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Arcanum slips past MV Blackhawks

County’s 2020 budget approved

SPORTS • A6

LOCAL • B1

THE EARLY BIRD Weekend Edition of the Daily Advocate

Online at earlybirdpaper.com

Weekend edition

Sunday, January 5, 2020 • $1

Staugler to resign from DC Visitors Bureau Takes position with Small Nation in Bellefontaine GREENVILLE — The Darke County Visitors Bureau has announced that current Executive Director Matt Staugler will be leaving the organization, effective upon the formal acceptance of his resignation and upon the completion of a search for his replacement. Staugler has been the executive director since 2015. In a statement, board president Daryl Riffle said “the board of trustees for the Darke County Visitors Bureau wish to thank Matt Staugler for his leadership as the executive director of the DCVB. Matt has exceeded the expectations the board set forth when Matt was hired in 2015.

The board wishes Matt the best as he enters into the next phase of his professional career. Congratulations to Matt, Jen and Millie on their new endeavor.” Staugler will be joining Small Nation as the director of product development. Small Nation develops places, spaces, and dreams for small towns and small town entrepreneurs around the country, and is based in Bellefontaine. “In the last 7 years, Small Nation has purchased and renovated more than 30 buildings in Bellefontaine and helped invest, recruit, and start lots of new businesses there. The model and approach

Board continues discussion on money-saving tactics By Bethany J. Royer-DeLong DarkeCountyMedia.com

GREENVILLE — It was technically the first meeting of the New Year for the Fair Board of Directors on Monday. While a bevy of topics was discussed, most revolved around continued ways to save money. Board Director Dudley Lipps asked for and offered to work on a three to four-month cash flow chart with the information to be available at every meeting. “So we know where [the] money is coming from,” continued Lipps. “Right now, I feel like we don’t have a clue where the next dime is coming from, or we don’t know when the next dime.” According to Brian Rismiller, fair manager, the next source of income is concert sales and vendors. “For the most part,” continued Rismiller, outside the pending insurance claim for the barn fire. As previously reported, when asked about insurance payouts related to the arson fire that destroyed the swine barn on Oct. 25, 2018, at the last meeting, Rismiller referred to it as “a slow go.” Several money-saving options from being cognizant of the number of lights left on to an up to $250,000 federal grant with a May deadline were offered. The latter optioned by Board Director Larry Baker via the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. “It [doesn’t] have your hands tied to capital improvements,” explained Baker while citing the need to hire a grant writer, “to get this right.” Board President James Zumbrink gave his blessing for Baker and his committee to pursue the grant stating to, “take the ball and carry it.” The board also proceeded to discuss, motion, and/or approve the following: *Junior Fair rule changes *Accept sealed electric bids until the next board meeting on Feb. 5 *Complete a current manure pit project not to exceed $2,000 *Approve the 2019 Ohio Department of Agriculture Annual Report The Fair Board meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month in the board room in the office under the grandstand. Meetings are open to the public.

OH-70166834

Reach reporter Bethany J. Royer-DeLong at 937/548-3330 or email broyer-delong@aimmediamidwest.com. Read more news, features, and sports at DarkeCountyMedia.com.

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that they have is something that is needed and can help other towns like it all around the country. I am excited to help them do that,” Staugler said. “I want to thank the board of trustees of the DCVB for their steadfast support of me over the last nearly five years. We have accomplished so much, and it’s been an honor to lead this organization and work with terrific attractions, restaurants, and small businesses to promote our travel economy.” “I am extremely excited about the skills, qualities and ambition Matt brings to the team. Darke County, Ohio is a destination with amazing attractions, restaurants and unique and growing small busi-

nesses. Matt has been a tremendous resource and promoting of not only businesses in Darke County but the region as a whole. His work aligns perfectly with our vision. We can’t wait to get started working with him,” says Small Nation Founder Jason Duff. In the near future, the board will publicly share the timeline to secure a new executive director, as well as the job description, expectations, and qualifications the board will require. Staugler was elected earlier on for Greenville City Council, a term which begins in January. “Right now, there are no immediate plans for a move, so I will be assuming my seat on council,” Staugler said Monday.

GHS grad, daughter die in crash By Linda Moody

DarkeCountyMedia.com

GREENVILLE — Amy Myers Gannon, 47, and her 13-year-old daughter Jocelyn of Madison, Wis., were among the fatalities in the Dec. 26 crash of a helicopter in Kauai, Hawaii. Gannon, a business leader and advocate for female entrepreneurs, and her daughter, an eighth-grader at Hamilton Middle School, were on a family vacation when the accident occurred. They were killed in the crash along with the pilot, 69-year-old Paul Matero, and four other passengers on board and believed to be a family from Switzerland. It was reported the tour helicopter they were flying in crashed on a mountaintop on Kauai’s rugged Na Pali Coast. According to reports, Gannon, a 1990 graduate of Greenville High School, was a prominent member of the local startup community and a longtime educator. As a founder of the Doyenne Group, a Madison-based nonprofit created in 2012 to support and mentor women in starting and growing businesses, she worked with co-founder and executive director Heather Wentler. Gannon, who also co-founded the Social Good Network, worked with other area nonprofits supporting diversity and inclusion, and served on many women-led company boards. Jocelyn had many friends in school and was active with Gymfinity in Fitchburg. As a gymnast, she

are paying the price,” Case said. “In our Hawaii alone, the industry, while stridently arguing that it is safe and sensitive to neighborhoods, has in fact ignored any sensible safety improvements, instead dramatically increasing in recent years its volume of flights, at all times of day and night, in seemingly all weather over more residential neighborhoods and to more risky and remote locations, at lower altitudes, while completely failing to address ground safety and community disruption concerns.” The FAA, however, said it conducts random and Courtesy photo Amy Gannon, left, and daughter Jocelyn were among fatalities in regular surveillance on all the Dec. 26 helicopter crash in Hawaii. Amy was a 1990 graduate of Hawaii air tour operators and ensures companies Greenville High School. address any issues, agency competed at the regional people were recovered late spokesman Ian Gregor said. level. Friday, authorities said. He said the FAA does not Mrs. Gannon’s husband, Robert Cox, petty offihave concerns about the Mike, was reportedly still cer first class of the Coast industry statewide. in Hawaii with the couple’s Guard Joint Rescue CoorAccording to a prelimi16-year-old son, Aaron. dination Center Honolulu, nary report, the pilot said Mrs. Gannon’s father is said the weather in the area the tour was leaving the John Myers (wife Judy) of was challenging. Because Waimea Canyon area, Piqua and her mother is the of clouds and rain, visibility known as the “Grand Canformer Hope Harry, who was limited to four miles, yon of the Pacific,” about lives in Florida. and winds were at 28 miles 4:40 p.m., which was the “Amy always had an infec- per hour, the release said. last contact with the helitious smile,” said Heather In Hawaii, the accident copter, Kauai police said. Hunt Brown, one of her has ramped up scrutiny Deaths involving helicopclassmates in Greenville. of tour helicopter operaters and planes in Hawaii “We were in Spanish class tions, with U.S. Rep. Ed are not uncommon. Three and National Honor Society Case, D-Hawaii, calling for people were killed when a together, but after high greater oversight and safety helicopter crashed on Oahu school, we lost contact. She precautions. He blamed the in April. Two months later, was loved.” FAA for not taking National a skydiving plane crashed The Federal Aviation Transportation Safety north of Honolulu, killing Administration (FFA) said Board safety improvement 11 people. the aircraft, a Eurocopter efforts seriously and the Contact Darke County Media Staff AS350 B2, was found about industry for not regulating Writer Linda Moody at lmoody@ 13 miles north of Hanapepe, itself. aimmediamidwest.com or 937a small community on the “Tour helicopter and 569-4315, ext. 1749. Read more southern side of the island small aircraft operations are news, features and sports at of Kauai. The remains of six not safe, and innocent lives DarkeCountyMedia.com.

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