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Weekend edition
Sunday, April 11, 2021 • $1
NPRC backlog continues to impact veterans
Davidson calls current plans ‘unacceptable’
to express his concern with the nearly 500,000 backlogged veterans record requests. As a result of COVID-19, the NPRC has been understaffed and unable to process record requests in a timely manner, which has led to major By Nathaniel Kubik DarkeCountyMedia.com issues regarding veterans benefits that include medical care, service awards, DARKE COUNTY — military honors at funerRep. Warren Davidson als, student loan and (R-Troy, Ohio) visited the National Personnel Records mortgage assistance, and other services for veterans Center (NPRC) in St. facing homelessness, even Louis, Mo., on Monday
“There is no one on the other side of this issue. Everyone wants to solve this, it’s not a partisan issue. The energy towards solving this has been there all along.”
— Rep. Warren Davidson
COVID-19 vaccines. The NPRC closed over a year ago, and has been sporadically working at a very limited capacity, at times as low as 25 percent of their usual staffing. The
result is that veterans are waiting inordinate periods of time to access benefits they earned while serving, and some have been buried without honors because of these delays.
Thomas Pitman, Director of Darke County Veterans Services, said that certain Darke County veterans have been forced to wait upwards of three months to receive the response needed to acquire benefits. Pitman confirmed the issues are being felt in a big way, and the delay has made it difficult to properly care for veterans throughout the county. “The biggest problem that we’ve had is a veteran passing away and the
family doesn’t have the discharge,” said Pitman. “Recently, we haven’t been able to get some of the requests back and a number of veterans have not received proper military honors at their funeral.” Pitman went on to state that his office has been able to receive discharges via phone call in emergency situations, but submitting requests to the organization has simply not worked See NPRC | 3A
City addresses false alarms, building inspections By Erik Martin
DarkeCountyMedia.com
GREENVILLE — Owners and tenants of commercial properties in Greenville should be aware of new regulations in the Treaty City, as Greenville City Council adopted two measures to mitigate false fire alarms and improve building inspections. The new regulation on false alarms allows for the city to bill building owners and tenants of properties a charge of $25 for three to seven false alarms occurring within a calendar year. The fine goes up to $100 for each false alarm thereafter, and eventually may include the owner being compelled to disconnect the system. City Law Director Mike Rieman told council the legislation is primarily intended to deal with businesses and occupants which have “an acute problem” with false alarms. New regulations on fire inspection fees calls for a $75 charge for each re-inspection of a property after an initial and second visit if there are remaining code violations. Greenville Fire Department Chief Russ Thompson said the new fees for building inspections should provide motivation for business owners and tenants to get their structures up to code. “If we have to start coming back for a second, third or fourth re-inspection, which we’ve become accustomed to on certain places in the city over the last couple of years, that’s when an inspection fee of $75 is going to kick in, until we get voluntary compliance,” Thompson said. “We will not charge for inspection or re-inspection as long as the violations have been cleared on second inspection,” he added. “Basically, it’s a small monetary incentive to get business owners or tenants to comply with the fire code and clear the violations within an agreed-upon time, which is normally up to 30 days.” In other business, council accepted a report from its Ad Hoc Committee regarding talks between the city and Greenville Township on a joint Fire/EMS district. The city accepted a feasibility study proposal from John D. Preuer & Associates in the amount of $11,750, with the cost split equally between the city
OH-70230352
See CITY | 2A
Courtesy of Pam Sharp
Kevin and Pam Sharp, in April, 2011, at the opening of the Greenville Merle Norman Cosmetics studio at 309 S. Broadway. Current hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Fridays (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Saturdays (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and by appointment.
Sharp studio, sharp looks Greenville’s Merle Norman celebrates 10 years By Carol Marsh
DarkeCountyMedia.com
GREENVILLE — With
beauty of the earth with its vibrant greenery on full display. In this lovely the glorious return of Spring comes the sunshine, season of new beginnings, many time-honored events budding of new tulips and traditions are planned, and trees, and the natural
such as proms, graduations and weddings, which often require weeks (and sometimes, months) of planning. See SHARP | 5A
DCRWC hosts ‘Meet the GOP Primary Candidates’ April 12 Staff report
GREENVILLE, OHIO – The Darke County Republican Women’s Club (DCRWC) is hosting a Meet the GOP Primary Election Candidates night Monday, April 12, 2021,
6 p.m., at the Shawnee Nature Preserve, 4267 State Route 502, Greenville. The Ohio Primary Election will be held Tuesday, May 4, 2021, and candidates who will
be on the Darke County Republican ballot have been asked to speak and take questions. Candidates are John A. Baumgardner for President of the Greenville City Council, Rebecca Strait for Greenville City
Treasurer, Brian R. Brown, Doug Schmidt, Jeffrey Whitaker, and Douglas Wright for Greenville City Council. There are three open “at-large” seats on the See DCRWC | 3A