Dariel M. Smith Dolores Springer Beverly Girten Robert P. Phillips Food ...............................4 Horoscopes ..................10 Opinion ...........................5 Sports...........................15 TV...................................9

OUTLOOK Today T-storms likely High: 83° Low: 67° Friday T-storms likely High: 72° Low: 60°

Drought could impact school funding BY MELANIE YINGST Staff Writer myingst@tdnpublishing.com

the two-term judge asked Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor to assign him as an acting judge until an appointment can be made so the other municipal court judge, Elizabeth Gutmann, wouldn’t be overwhelmed with work. The Miami County GOP will convene sometime in the near future to recommend an appointment, at which time Ohio Gov. John Kasich will then officially make an appointment. Kemmer said the new bill does not contain a grandfather clause, which he said he believes it should have had.

Rural districts such as Newton Local School may experience lower than normal income tax receipts due to farm income taking a hit during this year’s said Nick drought, Hamilton, Newton Local School’s treasurer during its regular meeting Wednesday. Hamilton, who also serves as a part-time treasurer at Mississinawa Valley Schools and Ansonia Local Schools in Darke County, said Newton Local School may also net less than usual income tax collections due to crop yields being lower due to the abnormally dry conditions this year. “Several farms west of here are already cutting down corn because there is no corn on the ear and using it for silage,” Hamilton said. Hamilton said lower yields could reflect back on school districts such as Newton Local schools from the taxable income from farming in rural districts.Hamilton did say the first fiscal year 2013 settlement of income tax looks promising due to July’s collection being 10.15 percent higher than projected. “I’m cautiously optimistic about the outlook of the income tax,”Hamilton said. Hamilton also said Newton Local School did not request an advance from the county’s auditor’s office as routine due to a mix-up in an email address mistake and missed its deadline. Hamilton said the mistake has been corrected and the district will receive one settlement in August for the first collection of fiscal year 2013. Hamilton said missing the deadline doesn’t hurt the general funds for the district other than missing out on 0.10 percent interest the money would have made in the bank. Hamilton said with interest rates so low, the district may have only missed out on less than $10 of revenue from the advance. “I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Hamilton said. The board also approved to seek bids

• See KEMMER on Page 2

• See FUNDS on Page 2

STAFF PHOTO/ANTHONY WEBER

Gavin Alexander stands with one of his Suffolk Hampshire cross ewe at his grandfather’s home in Pleasant Hill Tuesday.

PLEASANT HILL and Hampshire blood lines. Alexander also enjoys attending larger expositions, whether he is showing his lambs or as a spectator at events like the Ohio State Fair and the Louisville lamb expositions. “It’s fun. It’s so neat how different people do different things,”

Alexander said. “I love showing and watching other people show lambs.” Alexander said his first experience at a big show was an eye-opening experience for him. “I went out there to just learn how it all goes — I learned so much in three days,” Alexander said. Alexander said other Miami County sheep showman families, such as the Gumps, of Fletcher, and Johnsons, of

Casstown, helped get him started in the larger circuit shows. “So many great people just want to help and I’m so grateful for them and their time and knowledge,” Alexander said. “I’ll be at a show and just watch people and think ‘Wow! That’s a lot easier way to do it than the way we were doing it.’” Alexander also said

• See LAMB on Page 2

Kemmer announces retirement BY WILL E SANDERS Ohio Community Media wsanders@dailycall.com

Slated changes to the state’s public employee pension system caused a municipal court judge to retire last week, but Judge Mel Kemmer, 63, a Complete weather Republican, will remain an acting information on Page 11. judge until an appointment can be made by the county’s GOP central Home Delivery: committee. 335-5634 Kemmer said recent modificaClassified Advertising: tions to the Ohio Public Employee (877) 844-8385 Retirement System, or OPERS, related to benefit limitations were the cause of his retirement last Tuesday. Senate Bill 343 was brought to 6 74825 22406 6

TROY the attention of all Ohio judges, Kemmer said, who added the provisions “could have some serious impact on public employees’ retirements,” including his own. Kemmer said that on a “personal level” he wasn’t ready to retire, but felt he had to “for economic reasons.” “I started looking at it and determined it would affect me for a slightly different reason,” Kemmer said. “The impact on me was approximately $18,500 per year for the rest of my life. … It became crystal clear, a virtual no-brainer.” In preparation of his retirement,

For Home Delivery, call 335-5634 • For Classified Advertising, call (877) 844-8385

LOCAL

Thursday, August 9, 2012

LOTTERY CLEVELAND (AP) — Here are the winning numbers drawn Wednesday by the Ohio Lottery: • Ten OH Midday: 03-05-06-15-16-17-18-2326-32-35-37-38-43-46-4759-61-73-77 • Pick 4 Midday: 6-5-4-1 • Pick 3 Midday: 8-7-8 • Ten OH Evening: 06-11-12-17-19-21-26-3334-38-39-41-42-45-49-5456-67-72-77 • Pick 4 Evening: 6-1-0-5 • Pick 3 Evening: 3-7-6

BUSINESS ROUNDUP • The Troy Elevator The grain prices listed below are the closing prices of Wednesday. Corn Month Bid Change July 8.2100 + 0.1475 N/C 12 7.9650 + 0.1600 J/F/M 13 7.9850 + 0.0925 Soybeans Bid Change Month July 15.3600 + 0.1550 N/C 12 15.3600 + 0.1550 J/F/M 13 15.4400 + 0.1275 Wheat Month Bid Change July 8.9400 + 0.1025 N/C 13 8.0300 - 0.0700 You can find more information online at www.troyelevator.com.

• Stocks of local interest Values reflect closing prices from Wednesday. Symbol Price Change AA 8.80 +0.20 24.68 -0.02 CAG CSCO 17.16 +0.02 EMR 49.98 +0.19 9.35 +0.04 F 14.30 +0.07 FITB FLS 127.71 +0.76 GM 20.38 -0.04 ITW 56.88 +0.36 JCP 21.40 +0.16 KMB 83.25 +0.53 KO 79.56 -0.21 KR 22.71 +0.23 LLTC 32.86 -0.09 MCD 87.53 -1.48 MSFG 12.07 -0.14 PEP 72.57 +0.28 SYX 10.87 -0.09 TUP 53.06 +0.29 USB 33.02 -0.07 VZ 44.18 -0.29 WEN 4.54 -0.01 74.31 +0.72 WMT

• Business Highlights McDonald’s left hungry by rivals, economy in July NEW YORK (AP) — The Golden Arches are starting to lose some of their shine. McDonald’s Corp. says a key revenue figure came in flat in July, its worst showing in more than nine years, as consumers pulled back amid a sluggish economy. After years of outperforming rivals with a string of popular new items, the results also suggest competition is intensifying for the world’s biggest hamburger chain. The last time the global sales figure dipped for McDonald’s was in April of 2003. The figure had grown every month since then, even through the recession. — Staff and wire reports

Tipp BOE: No tax levy on November ballot BY JOYELL NEVINS Ohio Community Media editorial@tdnpublishing.com

TIPP CITY

After a prolonged debate of what to place on the November ballot, Tipp City Board of Education members voted 3-2 to do nothing. The resolution of necessity to place a levy of 6.5 mills for a period of three years (a drop from the August ballot’s levy of five-year, 7.95-mills) had “no” votes from board members Scott Dixon, Carla Frame and Tom Merritt. This was

in spite of Superintendent Dr. John Kronour’s insistence that there would be more voters at the November election, and that the community needed to fully understand the impact of the cuts. “At some point you say ‘this is what it is’,” Merritt said, “(The levy) just got smoked, and I don’t see it changing.” Dixon said he felt that the voter response – 63 percent against and

37 percent for – spoke more of the economy than people’s non-support of schools. “It’s a vote against taxes, not against schools,” he said, “It’s not reflecting on the school managing money; it’s a sign of the times.” Frame wasn’t so sure, though. She pointed out that many concerns voiced at the levy public forum had nothing to do with the $243 extra annual tax, but rather school decisions about buildings, teachers and organizations. “Do we need to change our

Lamb

thought process in how we approach (the levy campaign),” she mused, “Maybe we haven’t hit on the right message.” Board member Kate Johnson also felt strongly about placing another levy on the November ballot, and cast a “yes” vote along with Frank Maus. “It’s going to impact our kids,” she said, talking about her son going into fourth grade, “I can’t separate being a parent from this.” The next board of education meeting will be 7 p.m. Aug. 27.

Kemmer

• CONTINUED FROM 1 Elvin Elifritz, of Fletcher, helped him start the breeding process of his club lambs well after he purchased breeding stock from him. “I got to thank the Elifritz’s — he helped a bunch,” Alexander said. “I learned a lot that first year and he helped us first get started.” Alexander also keeps busy as a member of the junior fair board for more than four years. “I like helping pick out trophies and the ribbons that kids get,” Alexander said. “It’s also fun to help out in the show ring with the little kids or helping the judges as well.” Alexander also shared that junior fair board members are on the grounds well before the fair begins on Friday. “We go out and fix pens, clean, paint and do whatever needs to get done before everyone gets there,” he said. Despite next year being his last year of

4-H, Alexander said he plans on staying involved by helping his siblings — Kassidi and Cody — as well as breeding club lambs for 4-H. “I’ll probably keep (the breeding) going as long as I’m around,” said Alexander, who said he plans on attending college at a local community college before transferring to an agriculture technical institute at Wooster, Wilmington or Lima. Alexander attributes his hard work with the help of many people, including his parents Candi and Jeff Alexander. Alexander’s father Jeff said Gavin keeps the family busy with his love of animals, including his part-time job at a local veterinarian’s office, cleaning stalls and other work. “He works pretty hard,” Jeff said as watched Gavin pen his lamb at his fatherin-law’s farm earlier this week. “He sure doesn’t keep his room clean since he’s always out here in the barn.” It’s all part of a young life on the “lam.”

second-term as judge, Kemmer’s term expires “I wish it contained Dec. 31, 2015. He was first some grandfathering for elected as municipal judge in 2003 and my own benefit, had practiced but it didn’t and I law for more have to live with than 25 years that,” Kemmer before becomsaid. “This bill ing a judge, doesn’t take into including consideration, at serving as an least to my satisassistant faction, the fact county prosethat you have to cutor, juvenile work your way up court prosecuto the top. This KEMMER tor and municipenalizes people for working their way to the pal court prosecutor. The municipal court top and that is unfortunate. But I also under- judge position will appear stand the economic reali- on the ballot for the upcoming 2013 general ty.” Midway through his election in November.

• CONTINUED FROM 1

2012 MIAMI COUNTY FAIR SCHEDULE

Funds

Here is a partial schedule of upcoming Miami County Fair events: • Today 1-8 p.m. Drop off baked goods and Horticulture Hall exhibits at Secretary’s Office 5 p.m. MCAS membership tickets — no longer available for purchase Junior Fair Booth Judging at Duke Lundgard Bldg. (building closed), will open Friday morning 5-8 p.m. Weigh all Meat Chickens and Market Turkeys (turkeys will weigh in at swine barn from 5-7 p.m. only). All Market Poultry must be accompanied by health papers. All poultry projects must be in place by 8 p.m. All Market Poultry must be weighed before penning. All rabbits must check in and market rabbits weighed before penning — Rabbit/Poultry Barn 6 p.m. All FFA Shop/Crop projects must be in place 10 p.m. All Junior Fair Livestock and Dairy Cattle to be on fairgrounds unless otherwise stated • Friday, Aug. 10 — Sponsored by Edison Community College 6 a.m. Dairy Goats entered in Items 1 through 4 must be milked out 7:45 a.m. Mandatory Barn Meeting Sheep/Goats — Sheep Arena 8 a.m. Weigh Market Goats followed by Market Lambs — Sheep Arena 9 a.m. FFA Shop/Crop Judging, (building closed) Opened after Judging 10 a.m. Super Stars — Horse Arena Miami Co Rabbit Royalty — Rabbit/Poultry Barn Duke Lundgard Bldg. opens Merchants Bldg. opens Vendor Displays opens Market Gilts must be on grounds and late entries close — Swine Barn Mandatory Swine Barn Meeting — Swine Barn 10:30 a.m. Weigh Market Gilts — Swine Barn 12 p.m. Opening Ceremonies — Grandstand, Free 12:30 p.m. Tablescaping — Merchants Bldg 1 p.m. Art Hall opens Horticulture Hall opens Mandatory Cattle Barn Meeting

• CONTINUED FROM 1

— Goat Barn 1:30 p.m. Weigh Jr. Fair Market Steers/Heifers followed by Junior Fair Dairy Steers followed by Junior Fair Beef Feeder Calves — Cattle Barn 2-4 p.m. Baked Goods pickup — Art Hall 2:30 p.m. 4-H Cloverbud Fun Time — Duke Lundgard Bldg. Christmas Tree Decorating Contest — Merchants Bldg. 4 p.m. Rides/Games Open — $18 bracelets 4:30-6 p.m. Entries for Sheep Jackpot Show due — Sheep Arena 5:30 p.m. Born and Raised Open Gilt Show — Swine Barn Renegade Cowgirls Equestrian Drill Team Performance — Horse Arena 6 p.m. Dairy Breeding Goat Show followed by Junior Fair Market Kid Goat Show — Goat Barn BBQ Contest —Duke Lundgard Bldg. Family Fun Night Gymkhana — Horse Arena Best of Show Baked Goods Auction — Art Hall 7 p.m. The Broken Lights — Entertainment Tent Sheep Jackpot Show — Sheep Arena Tractor Pull — Grandstands (Grandstand $5, Pit Pass $10) 10 p.m. Duke Lundgard Bldg. closes FFA Shop/Crop Bldg. closes Art Hall closes Horticulture Hall closes Merchants Bldg. closes Vendor Displays closes 11 p.m. Rides, Games and Concessions closes • Saturday, Aug. 11 7:30-10:15 a.m. Flower show entries accepted — Horticulture Bldg. 8 a.m. Miami County Dog Royalty Competition Begins — East Side of Merchants Bldg. 9 a.m. Duke Lundgard Bldg. opens for 4-H Junior Cook Off Junior Fair Crossbred Doe Show followed by Miami County Born and Raised Goat Show followed by Junior Fair Goat Showmanship — Goat Barn Junior Fair Dog Obedience Show — East side of Merchants Bldg. Junior Fair Poultry Show followed by Junior Fair Poultry Showmanship — Rabbit/Poultry

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Barn. Measure Questionable HeightJunior Fair Horses and all Ponies — Horse Arena Deadline to change Junior Fair sex of Rabbit — Junior Fair Office 10 a.m. All Open Beef Feeder Calves and No Paint Open Class Steers must be on grounds FFA Shop/Crop Bldg opens Art Hall opens Horticulture Hall opens Merchants Bldg. opens Vendor Displays opens Pee Wee and Adult Swine Showmanship —Swine Barn 10-11:30 a.m. Weigh Open Class Steers followed by Open Class Beef Feeder Calves — Cattle Barn 10:30 a.m. 4-H Sr. Cook Off — Duke Lundgard Bldg. 10:45 a.m. Flower Show Judging — Horticulture Bldg. 12 p.m. Miami Co Rabbit Royalty results posted — Rabbit/Poultry Barn Camping and Parking Permits must be picked up — Secretary’s Office Rides/Games Open — $18 bracelets good all day and night Art Hall and Horticulture Hall Premiums available — Secretary’s Office Afternoon Horseshoe Pitching Tournament —South end of Merchants Bldg. 1 p.m. Junior Fair Dog Grooming and Showmanship Show — East side of Merchants Bldg. Market Gilt Show — Swine Barn 2 p.m. 4-H Project Pride Award Ceremony — Duke Lundgard Bldg. 3 p.m. Spittin’ Image — Entertainment Tent Open Beef Feeder Calf Show followed by Born & Raised Market Steer/Heifer Show followed by No Paint Open Class Steer Show — Goat Barn 3:30 p.m. County Youth Awards & Ten Year Member Recognition — Duke Lundgard Bldg. 4 p.m. Wrestling — East of Grandstand 5 p.m. Deadline to change height or exhibitor age for Junior Fair Horse Shows —Junior Fair Office Evening Horseshoe Pitching Tournament — South end of Merchants Bldg. 5:30 p.m. Rum River Blend — Entertainment Tent 6 p.m. Mini Horse Pull — Horse Arena 7 p.m. Heavy Weight Horse Pull —Horse Arena 8 p.m. Hunter Hayes Concert — Grandstand — (Track $18, Grandstand $12) 9 p.m. All Gilts must be off of the grounds

Entered at the post office in Troy, Ohio 45373 as “Periodical,” postage paid at Troy, Ohio. The Troy Daily News is published Monday-Friday afternoons, and Saturday morning; and Sunday morning as the Miami Valley Sunday News, 224 S. Market St., Troy, OH. USPS 642-080. Postmaster, please send changes to: 224 S. Market St., Troy, OH 45373.

through the Southwestern Ohio Educational Purchasing Council for a new bus for its aging fleet. According to Superintendent Pat McBride, the district would trade its oldest bus, from 1987 with a trade-in value of approximately $1,700, to keep its fleet updated. The district has eight buses total, with two used as spares. McBride said costs of a new bus is expected to be approximately $87,000 with all its options tailored for the district. The board also approved to hire former Troy City Schools guidance counselor Pam Dalton as the district’s new guidance counselor. Joshua Bornhorst resigned from the position, also approved at the meeting, to take the position at Piqua Catholic School. McBride said Dalton has previous experience in scheduling from Troy. McBride said she is ready to begin at Newton and the district was very fortunate to find a replacement as qualified as Dalton. The board also accepted the resignation of Brittney Wilburn as junior varsity

volleyball coach. The district also approved Jane Hussong as a full-time teacher’s aide for the 2012-2013 school year. McBride said Hussong would assist in the afternoons with study halls, library duties and other assistance through the district along with her preschool position with the Council of Rural Services at the district. The board also approved a COBRA payment for Kim Strayer and family through the month of December for $3,280.07. The board approved the supplemental positions including: Todd Maxwell, assistant varsity boys’ soccer coach; Donna Russell, junior high volleyball coach; MaryBeth Bayman, junior varsity volleyball coach; and Mindy Coby, wellness coordinator. Board member Candi Alexander said a date has been set for the district’s first wellness fair. The committee chose to host the event at the school on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the community. For more information, visit www.newton.k12.oh.us.

Fees • CONTINUED FROM 1 three of four permissive motor vehicle taxes allowed under the Ohio Revised Code and already collects $15 per registration, but will still be able to collect $50,000 from the new county tax. Money generated through the tax is for the express purpose of planning, constructing, improving, maintaining and repairing public roadways and bridges. Routine road maintenance upgrades to county highways is mostly generated from gasoline tax and license plate fees, but revenue currently generated by those funding mechanisms is “insufficient to maintain our existing infrastructure, let alone move forward with needed upgrades,” according

to Paul Huelskamp, county engineer. The engineer added the county maintains 426 miles of roadway, of which 30 miles should be paved annually through his department’s annual pavement resurfacing program. However, over the past half-decade the engineer’s office has averaged just over 11 miles each year. Also impacting the engineer’s office is staffing levels, which have decreased by about one-third over the past 12 years and the rising cost of asphalt, which has more than doubled during that time frame, Huelskamp said. Prior to the approval of county commissioners two public hearings were held on the new license fees July 10 and July 17.

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August 9, 2012

TROY DAILY NEWS â&#x20AC;˘ WWW.TROYDAILYNEWS.COM

to use peaches in the recipe from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Aullwood Audubon Center, â&#x20AC;˘ BOARD MEETING: Dayton. Learn how to make a The regular meeting of the crust with just a few simple Miami County Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s C o m m u n i t y tricks. Bring a rolling pin, pasServices Board will be at 9 try cloth and apron. Pre-rega.m. at the Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Calendar istration is required by calling Services Offices, 510 W. Aullwood at (937) 890-7360. Water St., Suite 210, Troy. CONTACT US Class fee is $45 for nonâ&#x20AC;˘ PHILLY CHEESEmembers. STEAK: The American â&#x20AC;˘ FISH, FLIES AND TIES: Legion Post No. 43, 622 S. Learn how to make flys, disMarket St., will offer a Call Melody cover basic warm water fly Philly cheesesteak with fishing techniques and how Vallieu at fries dinner from 5-7:30 to properly cast a fly rod from 440-5265 to p.m. The cost of the meal Pat Rice from 9:30 a.m. to is $8. list your free 2:30 p.m. at Aullwood, â&#x20AC;˘ SOCIETY MEETING: Dayton. Tom Hissong will calendar The Miami County help participants identify the items.You Humane Society will meet fish that live in the Stillwater at 7 p.m. at the Troy-Miami can send River. Bring a sack lunch and County Public Library. your news by e-mail to wear old clothes and shoes â&#x20AC;˘ DISCOVERY WALK: vallieu@tdnpublishing.com. for wading. Fly fishing equipA morning discovery walk ment will be provided. Prefor adults will be from 8registration is required by 9:30 a.m. at Aullwood calling Aullwood at (937) 890Audubon Center, 1000 7360. Class fee is $60 for non-members. Aullwood Road, Dayton. Tom Hissong, â&#x20AC;˘ SCOUT ROUNDUP: A Cub Scout education coordinator, will lead walkers as roundup, sponsored by Cub Pack 59 of they experience the wonderful seasonal Casstown will be offered from 1-4 p.m. at changes taking place. Bring binoculars. the Troy Community Park, shelters No. 1 and 2. Representatives from Cub Scout FRIDAY packs in Troy and Casstown will be on hand to answer questions and sign up boys in â&#x20AC;˘ FRIDAY DINNER: The Covington first through fourth grade. VFW Post No. 4235, 173 N. High St., â&#x20AC;˘ FARM WALK: A farm walk, â&#x20AC;&#x153;From an Covington, will offer dinner from 5-8 p.m. Egg to a Chick,â&#x20AC;? will be offered at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call 753-1108. at Aullwood, Dayton. Come discover egg â&#x20AC;˘ SUMMER CONCERT: Troyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Summer answers by taking a closer look at one of Concert Series, presented by Troy Main the most unique and useful animals, the Street, continues with Dulahan at 7:30 chicken. Journey into the life of a chicken by p.m. on Prouty Plaza in downtown Troy. touching them and collecting eggs. The band plays traditional and contempoâ&#x20AC;˘ INSECT WALK: Join an Aullwood natrary Celtic music. Guests should bring uralist at 2:30 p.m. for a leisurely walk to chairs or blankets for seating. The rain discover some of the many fascinating location is Troy Christian High School insects that live there. The center is located located at 700 S. Dorset Road. Visit at 1000 Aullwood Road, Dayton. www.troymainstreet.org or call 339-5455 the day of the concert for location informa- SUNDAY tion in the event of rain.

TODAY

FYI

SATURDAY-SUNDAY â&#x20AC;˘ OVI SKIRMISH: The 110th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Skirmish will be at the VFW Post No. 6557, 7578 W. Fenner Road, Ludlow Falls. Hamburgers will be available on the range from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Made-to-order breakfasts will be from 6:30-10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors can come relive the Civil War.

SATURDAY â&#x20AC;˘ COMMUNITY BREAKFAST: The Masonic Lodge will offer its monthly community breakfast from 7:30-10 a.m. in the Masonic Lodge dining room, 107 W. Main St., Troy, second floor. The menu will include sausage, biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, hash browns, juice and coffee. Meals are by donation and proceeds will benefit high school scholarships. â&#x20AC;˘ FARMERS MARKET: Downtown Troy Farmers Market will be from 9 a.m. to noon on South Cherry Street, just off West Main Street. The market will include fresh produce, artisan cheeses, baked goods, eggs, organic milk, maple syrup, flowers, crafts, prepared food and entertainment. For free parking, enter off West Franklin Street. Contact Troy Main Street at 3395455 for information or visit www.troymainstreet.org. â&#x20AC;˘ FARMERS MARKET: The Miami County Farmers Market will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Friendlyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parking lot. Food, including locally grown fruits and vegetables, baked goods, honey, Indiana melons and more. There is plenty of parking. â&#x20AC;˘ FISH FRY: The Pleasant Hill VFW Post No. 6557, 7578 W. Fenner Road, Ludlow Falls, will offer an all-you-can-eat fish fry and smelt dinner with french fries, baked beans and apple sauce for $8 from 5-7 p.m. â&#x20AC;˘ DISCOVERY DAYS: Summer Discovery Days â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Different Kind of Leftoverâ&#x20AC;? will be offered from 2-4 p.m. at Brukner Nature Center. Footprints, tree rubs and even poo are all clues about our wild neighbors. Participants will discover how they move, what they eat and more. This will be a BNC naturalist led program. Free for members, entrance admission for all others. â&#x20AC;˘ GERMAN DINNER: The Sons of the American Legion, 377 N. 3rd St., Tipp City, will offer a German dinner of Jaeger Schnitzel with mushroom gravy, spatzle, German potato salad, roll, salad and dessert from 6-7:30 p.m. or gone for $7. There also will be a basket of goodies raffled. â&#x20AC;˘ BOOK DISCUSSION: Larrell Walters will discuss his book â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where Eagles Live,â&#x20AC;? which documents the repopulation of the Dayton area of bald eagles through photography at noon at the Tipp City Public Library, 11 E. Main St., Tipp City. â&#x20AC;˘ ARTS FESTIVAL: The 39th annual Englewood Arts Festival â&#x20AC;&#x201D; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Artists in the Woodsâ&#x20AC;? will be from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The weekend event â&#x20AC;&#x201D; featuring entertainment, handmade items for sale by area artists and food â&#x20AC;&#x201D; will be held under the trees at Centennial Park on Union Boulevard in Englewood. There is free parking and free admission. For more information call the Earl Heck Center at (937) 836-5929. â&#x20AC;˘ PEACHES AND PIE: Discover the best kept secrets of baking a pie and how

â&#x20AC;˘ CIVIC BAND: The Troy Civic Band, directed by Bill and Kathy McIntosh, will present a free outdoor concert at 7 p.m. with the theme â&#x20AC;&#x153;Travel the USAâ&#x20AC;? in downtown Troy on Prouty Plaza. The concert is free, and participants should bring lawn chairs. For more information, call 335-1178. â&#x20AC;˘ PRAIRIE WALK: Take a tallgrass prairie walk at 2:30 p.m. at Aullwood Audubon Center, 1000 Aullwood Road, Dayton. Experience a bit of Ohioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich natural heritage on a naturalist led exploration of Aullwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prairie. Learn about prairie plants and animals and the importance of this tallgrass ecosystem.

ME FFA members attend Washington conference For July 24-29, Rebekah Eidemiller, Andrew Kowalak and Lauren Williams attended the 2012 Washington Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. The conference focuses on training students how to be a positive influence in their chapters, schools and communities. A key focus on the week was the creation of Living To Serve Projects. Within small groups, each attendee was challenged to create a plan for their own community improvement activity. Eidemillerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan is to spread hope and positive attitude, Kowalakâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan is to conduct a holiday food drive, and Williamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan is to assemble care packages for troops. Character and vision were also major focus areas. Attendees learned how good leaders have character and the conference helped them understand the components of character and how they can serve as role models to others. While in D.C., Eidemiller, Kowalak and Williams completed service projects, they packaged 41,000 ready-to-eat meals

WASHINGTON D.C. for Nicaraguaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poverty residents. There were more than 320 FFA members in attendance at the seventh and final week of the Washington Leadership Conference. Additionally, they toured the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital and met FFA members from across the country. They enjoyed visiting the Smithsonian, Newseum, Fordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Theater, The Capital, and Arlington Cemetery where they saw all five branches of the military attending the Changing of the Guard. This is the first time all three attendees had ever ridden the city metro. The attendees shared their experiences were very valuable. Eidemiller stated that she was surprised by the disadvantages of poverty stricken countries and the needs of the residents. Kowalak commented that his best memory of the Washington Leadership Conference was a Poverty Dinner in which a meal was served in proportion of the percentage of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poverty. The wealthy were

MIAMI COUNTY SHERIFFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S REPORT

Information provided by the Miami County Sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office: Aug. 6 Truck window removed: A resident of 1065 W. State Route 571, Tipp City reported his work truck alarm went off at 12:14 a.m. The resident checked his truck but no contents were missing. Upon further investigation, the resident saw the back sliding door window had been pried off the truck and thrown in MONDAY the grass. Lost woman canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t remember hitâ&#x20AC;˘ NOON OPTIMIST: The Troy Noon ting a concrete barrier on I-75: At Optimist will meet at noon at the Tin Roof restaurant, 439 N. Elm St., Troy. The speak- 9:38 a.m. a report of a car hitting the center wall traveling northbound on er will be a special guest. Interstate 75 near mile marker 66. The â&#x20AC;˘ WILD JOURNEYS: A Wild Journeys, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where Eagles Liveâ&#x20AC;? program will be offered witness said the driver continued on at 7 p.m. at Brukner Nature Center. Join Troy resident Larrell Walters as he takes participants through, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where Eagles Live! Dayton, Ohio,â&#x20AC;? his self-published pictographic account of two eaglets born in April 2011 to a nesting pair of bald eagles at Eastwood Lake MetroPark. Free for members, $2 for all others. â&#x20AC;˘ POETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CORNER: Do you enjoy reading or writing poetry? Join the Troy-Miami County Pubic Libraryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poetry workshop at 6:30 p.m. to share and discuss any poems that you have written. The workshop serves to stimulate creativity and improve your technique as a poet. Participants will examine the various forms, styles, structures and elements of different poems and use creative writing exercises to explore new ways to approach the art of poetry. â&#x20AC;˘ CHOIR PRACTICE: The Troy Strawberry Festival Choir will practice at 7 p.m. at First Lutheran Churcy. Tickets for the Wednesday performance will be passed out then. For information about the choir peerforming, or if you would like to join, call 3355767. â&#x20AC;˘ HISTORICAL SOCIETY: The Covington Newberry Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. at the Fort Rowdy Museum, 101 Pearl St. For more information, call 473-2270.

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â&#x20AC;˘ PUMPKIN SHOW: The Bradford Community Festival Association will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. at the Bradford Fire Station.

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AUG. 16 â&#x20AC;˘ MANAGING STRESS: Are you curious about how stress affects your daily life? Join Upper Valley Medical Center expert Melinda Schultz at 3 p.m. at the Troy-Miami County Library for an informative presentation about stress and stress management. She will talk about the basics of stress, how to recognize signs of stress and how to manage your stress for a healthier lifestyle. Call 339-0502 to register in advance.

almost hitting a semi truck. Officials stopped the woman, identified only as Collazo, on southbound County Road 25A. The woman reported dropping off her son off at school in Dayton and was heading home to Vandalia and missed her exit. Officials asked if she remembered hitting the cement barrier on the interstate after spotting visible damage of her vehicle. The woman was puzzled and did not respond. Officials saw several pills on the floorboard of the vehicle. She said she took Talwin for pain and Klonopin and Prozac. During field sobriety tests, assistance from Tipp City Police had to catch the woman from falling during the routine tests. The case is pending blood tests for intoxication.

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â&#x20AC;˘ KIWANIS MEETING: The Kiwanis Club of Troy will meet from noon to 1 p.m. at the Troy Country Club. Kate Feltman from the Boy Scouts of America will be the speaker. For more information, contact Kim Riber, vice president, at 339-8935.

served a full meal, the middle class was represented by a buffet meal, and the poverty representatives were served beans and rice. This taught attendees to be thankful for the meals that they are provided. Williams said that she enjoyed the service learning project and meal preparation for the citizens of Nicaragua. She shared that she was amazed that the FFA members could do such good work so fast and that over a half a million poverty-stricken residents would have a wholesome and safe meal. Eidemiller, Kowalak and Williams traveled via chartered bus with 15 other schools from across Ohio. Helping pay for the trip was the Ohio FFA Alumni Association, Miami East FFA Alumni Chapter, Miami East FFA Chapter and the Miami Valley Career Technology Center. The Miami East Agricultural Education Department is a satellite program of the Miami Valley Career Technology Center.

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2306351

FOOD

Thursday, August 9, 2012

TROY DAILY NEWS • WWW.TDN-NET.COM

Goulash a delicious favorite The laundry looks dry on the wash-line and is ready to come in and be folded. Daughters Susan and Verena just came home from de-tasseling. They are always ready for a shower and getting cleaned up when they come home. I told them to go take a nap after they get cleaned up since they are home earlier today. The rest of the children are all taking a break and doing whatever they want because they worked hard this morning. Before noon they dug up all of our red potatoes in the garden. The boys picked my tomatoes and cucumbers. They brought in 17.5 gallons using 5 gallon buckets full of cucumbers. I will probably have enough pickles to last quite awhile after working all of those up. And I now think I have enough tomatoes to make a batch of homemade thick and chunky salsa. It takes 14 pounds to make a batch of it. It will be good to have our own again. The children don’t

care for the store-bought salsa like they do our own homemade. Joe had two days off from work this week because he was caught up on his job. It worked out well because he was able to go with me to take Loretta to the doctor two hours away on Tuesday. Loretta has another appointment with an orthopedic doctor next week. The doctors think doing surgery on both feet would help her walk better. The surgery would lengthen her heel cords so she could get her heels flat on the floor again. Hopefully after six weeks she can get back into her braces. Verena had this same surgery done and has had very good results with it. Verena is able to detassel corn but she always wears her brace to work. I think we need to order her a new one, though. She has had this one for 9 months and it is started to rub her skin. It will have to be a little bigger. She doesn’t have to wear her brace if

she is not runTHE AMISH COOK older laying hens. I will ning or doing can those too much walkfor broth. ing. Our new On layers Wednesday, should start Joe and I and laying eggs the six this fall youngest chilsometime. I dren went to will be so go help Emma glad to have and Jacob preLovina Eicher more eggs. pare for Troy Daily News Guest Our older upcoming Columnist hens are not church services laying very to be held at many anytheir home. Verena did not have to detassel more. We only get five to six eggs a day, which does not give that day so she went with us. us enough. Last Saturday was Elizabeth was on her cleaning job and Susan went detasseling. the annual Albert Coblentz Joe worked on the new patio at reunion in Berne, Indiana. We would have liked to have gone Jacob’s while our three boys but we could not find a ride out drove our horse Diamond and our one-horse manure spreader there. Hopefully next year. To all my Coblentz cousins, to help haul manure all day. uncles, and aunts who read this The girls and I washed walls column I hope you had an enjoyand furniture in their house. Once things slow down a lit- able time together. It has been quite a few years since we were tle bit we want to butcher our

able to attend and I was looking forward to seeing everyone again. My mother would always make the following recipe in the summer when she had fresh tomatoes. Mom called it goulash. Since we have so many tomatoes now I made it the other night and the children seemed to like it. AMISH GOULASH 2 pounds hamburger 1 small onion diced 2 cups uncooked macaroni Fresh tomatoes, peeled and chopped In a large skillet, brown hamburger and onion, adding enough tomatoes to make enough juice to cook macaroni in. Cook over medium high heat until macaroni are tender. Season to taste. Spoon into bowls and serve. It’ll have the consistency of a hearty soup. Visit www.amishcookonline.com for more Amish recipes, photos, videos and stories.

Evolution of the food truck

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Food trucks selling gourmet goods like tacos, barbecue and cupcakes have grown in popularity in recent years. But people have been buying what’s known as street food for generations. Food carts were already a fixture in many cities back in the 1800s. And hot dog, sausage and pretzel vendors have been selling quick lunches to office workers and tourists on city streets and in beach towns since the early 1900s. The website for Good Humor ice cream says the company’s first trucks hit the road in 1920. And trucks selling breakfast and lunch items have been feeding workers at factories and other commercial sites for decades. What’s different in this new wave of food trucks, and sometimes carts, is that they sell trendy food, not staples like hot dogs or

muffins. They started showing up about 10 years ago, led by pioneers including Kogi, a Korean barbecue truck in Los Angeles, says Kevin Higar, an analyst at Technomic Inc., a research company that studies the food industry. The trend also includes carts and trailers that are hitched to the back of a truck or car and towed from spot to another. Food trucks are just starting to become popular in cities like Dallas, Higar says. Chicago is behind the rest of the country because it has ordinances that restrict trucks from parking within 200 feet of a restaurant. The city did last week end a ban on truck operators from cooking onboard their vehicles. In some cities like Los Angeles, food truck growth is leveling off because governments limit the number of permits issued for mobile food vendors, Higar says.

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OPINION

Contact us David Fong is the executive editor of the Troy Daily News. You can reach him at 440-5228 or send him e-mail at fong@tdn publishing.com.

2010 Thursday, XXXday, August 9,XX, 2012 •5

TROY DAILY NEWS • WWW.TROYDAILYNEWS.COM

In Our View Troy Daily News Editorial Board FRANK BEESON / Group Publisher DAVID FONG / Executive Editor

ONLINE POLL

(WWW.TROYDAILYNEWS.COM)

Question: Do you prefer the Summer or Winter Olympics? Watch for final poll results in

Sunday’s Miami Valley Sunday News. Watch for a new poll question

in Sunday’s Miami Valley Sunday News.

PERSPECTIVE

“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 people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” — First Amendment, U.S. Constitution

EDITORIAL ROUNDUP The Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo, on U.S.-Japan defense cooperation: When a country comes under attack, its allies can regard it as an attack against themselves and try to stop it by using military force under the Charter of the United Nations, which grants the right of collective self-defense to member countries. The government has been taking the position that Japan does not exercise this right, a universal right of every country, because of the warrenouncing Article 9 of the Constitution. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is showing a willingness to initiate a review of the government’s current interpretation of the Constitution concerning this issue. We don’t know, however, whether he is trying to make it possible for Japan to fully exercise the right of collective self-defense. It is also unclear what his real aim is. But Japan’s most basic defense policy principle in the postwar era has been that Article 9 of the Constitution allows it to exercise only the minimum necessary right of selfAs I defense. This constitutional principle has ensured that Japan keeps a safe distance from the U.S. miliSee It tary, which engages in military operations all over ■ The Troy the world. Daily News Japan should remain firmly committed to this welcomes principle. columns from our readers. To Noda’s move concerning this issue is only the latsubmit an “As I est example of his administration’s enthusiasm See It” send about expanding Japan’s security cooperation with your type-writthe United States. ten column to: During their meeting at the end of April, Noda ■ “As I See It” and U.S. President Barack Obama agreed on joint c/o Troy Daily military drills in Guam and the U.S. Commonwealth News, 224 S. of the Northern Mariana Islands and use of Japan’s Market St., official development assistance to provide patrol vesTroy, OH 45373 sels to countries like the Philippines. ■ You can also It is clear there has not been sufficient Diet e-mail us at debate on these issues during the period. editorial@tdnpu The Pueblo (Colo.) Chieftain, Aug. 5, on blishing.com. drought in the U.S.: ■ Please The nation is suffering its worst drought in include your full decades. Only in the 1930s and 1950s has a drought name and telecovered more land, a recent federal report noted. phone number. The National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C., said 55 percent of the country was in a moderate to extreme drought by the end of June. And thus far, despite a few showers here and there, things aren’t getting any better. Topsoil has turned dry while “crops, pastures and rangeland have deteriorated at a rate rarely seen in the last 18 years,” the climate center said. The percentage of affected land is the largest since December 1956, when 58 percent of the country was covered by drought, and it rivals even some years in the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s, according to the data. Corn, wheat and soybean crops have been hit hard, particularly in the traditionally productive Midwest. Some farmers have been plowing up non-productive crops, hoping for better weather over the winter and next spring. Cattle growers, with little productive rangeland and less corn for feed, have been selling off herds. In the short run, this might cause a dip in beef prices at the supermarket, but over the long haul, those prices are likely to rise. In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture anticipates that food prices as a whole will rise by 3 percent next year. That’s an unsettling prospect when the economy continues to stagnate. Climatologists have labeled this year’s dry spell a “flash drought” because it developed in a matter of months, not over multiple seasons or years. One good bit of news is that better farming methods and modern grain hybrids have lessened the effects of the drought compared to the 1930s. If you are of a mind, a rain dance or two might be in order.

LETTERS

Good friends will be dearly missed

Troy, someone would stop and share a bit of their lives with Bob. The thing is, Bob not only remembered them, he truly took To the Editor: time to listen — no pretense, no Friends of mine are moving judgment — he just listened. from Troy to South Carolina and Cindy is a great compliment to my family and I will greatly Bob’s outgoing personality. Her miss them. People move into and out of Troy on a daily basis, quiet elegance, her grace and so what makes these friends so her willingness to share Bob with the world is something to special? Well, my friends are behold. Cindy how many times Bob and Cindy Barrett, and I have you heard Bob tell the have a feeling that my family story, and yet somehow same will not be alone in our sadness. Although they were not born make it feel new and special? in Troy, Bob and Cindy are part Bob and Cindy work as a team making all of us better for knowof the fabric that is Troy. If you ing them. have ever been out with Bob The Barrett household hospiand Cindy, you will see just how tality is legendary; anyone could many lives they have touched. stop by at any time and would Close friends would sometimes kid Bob that when he retired he be welcomed with open arms could be Mayor of Troy with the (and sometimes a beer). It did amount of people who Bob knew. not matter what was going on, Whether on the golf course, at a Bob and Cindy would put their lives on hold and spend time restaurant, at church or any event that was happening in with you. How many times have

a former student, neighbor or friend just “happened to be in the area” and dropped in? How many of us learned how to eat blue shell or about the Outer Banks while spending time at the Barrett home? Our triumphs and tragedies became theirs — and theirs ours. Bob and Cindy may never fully realize how many lives they have touched, or how their loss will affect the Troy community. I for one; just wanted them to know how much they will be missed. Even if you see a tear or two, know that moving is just another phase of life. Thank you Bob and Cindy for welcoming us into your family and showing that by giving a piece of self to all we meet, we can make this world a better place. Love,

WRITETO US: The Troy Daily News welcomes signed letters to the editor. Letters must contain your home address and a telephone number where you can be reached during the day. Letters must be shorter than 500 words as a courtesy to other writers. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity. MAIL: 224 S. Market, Troy, Ohio, 45373; E-MAIL: editorial@tdnpublishing.com; FAX (937) 440-5286; ONLINE: www.troydailynews.com (“Letters To The Editor” link on left side).

DOONESBURY

It’s time America really starts going for the gold If there’s one thing NBC has taught me (aside from the fact Bill Cosby once wore the greatest sweaters ever knitted), it’s that the only Olympic sports that matter are the ones in which Americans are really good. Seriously, just try to find a sport the Americans struggle at on the main network — better yet, try finding it during prime time, when NBC is running its coverage of events that happened some 12 hours prior. If it’s gymnastics, basketball, swimming or track and field — sports in which the Americans rack up the medals — you seek, The Peacock is more than happy to oblige. If it happens to be a sport the Americans aren’t so good at — like, say, fencing (and let’s face it, who doesn’t want to watch a night of fencing?) — then good luck finding it. Being a proud American, I am pretty OK with this. I don’t want to watch other countries rub it in our faces in some lame sport. I am not asking NBC to change its coverage, I am asking the International Olympic Committee to change its format.

David Fong Troy Daily News Executive Editor Let’s get rid of all the sports Americans stink at and replace them with sports in which we are guaranteed to dominate. I want to hear the Star Spangled Banner from the time I wake up until the time I go to sleep. I want pretty much every American to have his or her chance to, at least once in life, be on the front of a Wheaties box. So, as a helpful guide to the IOC, here’s a list of sports in which Americans could dominate — and which I would eagerly anticipate: • Football: I am, of course, talking about the American kind. The kind with shoulder pads and helmets. The kind we could probably send our best high school team to and dominate the rest of

— David Gillespie Troy

the world. Sure, America is pretty much the only country that plays the sport at a high level (and yes, I know they play football in Canada, but it is dominated by American players), but why should we be penalized for that? Let the rest of the world catch up with us. The fact that one country continues to dominate every year wasn’t enough to make anyone eliminate table tennis, was it? • NASCAR: Racing. The real kind. Not the twisty-turvy stuff in which Europeans may actually pose a threat. Let’s get some good old boys out in the circle and prove that when it comes to driving fast and turning left, the United States of America has pretty much cornered the market. Personally, I think Junior would look pretty good with a gold medal hanging around his neck. • Pro wrestling: Now before I hear anyone complaining that professional wrestling features predetermined results, I would ask you to look into this year’s badminton scandal. If Olympian badminton participants can throw matches, pro wrestlers

should be afforded that opportunity as well. And I defy anyone to try to tell me they wouldn’t have been captivated by a 1984 gold medal match between American hero Sergeant Slaughter and the Iranian Iron Sheik. • Bed Racing: Clearly, this is an Olympic idea whose time has come. I’m pretty sure other counties wouldn’t be able to touch us when it came to bed racing. And if the U.S. Olympic Committee is looking for a team to represent our country, they should look no further than the two-time Troy Strawberry Festival Bed Race champion Troy Daily News team. So there you have it, IOC. It’s time to clean out the sports nobody watches and make room for sports we here in the United States actually care about. And to the good people at NBC, you can thank me when the ratings come in. Or just send me some of Bill Cosby’s old sweaters.

Troy Troy Daily News

Miami Valley Sunday News

FRANK BEESON Group Publisher

DAVID FONG Executive Editor

LEIANN STEWART Retail Advertising Manager

CHERYL HALL Circulation Manager

BETTY BROWNLEE Business Manager

SCARLETT SMITH Graphics Manager

AN OHIO COMMUNITY MEDIA NEWSPAPER 224 S. Market St.

Troy’s very own David Fong appears on Thursdays in the Troy Daily News. He gets a gold medal for … well, nothing.

Troy, Ohio 45373 www.TDN-NET.com 335-5634

LOCAL & NATION

TROY DAILY NEWS • WWW.TROYDAILYNEWS.COM

Tipp Steering committee reviews sign code draft By CECILIA FOX For the Troy Daily News editorial@tdnpublishing.com The Tipp City zoning code update steering committee met twice in the last two weeks to tackle the largest section of sign code draft yet, the section dealing with district and use regulations. The committee met Aug. 7 and July 31, to discuss the new draft. This new section of code draft spells out the various types of zoning districts in Tipp City and their allowed uses. It is the most recent step in a process that is expected to take more than a year. Last November, Tipp City hired Wendy Moeller and Compass Point Planning to assist the city with the comprehensive zoning and subdivision code update, the first comprehensive update since 1993. “I am really so happy with the changes you have made,” Tim Logan, of Gem Real Estate Group and steering committee member, told Moeller. “This will make life easier in Tipp City.” Zoning districts A key part of the new code reestablishes zoning districts. Some districts, like the conservation district and the restoration overlay district, stay the same. Others have been combined or eliminated. In an effort to make the code easier to understand for residents, city officials, and business owners, and to eliminate inconsistencies, some districts have been combined. Open Space Residential and Suburban Residential have been combined in the new Suburban Residential district. The General Business and Convenience Business districts become one General Business district. Other districts have been eliminated. For example, the Light Industrial district no longer exists. Instead, properties along the railroad tracks that were previously in the Light Industrial district will be part of the new Legacy Development (LD) district. Rezoning these properties will allow for more uses, providing, as the code says, “a mechanism that will transform an existing industrial district and certain residential properties to a vibrant, mixed-use business district.” This area was the city’s industrial heart when the railroad dominated Tipp City, explained City Planner Matt Spring. “As time progressed, then you had more residential and commercial development, leaving that residual industrial in the middle of our town,” Spring said. The zoning codes for the LD district will protect the architectural character of the area, requiring any new building to match the style of the existing structures. Still, requirements for the LD district are not as strict as the requirements for the Restoration District. Though the new code allows for the expansion of the same pedestrian-oriented development downtown into the new LD district, it also says that no attempt to

TIPP CITY speed the transition will be made. The new code also combines all the various planned development districts— planned residential, planned commercial, planned highway service—into one Planned Development district. It then discontinues this type of district from being built in the future. Planned development districts create lots of smaller zoning districts with disparate requirements. It meant that the developer could make their own rules. Eliminating this type of development will require new developments to adhere to the zoning requirements for residential, commercial, industrial uses in the code. “Everybody’s living by the same rules,” Moeller said. Vertical mixed use buildings The committee also discussed the types of uses allowed in each district, including nursing homes, internet gaming cafes, auto repair, solar farms, and a new type of use: vertical mixed used buildings. Vertical mixed use buildings are a throwback to an older method of city planning: multi-story buildings with businesses on the lower floors and residences above. Older examples are the buildings downtown; a newer example is Beavercreek’s The Greene, which blends residential and commercial spaces. “I am all for this,” Moeller said. “As a planner it would make my heart so happy.” Vertical mixed use buildings are making a comeback, Moeller explained, because many people are less willing to drive long distances to go to work. They’re also popular with young people who are waiting longer to have families and older people who don’t want to take care of a large home. “It’s kind of a history lesson,” said Spring. As people moved away from cities, a kind of city planning called Euclidean zoning became widespread. This method of zoning segregates industrial, business, residential and agricultural areas, keeping urban and residential areas apart. Now many people are interested in moving back to urban areas, explained Spring, where they can walk downstairs and be close to work, shops and restaurants. “Can anybody give us a reason why we shouldn’t go that direction?” Councilman Joe Gibson said. Both Moeller and Spring felt there was no reason why they shouldn’t. “The one criticism I’ve heard is that some people think that letting people live above business will create slums,” Moeller said, “That’s ridiculous and completely untrue.” The committee will meet again Aug. 21 for further discussion.

Wisconsin boy, 17, is the fastest texter in America

DAVID J. STACE FLETCHER — David J. Stace, 40, of Fletcher, Ohio, died Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, as a result of an accident in Virginia. He was born on Nov. 1, 1971, in Troy, Ohio. He is survived by his wife, Tamara L. “Tammy” (Evans) Stace; three daughters, Talia, Keara and Josalyn Stace, all at home; father and his wife, Dennis and Sue Stace of Florida; mother and stepfather, Janet and Don Wawsczyk of Troy; and two sisters and a brother-inSTACE law, Nancy Dawson of Troy and Linda and Monty Garwood of Mason, Ohio. He was a graduate of Graham High School, Olivet Nazarene University and received his master’s degree from Wright State University. David was a member, deacon and

Awana Leader at Grace Baptist Church in Troy. He also helped establish the GEMs special needs program at the church. He was employed as a math teacher with Upper Valley Career Center, Piqua, Ohio, and operated Stace’s Landscaping. Services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, at Grace Baptist Church, Troy, with Pastor Shawn Hess officiating. Private family interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Troy. Friends may call from 1-7 p.m. Friday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the David Stace Memorial Fund for the children’s education c/o FifthThird Bank, 1851 W. Main St., Troy, OH 45373. Friends may express condolences to the family through www.bairdfuneralhome.com.

NOVA M. ROGERS COVINGTON — Nova M. Rogers, 89, of Covington, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, at Sterling House of Troy. She was born Feb. 1, 1923, in Darke County, Ohio, to her parents Grover and Mary (Wade) Kelley. Nova was a 1941 graduate of Palestine Schools. In June 1943, she married David Rogers and together they shared a life for 66 years. She was a member of the Old German Baptist Brethren Church (New Conference) and enjoyed traveling to Florida with David every winter, working in her flower garden, and spending time with her family. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, David L. Rogers in 2010; grandson, Ryan Rogers; and siblings, Margaret Aten, Pauline Windmiller, John Kelley, Norma Flora Angle, Marcella Sink, Eugene Kelley, Donald and Eldean (died in infancy). She is survived by her children and

their spouses, Don and Diane Rogers, Marion and Marilyn Rogers, Mary and Rod Peters and Marilyn and Gary Stull all of Covington; grandchildren, Joe Rogers, Brent Rogers, Kay Ann Wilson, Grant Rogers, Mark Rogers, Michael Rogers, Emily Denlinger, Elaine Rogers, Ben Rogers, Wendy Vanderhorst, Craig Peters, Clint Peters, Jack Stull, Jonathan Stull, Carrie Brunk and Rachel Crist; 33 great-grandchildren; and sister, Lois Flora. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Old German Baptist Brethren Church, 6360 W. Farrington Road, Covington. Interment will follow at Miami Memorial Park, Covington. The family will receive friends from 3-5 and 6-8 p.m. Friday at JacksonSarver Funeral Home, 10 S. High St., Covington. If so desired, memorial contributions may be made to Acclaim Hospice of Centerville. Online memories may be left for the family at www.jackson-sarver.com

DARIEL MARIE SMITH PIQUA — Dariel Marie Smith, 18, of Piqua, passed away Monday, Aug. 6, 2012, at Upper Valley Medical Center, Troy. She was born August 17, 1993, in Springfield, to Darrel T. Smith of Piqua and Yvonne A. Black of Piqua. She is also survived by nine siblings, Michael Smith of Troy, Amy Smith of Springfield, Amanda Smith of Alabama, Melissa Smith of Alabama, Candice Smith of Columbus, Michelle Smith of Georgia, Jasarae Smith SMITH of Piqua, Shavonne Smith of Piqua and Cheyenne Smith of Piqua; special friend “sisters” Chakela Lee of Piqua and Chazlyn Lee of Piqua; maternal grandparents, Nancy Creager of Piqua, David E. Black of Piqua; maternal great-grandmothers, Dorothy Preston of Piqua, Evelyn Black Sowers of Sidney; and numerous

aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. Dariel was a 2012 graduate of Piqua High School and was planning to study nursing at Edison Community College. She was baptized at and attended Transformed Life Church, and had earned her STNA certification. Dariel worked as a hostess at Red Lobster for the past two years. A memorial service to honor her life will be conducted at 4 p.m. Sunday at Transformed Life Church, 421 Wood St., Piqua, with Pastor Brian T. Hamilton officiating and the Rev. Raymond Lloyd assisting. Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at the church. Arrangements for the family are being handled through Jamieson & Yannucci Funeral Home. Condolences to the family may also be expressed through jamiesonandyannucci.com.

DOLORES CATHERINE SPRINGER

Austin Wierschke, left, of Rhinelander, Wis., reacts after winning the 2012 LG U.S. National Texting Championship as second place winner Kent Augustine, of Jamaica, N.Y. right, looks on, Wednesday, in New York. Queens, said he was “a little disappointed,” but he won’t be walking away empty-handed, since the second-place winner gets $10,000. He said he was going to try again next year. Fellow competitor Kelly Barracato was not surprised that Wierschke won. She said she noticed that during the press tour, “his thumbs were flying.” Anita Levine, 16, and Anan Arias, 17, came out to see the competition. Arias is an avid texter who says she sends more than 100 texts a day. “Texting is part of the new generation,” she said. Levine said she loves texting but her father won’t let her. “My dad thinks it is pointless,”

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she said. Jan and Lori Emanuele, both in their 50s, were curious to see the competition. Both text often but say it can sometimes get a bit overwhelming. “When I first saw ‘ttyl,’ I thought, ‘what is that?’” Jan Emanuele said. TTYL stands for talk to you later.

TROY — Dolores Catherine Springer, 74, of Troy, Ohio, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, at her residence surrounded by her loving family. She was born April 13, 1938, in Rockville Centre, N.Y. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gerard F. and Margaret Mary (Morrin) Fyme; and a sister Frances Lee. She is survived by her beloved husband, William Springer; son and daughterin-law, William G. Springer SPRINGER and Andrea Bushala of Evanston, Ill.; daughters and sons-in-law, Ellen and Daniel Maguire of Maybrook, N.Y., Kathleen and Jerry Stevens of Jacksonville, Fla.; nine grandchildren; and sister and brother-inlaw, Margaret Anne and Frank Satriano of Swansnoro, N.C. She was retired as a legal secretary.

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She enjoyed bowling, reading, bridge, baking and was a member of the Transfiguration Catholic Church, West Milton, and Dayton Legal Secretary’s Association. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, at the Transfiguration Catholic Church, 972 S. Miami St., West Milton, with Father John MacQuarrie as Celebrant. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery, West Milton. Friends may call from 5-8 p.m. Friday at the Hale-Sarver Family Funeral Home, 284 N. Miami St., West Milton. If so desired, contributions may be made to Hospice of Miami County, P.O. Box 502, Troy, OH 45373, or Alzheimer’s Association of Dayton, 3797 Summit Glen Drive, Suite G-100, Dayton, OH 45449.

FUNERAL DIRECTORY • Beverly A. Girten TROY — Beverly A. Girten, 72, of 204 E. Elm St., Troy, passed away at 6:20 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, at Upper Valley Medical Center. Arrangements are pend-

ing at Cromes Funeral Home & Crematory, 302 S. Main Ave, Sidney.

• Robert P. Phillips DAYTON — Robert P. Phillips, 70, of Dayton, died at 9:22 a.m.

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NEW YORK (AP) — A 17-year-old boy who says he has “abnormally fast thumbs” has been named the fastest texter in America for the second year in a row. “It feels incredible,” said Austin Wierschke of Rhinelander, Wis., after winning the sixth annual U.S. LG National Texting Competition in Times Square on Wednesday. He gets $50,000 in prize money, which he says he will put away for college. Eleven contestants from around the U.S. competed, all using the same type of cellphone, an LG Optimus Zip phone with QWERTY keyboard. Cellphone-maker LG Electronics sponsored the contest. The competition tested three skills speed, accuracy and dexterity on four different challenges. They were “do you know text speak?”, in which contestants had to spell out text abbreviations; texting while blind-folded; “text blitz,” where phrases were shown to the contestants for a length of time and they copied them as fast as they could; and texting backward, where jumbled words were given to the contestants and they had to figure out the word. To practice for the competition, the 17-year-old champion said he sent almost 500 texts a day to his friends. Runner-up Kent Augustine, 16, from

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Wednesday Aug. 8, 2012, at the Upper Valley Medical Center. Private services are being provided to his family through the Jamieson & Yannucci Funeral Home.

BACK TO SCHOOL

TROY DAILY NEWS • WWW.TROYDAILYNEWS.COM

Thursday, August 9, 2012

New faces to greet Covington students BY TOM MILLHOUSE Ohio Community Media tmillhouse@dailycall.com

STAFF FILE PHOTO/ANTHONY WEBER

Fifth grade students of Hook Elementary School, including Colton McNeal, Riley Johnson, center, and Molly Sanders get into crossing guard positon last year at the school. The students protect their fellow classmates before and after school as they arrive and exit the building.

A quiet beginning Troy ready to start new school year BY MELANIE YINGST Staff Writer myingst@tdnpublishing.com Troy City Schools will have a relatively quiet start to its school year beginning Aug. 22. Eric Superintendent Herman said the district just wrapped up the summer of clean-up, maintenance and improvement at all its buildings “We just repaired things around the buildings and are ready for another year — pretty much status quo,” Herman said. Each of the district’s nine buildings had its own summer “to-do” list, with current totals of more than $560,000 worth of projects in progress for the district thus far. One of the most costly projects of the summer is a flat roof replacement between the original building and the 2006 addition at Concord Elementary. The roof replacement cost $245,125. Other projects include $80,000 to install point to point wireless service between each building. At

TROY Troy High School, a pole barn for storage will cost $15,000, and urinals will be replaced for $13,683. All playgrounds will receive new mulch and/or gravel. Concord, Cookson, Forest and Hook had storage sheds installed at a cost of $600 apiece. Each building’s floors were waxed, and every piece of furniture is cleaned, and walls are wiped down for students and staff to begin the new school year. Elementary Concord also had its classrooms and halls repainted in the original portion of the building. Hook Elementary completed its final phase of its three-year roof replacement this summer. The cost of the final installation was $100,740. Students may see a major change to the district’s meal plan with the federal realignment mandating more fresh fruit and vegetables this year, with a more restrictive calorie count will be in place. School officials said although lunch prices will stay the same this year, an increase will be likely next year. At Troy High School, two new assistant princi-

pals Jeff Schultz and Randy Smith will join William Overla when current principal Ron Phillis retires next spring. New teachers at Troy City Schools include: Julie Angle, third grade at Forest Elementary; Brooke Bowles, art, Cookson Elementary; Michael Bunck, physical education, Cookson Elementary; Laura Colebaugh, intervention specialist, Forest Elementary; Katie Drees, Computer/Multi Media Van Cleve; Allyson Geis, art, Van Cleve; Aaron Gibbons, Troy High counselor, School; Alyssa Gibson, sixth grade, Van Cleve; Becca Howard, sixth grade, Van Cleve; Rebecca Klosterman, sixth grade, Van Cleve; Adrianne Koverman, counselor, Forest Elementary; Meredith Parris, language arts, Troy Junior High; Lynne Snee, fifth grade, Forest Elementary; Randy Walters, school psychologist, Troy High School and Troy Junior High; Jessica Wright, first grade, Hook Elementary and Dustin Olson fourth grade, Hook Elementary. New support staff include: Sherri Barr, administrative assistant, Hook Elementary; Eric Germann, intervention specialist, Concord

COVINGTON

Students at Covington schools will be greeted by a few new faces and redecorated entryways at the high school and middle schools when classes resume Wednesday, Aug. 22. The first day for kindergarten students will be Aug. 24. New teaching staff members include Luke Brinkman, middle school and high school choir, band director and music teacher; Kelly Turner, half-time first-grade teacher; Katherine Meade, high school art teacher; and Gene Gooding, high school social studies teacher and high school girls basketball head coach. Also new to Covington will be Jessica May, who is working with the Miami County Education Service Center special education unit at Covington Elementary School. The building principals remain the same with Rick Fry as elementary principal; Josh Long, middle school principal; and Ken Miller, high school principal. Dave Larson is entering his second year as superintendent. With a decision not to replace the retired transportation supervisor, Larson said he will take on those additional duties. Larson said when students return to school they will be greeted with redecorated entryways at the middle school and high school. “We are trying to raise school spirit,” Larson said of the project. He also noted that thanks to a grant from the Covington Community Chest, the bleachers at Smith Field have been repainted. No other major building improvements were undertaken as Larson said the Facilities Planning has been Committee established to assess the future of district facilities.

Larson explained that among the options are retaining the current three buildings or possibly pursuing the construction of a new building through the Ohio School Facilities Commission. He said the committee, which is meeting at 7 p.m. today at the Covington Fire Department meeting room, is expected to make a recommendation later this year. An open house will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 21 to greet returning students. Lunch prices are the same as last year — breakfast will be $1.25, lunch for elementary students will be $2.10, $2.35 for those in middle school, $2.50 for high school students, $3 for adults, and milk will be 50 cents. • Open houses for Covington elementary, middle school and high school will be held Tuesday, Aug. 21. The Covington Elementary open house will be held from 4:30-6 p.m.; the middle school open house will be from 5-6:30 p.m.; and the high school open house will be from 5:30-7 p.m. Students will be able to visit their classrooms and meet their teachers before the first day of school. Children will be able to take home handbooks and forms that parents can read through and return to school the next day. Representatives from the PTO, the volunteer organization, school transportation, business partners from Remedi Pharmacy, PLUS organization and cafeteria will provide important information in the elementary school gymnasium. Fee payments will be accepted during open house. New student registration will not take place during the open house. School staff will be on hand to answer any additional questions.

Elementary; Katy Shipley, administrative assistant, Troy Junior High. New bus drivers will include Jeff Carpenter, Sedam and Danielle Melodie Trent. • Troy High School doors will open each day at 6:30 a.m. with classes to begin at 7:40 a.m. Student dismissal will be at 2:35 p.m. • Troy Junior High School will host an open house for students on Aug. 20. Eighth grade students and parents will begin at 5:30 p.m. and seventh grade students will begin at 6:30 p.m. Doors open for students at 7 a.m. with classes starting at 7:35 a.m. Students will be dismissed at 2:40 p.m. • Van Cleve Sixth Grade will host an orientation day for orange team at 9-11 a.m., green and yellow teams from 1-3 p.m.on Aug. 14. Purple and red teams will meet from 9-11 a.m. and the blue team from 1-3 p.m. on Aug. 16. If unable to attend, a make-up session will be held from 9-11 a.m. on Aug. 17. Classes begin at 7:35 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 22. • For a detailed list of the district’s elementary BY MELANIE YINGST PLEASANT HILL schools open house Staff Writer and student orientation myingst@tdnpublishing.com stepped down. Pam Dalton, schedules, visit online at www.troy.k12.oh.us Superintendent Pat a former guidance counselor McBride said it will be edu- from Troy City Schools will cation as usual for the 2012- join the administration as 2013 school year for Newton the district’s counselor. Newton Local School will Local Schools. kick-off its school year on McBride said high school school starts. “We wanted to make students once again will be Aug. 28. Open house will be held sure we’re providing stu- able to earn dual credit from 6:30-8 p.m. Aug. 23 for through its Indiana dents with the best envi“Advanced the district. Junior high and ronment possible,” Hanes University’s high school students may said, adding that the sys- College Project.” pick up their schedules, and “It worked out well last tem is “much higher effifees may be paid prior to the year so we’ll be offering that ciency” and should prostart of school on Aug. 20 vide great savings in again,” McBride said. and Aug. 21 from 8 a.m. to 2 A few new faces will be operational costs. p.m. Fees for Kindergarten behind the white boards of Improvements have through twelfth grade stubeen completed through- the district. In June, board dents is set for $45. approved four new teachers out the summer in nearly Students taking a class with for the 2012-2013 school all areas of the district. Mrs. Burnside or Mr. Kadel, year: Dana Cosby, Christina The summer’s work Henger, Megan Lacey and will have additional fees has included: repairs charged. Elizabeth McCreight. made on crumbling con• Students new to In May, the board also crete located under the hired former superintendent Newton Local School can handrail across the front of Bethel Local School Jeff enroll in the district from 8 of the home bleachers at Cassell as math teacher for a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 15, 16, Wertz Field, sandblast- grades 7-12, and retired 17. Documentation needed ing and painting of rust- teacher from Piqua City to enroll a student include: a ed areas on the main iron Schools’ Rick Gold as a birth certificate, legal custostructure of the bleachers 4/7ths of a day math teacher dial papers (if applicable), at Alexander stadium, for grades 7-12. McBride proof of residency, proof of high traffic areas at the said the district was privi- immunizations, latest grade junior high being leged to have “two top-notch report and I.E.P. (if applicarepainted including lock- math teachers” to add to its ble). Call 676-2002 to scheder rooms and associated staff. The increase is due to ule an appointment time to halls, restrooms for staff students needing four cred- enroll student. and students and the its of math for graduation • School begins at 7:55 main stairwell and rail- instead of three beginning a.m with elementary dising to second floor aca- with the graduating class of missal at 2:36 p.m. and jundemic wing and paving 2014. ior high and high school disprojects have been comAlso, a new guidance misses at 2:41 p.m. pleted on Tomahawk and counselor will be added this For more information, Indian trails. year after Johsua Bornhorst visit www.newton.k12.oh.us.

It will be ‘education as usual’ at Newton

Big things are expected at Piqua BY JENNIFER RUNYON tion. “We’re looking to have Ohio Community Media modulars in place late editorial@dailycall.com spring/early summer,” PIQUA — The 2012-13 Hanes said adding that school year promises to students would be in the be a big one for Piqua modular classrooms for approximately 18 months City Schools. Approximately 3,700 during construction. The district will develstudents are expected to attend Piqua City op bid packages in the late fall and put the Schools this year. The year will start packages out for bidding with 73 new students, 11 late January or February. According to Hanes, new teachers and one much professional develnew bus driver. According to Piqua opment has taken place City Schools Super- for the staff throughout intendent Rick Hanes, all the summer. And, a lot of of the new positions are work has gone in to takneeded to fill an opening ing the district’s strategic from a retirement or a plan and implementing it in the classroom. move. The Collaborative Construction on the district’s three new build- Leadership Team, comings is expected to begin posed of 60 people, is in the spring of 2013, and made up of building printhis will be the last year cipals and teachers as that Washington Inter- well as the board of edumediate School will be in cation. They have been working on how to take service. Students from the the Strategic Plan to the Washington school will buildings. “When students come be placed in modular classrooms housed at back, I think they’ll be High Street Primary coming back to a staff School during construc- that’s not only rested but

energetic and ready to go for another exciting school year,” Hanes said. At the high school, new classes are adding to that excitement. The school previously started a program with Ohio Northern University, which allows students to take college classes while at PHS and get high school and college credit. United States government and biology were offered before. This year sociology will be offered as well. And, last school year the high school began a pre-engineering program with research and development being the only class under the program. Electronics, robotics and game design will be added this year. The high school also will start the year with a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. Work on this project has been spread out over two years and will be completed by the time

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Thursday, August 9, 2012

TROY DAILY NEWS • WWW.TDN-NET.COM

Bethel gets year started off right

STAFF FILE PHOTO/ANTHONY WEBER

Miami East High School students celebrate the girls volleyball team victory last season during a Division III State Final at the Nutter Center in Fairborn.

Miami East ready to start new year BY MELANIE YINGST Staff Writer myingst@tdnpublishing.com

CASSTOWN

Gearing up for the 2012-2013 school year, Superintendent Dr. Todd Rappold said the new year will start with two new teachers, one at the junior high and one at the elementary level. “We’ll have the same schedule as last year,” Rappold said. The first day of school for students in first grade through senior high school is Aug. 21. High school students will begin their day at 7:30 a.m. and elementary students will start at 7:38 a.m. Kindergarten “A” students will begin on Aug. 21 and “B” students on Aug. 22. Rappold said parents who pickup and drop-off their junior high and or elementary school students

will have a new traffic pattern to abide by for a more safe arrival and departure from their school day at the K-8 building. “There will be a new procedure out front — it will be all one-way drop offs and pick-ups in front of the building,” Rappold said. The north elementary doors will continue to be open in the mornings for student drop-off. Parents are asked to enter from the south entrance (on the junior high side) and exit from the north entrance (elementary side). Rappold said teachers are already in the building preparing for another school year. Rappold said as part of new legislation aimed at improving reading scores in third grade, interven-

tion will begin this year at the second grade level. “Letters will be going home with parents of second grade students as part of the “Third Grade Guarantee’” Rappold said. Rappold said testing will begin to help identify students who will need more reading intervention as part of the new legislation which will be implemented the following school year. • Class lists will be posted Aug. 17. • Open House and classroom visitation will be held Aug. 20 from 4-6 p.m. for elementary students. Junior High will hold its open house on Aug. 20 from 7-8 p.m. • Freshman and new student orientation will be held at 6:15 p.m. Aug. 20 at the high school. Schedule pick-up for grades 10, 11 and 12th will be Aug. 16 and Aug. 17.

Changes in store at Tipp City BY JOYELL NEVINS Ohio Community Media

TIPP CITY

Although Tipp City students won’t be going back to school for a while — the first day is Sept. 4 — there will be some important changes for them. First, the move is complete between Nevin Coppock and Broadway Elementary. Nevin Coppock is now home to kindergarten and first grade only, and Broadway is host to the second and third grade. Fourth grade still goes to L.T. Ball. According to Director of Services Gary Pfister, teachers have been able to work in their new classrooms since early July. “The move went very well,” he said, “The maintenance staff did an excellent job of getting everything where it needs to be.” Although there was no overtime involved on the maintenance staff’s part, Pfister noted that the teachers have been spending extra time in getting their old rooms packed and new rooms unpacked and ready. Superintendent Dr. John Kronour relates that the move will prove not just a cost-cutting measure ($207,000 annually), but improve the students’ education as well. “Some districts have gone to grade band schools for budget purposes and others have gone to the

grade band concept for educational purposes,” he blogged, “Reconfiguring our elementary buildings is a change, but it is an innovative and creative way to work within our current budget and potentially enhance education.” Cutbacks Despite the savings from the redistricting, since the August levy failed, there will still be immediate cutbacks. In staff, Tipp City will be cutting Megan Schaurer, second grade teacher, one custodian and six varsity assistant coaches. At the high school, there will be cuts of Dale Pittenger as Ohio Work Education teacher, and no replacement of retiring guidance counselor Amy Cochran and retiring media specialist Helen Prichard. The communications coordinator position will remain part-time. Busing will increase from a one mile to one and a half mile walk zone. All school-funded field trips and staff professional development will be eliminated. Pay to participate fees are increasing by approximately percent at the high and middle school. The high school goes from $100 to $150 per activity, and middle school programs jump from $75 to $100.

School repairs What stayed in the budget was roofing repairs. During the summer, two school roofs were fixed. Nevin Coppock’s roof needed some general repairs as it was starting to leak, according to Pfister. The cost was $15,000. At L.T. Ball Intermediate, the roof is being replaced completely, but one section at a time. This was the third summer the school had authorized a L.T. roof project. The section just completed cost $53,000. Along with an updated roof comes revamped tennis courts. The schools’ courts were already cracked with age, but suffered further damage last September when a storm snapped off power lines behind L.T. Ball Intermediate and hit the fence surrounding the courts. Pfister detailed that all of the asphalt was ripped up, along with the top two inches of sub base. The sub base was replaced with new material, and the whole court was repaved, sealed and painted green and blue (like U.S. Open courts). All of the fencing around the court was also replaced. The repairs were paid for with funds received from Upper Valley and Good Samaritan Medical Center for the athletic facilities, according to Pfister. The total project cost $174, 200 and was completed by Brumbaugh Construction.

BY JOYELL NEVINS Ohio Community Media

BRANDT

With the passage of both the renewal and replacement levies in August, Bethel Local Schools is starting the school year off on the right foot Aug. 20. The levies are funding operating expenses, such as school expenses and staff salaries, and permanent improvements, like school maintenance and property repairs. Some of those repairs have been happening this summer. Students will notice new paint and wall repair in the auditorium, kitchen, high school library, junior high gym and elementary cafeteria. Doors to the high school and elementary hallway have also been repainted. The floors got new treatment as well. The junior high gym and the high school gym floors were refinished. The high school library and district auditorium got new carpet. The high school gym also got pressure washed. On the exterior of the building, the north high school sidewalks have been repaired and replaced. On the east and south side of the school, the exterior window supports were replaced. The brick tuckpointing that surrounds the windows and door openings was repaired as well. In the elementary, an exhaust unit was installed and hooked up on the third floor. Technology was not overlooked in the list of summer projects. Brett Brookhart’s computer lab, the high school library lab, and the elementary library computer lab each

got a wiring update. Each lab also received new computer tables. These projects ranged in individual estimated cost from $600 to $22,911, and are coming out of the district’s permanent improvement fund. New teachers Along with the new look comes new faces. At the elementary and junior high level, Lara Wolford will be replacing Deana Hoyt, who retired after being the Bethel music teacher for 30 years. Wolford is a fresh graduate from Miami University. At the high school, Allyson Timko joins the staff as a parttime teacher. She will be teaching four math classes. There will also be another Advanced Placement course offered, AP Senior English Literature and Composition. This is made available through a grant from the Ohio Department of Education. No bullies This year, Bethel Schools as a district wants to emphasize the importance of individuals and discourage bullying. To start the school year off right, it is bringing in Camfel Productions. Camfel will present its multimedia production involving music and three large screens to each grade level. The company has been making character education and bully prevention programs for 40 years. According to its website, Camfel focuses on creating a “culture of character” on school campuses through handling contemporary issues and solutions.

New school awaits students at Milton BY JOHN BADEN Record Herald Writer johncbaden@gmail.com

WEST MILTON

With a brand new building and green initiatives, MiltonUnion Exempted Village Schools are ready to increase student achievement for the upcoming school year by finding more ways to meet the individual needs of its students. While the new facility is designed to save the school money on electricity and water, it also provides a technological venue for students to use when learning in class. The school’s classrooms have access to a variety of technology, including smart boards, short throw projectors, voice-enhanced systems and Blu-ray players. This year, Milton-Union has added more technology classes to its elementary and middle schools. Superintendent Virginia Rammel said that the new classes are necessary in helping the school stay up with the students and “keep pushing” them, “maximizing their learning.” With plenty of computers to go around the 217,000 square foot campus, Rammel believes that the needs of the students will be met. “That’s why we keep buying more and more technology,” Rammel said. “We know that’s their world.” Another way MiltonUnion plans to meet the needs of its students is encouraging parents to get more involved in their children’s academics. The school would like parents to read and practice flashcards with their children and others while at the elementary because teachers always need help, Rammel said. “There’s so much that they can do,” Rammel said of par-

ents. “Just listening to kids sometimes is exactly what individual students need.” The school also encourages parents to be involved with their children’s academics at home. For a couple years now, parents have been able to access their children’s grades on the school system’s website. Rammel said that parents need to have a daily dialogue about school with their kids because they remain their children’s “first and best teacher.” “The more they can show an interest in education and that education is important, the better prepared their children are going to be for their future,” Rammel said. This also will be the fourth year the school holds kindergarten all day, every day and the second year for Council on Rural Services’ Head Start program, which gets 35 year-olds ready for kindergarten. “We are very glad to have that program in place,” Rammel said. Besides the new facility and new technology classes, Milton-Union will also see seven new faces join their teaching staff — Katie Hartley as the assistant secondary principal, Megan McCuiston for high school English, Rusty Berner for high school intervention, Ben Deeter for high school art, Amanda Reigelsperger for elementary and middle school intervention, Jacie Holman for middle school social studies and math and Alan Limke for middle school technology. Kym Reid and Christiana Baker will also be on staff as new bus drivers. Milton-Union’s school year starts on Aug. 22.

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ANNIE’S MAILBOX

Husband should have kept his word Dear Annie: Recently, my husband and I chaperoned a sevenday office-sponsored trip for high school sophomores and juniors. My husband, who is in his 50s, is very outgoing. While on the trip, he developed quite a following among the teens, especially the girls, many of whom developed a little crush on him. I brought up the possibility that these girls would want to friend him on Facebook, and we both agreed it would not be a good idea. Now that we are home, however, he has, in fact, friended several of the kids, mostly girls. I do not have a good feeling about this, especially when so many innocent actions could be interpreted as criminal acts. My husband has worked hard to move up the ladder at his company, and I worry that he might be jeopardizing his career. I have asked that he block these kids, but he says it's no big deal and I'm overreacting. He says he wants to watch them grow up. I have explained my reservations, saying these kids are not his peers, and as the adult, he needs to be more responsible. My husband and his friends share a risque sense of humor, and who knows what would happen if these kids saw those comments? While it's OK that he has friended our children's friends (who are a bit older), I don't think it's appropriate to do so with children who have no ties to us. I fear this foolishness will cause problems. I don't want teenagers stalking us. I don't want them to see photographs of us on our children's Facebook pages that may not be appropriate for these teens. Am I being oversensitive or not? — To Be or Not To Be Overreacting Dear To Be: We understand your trepidation, although you are expecting a worst-case scenario that may not happen. However, when your husband agreed not to friend these kids, he should have kept his word, and now he needs to back away. Make sure he confines their access so they are not privy to anything personal or inappropriate while he gradually unfriends them. And we recommend you keep an eye on things to be sure no lines are crossed. You seem to have a better grasp of the pitfalls than your husband. Dear Annie: I am a widow in my late 60s. Four years ago, I moved to be closer to my children and grandchildren, and it's been wonderful. Recently, I reconnected with an old boyfriend, and we have fallen in love. We want to spend what time we have left together. The problem is, I would have to move to his home, which is three hours away. I'm already experiencing tears and hard feelings from my family. The adults I can deal with, but what do I tell my little grandchildren who say, "We had you first, Gram"? How do I make them understand that my love for them will never change and that we can still visit? — Sad Gram Dear Gram: It's sweet that your family will miss you so much, but the only way to make the children understand is to let them live through the experience. You are only three hours away. When they see how often you visit, call, write, email, Skype, whatever, they will be able to accept your new circumstances more easily. Dear Annie: I have a solution for "Maria in Ohio," who asked how to word wedding invitations when the parents are divorced and remarried to others. This is how our family now handles things: "Together with their parents, Bride Jane's name and Groom Joe's name invite you to share in their joy as they exchange wedding vows," followed by the date, time and location. This is the format, no matter who is paying for the event or how much, and it doesn't matter how many parents or stepparents are involved. (When did life get so complicated?) — B.S. Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailbox@comcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.

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