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Wednesday, July 30, 2014
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City of Refuge will soon move to Harrison Faith-based community service agency expanding For nearly three years, City of Refuge in Hooven has provided phuelseman@registerpublications.com hope, healing and restoration. Now the faithbased community service organization is moving to a more cost-friendly building in Harrison next door to Church on Fire Ministries at the former Blockbuster site. Director Rosanne Moore credits God for the organization’s success, but to expand and improve programs that have made a difference in people’s lives, it’s time to move. Since 2011, City of Refuge has been in the 26,000-square-foot former Hooven Elementary building. The site initially was ideal. Southwest School District officials didn’t want the building sitting empty and Moore needed a home for City of Refuge. Eventually, costs and upkeep became too much. “I had to really evaluate how much we are putting into the building and the upkeep versus the people and the programs,” she said. Some sections of the old school are about 100 years old, and the entire building is kept warm with the original boiler heating system. There is no air conditioning. “Especially this past winter, we were putting in a lot of money just to keep the doors open,” said Moore. As the organization expands, new programs arise, but with growth comes other challenges. “Now we’re looking at building codes,” said Moore. The century-old building, for instance, has no sprinkler systems. The cost of getting the building up to code would exceed $100,000 said Moore. Though she loves the building and what it has become, Moore said the organization will be completely operating in Harrison by Monday, Sept. 1. The move will entail several changes. The clothing ministry, called Threads of Hope, will be decommissioned. Other programs, including Open Gym, will be nixed because Moore plans to create an improved ministry that provides constructive activity as well as entertainment for children. Moore said it was time to evaluate the programs that have been most successful or most important to the community. At the new location, volunteers will run JoyFull Harvest Food Pantry, which provides clients monthly with a variety of canned goods, boxed goods, fresh produce and frozen meats. The space will be decorated in an old world market theme. “It’s adorable,” said Moore. Meanwhile, HEAP (Heat and Electric Assistance Program) will provide people assistance with bills. Near the top of the list, City of Refuge will continue to offer Celebrate Recovery, the main recovery Patricia Huelseman Harrison Press Staff Writer
SEE CITY OF REFUGE, PAGE 8
PHOTO BY PATRICIA HUELSEMAN/HARRISON PRESS
Bobby Ruwe has a passion for riding, and he thinks shooting is pretty cool too. Ruwe is one of the original members of 1st Ohio Cowboy Mounted Shooters, based in Miamitown. Between Bobby and his wife, Barb, every office in the group has been filled by a Ruwe. Now, they help at larger events throughout the nation.
They ride, they shoot & share to boot
Harrison couple leads charge in fastest-growing equestrian sport
Cowboy Mounted Shooting is said to be the sport that most resembles the Old West of Wyatt Earp, Buffalo phuelseman@registerpublications.com Bill, and Annie Oakley. It is among the fastest-growing equestrian sports in the nation and several local residents have been involved since nearly the beginning. Out West, Jim Rogers created CMS in 1993 and passion for the sport quickly spread through the nation. Riders sit horseback in an arena. They wear a double holster with a single action .45 caliber pistol on each side. Each gun is loaded with five blanks. Maneuvering their horses through a set path, the riders shoot at 10 balloons along the course. Heat from the blanks pop the balloons in a combination of thunder and smoke. Every missed balloon costs the rider five seconds, and the rider with the fastest time wins. Prizes include cash and a gleaming belt buckle. Bobby and Barb Ruwe have been involved with the sport since the early days. The couple, who have lived in Harrison 34 years, moved here 10 years after their wedding. The two always have been devoted to horses and equestrian sports. “The horses are like you best friends,” said Barb. “They’re just there. They know when your in the barn. … They’re just like a part of your family.” In 1998, Don Burress and Dan App learned about the event and wanted to bring it home. They secured an arena in Madison, Ind., and sent letters to everyone they knew with horses inviting them to join. “Bobby had gotten a letter and he went down,” said Barb. By 1999, Bobby was on horseback and shooting. Bobby and Barb were a few of the founding members of 1st Ohio Cowboy Mounted Shooters, whose home arena is in Miamitown. The local group is the third to have been formed west of the Mississippi. When Bobby and Barb got involved, the national association was fairly small. “When you join the national association, you’re given a membership number and, just to give you an idea, his number is 65, OK, and we’re in the 1,300s now,” said Barb. The association gains 3.4 members every day. The sport has expanded to Germany and Swedan. Next year, the association will branch to Canada, and there is strong communication between the Cowboys and France. Bobby’s expertise in the arena has paid off. In 2001, he took first in world competition. In 2002, he earned reserve champion in the nation. In 2003, Bobby was the nation’s high-point shooter. Patricia Huelseman Harrison Press Staff Writer
He now is a chairman, one of 20, on the National Advisory Board for the “When you join the CMSA. On the local level, Bobby and Barb were an national association, integral part of the offices. you’re given a “He was president for several years. He’s held membership number just about every office that and, just to give you there was to have except for secretary, and I was secre- an idea, his number tary for several years,” said is 65, OK, and we’re Barb. They were around for the in the 1,300s now. ” beginning of 1st Ohio CowBARB RUWE boy Mounted Shooting in Cowboy Miamitown, to ensure those Mounted Shooting events made sense. But on the national level, their input seemed just as natural. The first year Bobby competed at the worlds, Barb had mailed his registration. When she found out he wasn’t on the roster, she decided to meet the association president to get things squared away. “He and I got to talking then, and I said well if you need any help with anything, I’m here,” Barb chuckled. “He put me to work immediately!” The two frequently help at the larger events. “We work hard when we work there,” said Bobby. Perhaps most endearing to the Ruwes is the community created by those involved. “The Cowboy Mounted Shooters are probably a real unique bunch of horse people because they treat each other like family. They don’t treat each other like competitors they’re trying to beat. They just really, really treat each other like family,” said Barb. Bobby cited scores of times when competitors offered their guns, equipment, even horses to fellow riders in need. Bobby once lent his horse for two or three weeks, and shooters took the horse to shoots all around the nation. The couple is enraptured by the atmosphere and by the camaraderie they have found in the association. Though participation requires traveling throughout the nation and working hard morning to night at the shoots, they’ll keep going as long as they can. “Mom says if you want to do it, you better do it,” said Bobby. “Otherwise, you’ll be sitting on the porch thinking about what you wish you would have done. I always try to remember that.”
Spanking new kitchen on menu for Crosby firefighters and rescue squad Patricia Huelseman Harrison Press Staff Writer
PHOTO BY PATRICIA HUELSEMAN/HARRISON PRESS
Rosanne Moore, director of City of Refuge, stands in the boutique-looking Threads of Hope clothing ministry room. When City of Refuge moves from Hooven to Harrison, Threads of Hope will be cut from the ministry. The group will focus on recovery programs and similar outreach.
Over the month of June, the Crosby Township Fire Department made 49 squad runs; 35 were medical emergency runs while 14 were for fire/rescue. The staff, about 30 strong, dealt with structural fires and came to the rescue of residents experiencing strokes or hyperthermia. On call 24/7, the staff keeps the community’s safety its top priority. But this September, those same men and women will experience just a little bit of luxury with a $9,000 renovation to
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the kitchen in the New Haven firehouse. “When the kitchen was first put together, it was kind of piece-mealed through whatever was available,” said Mark Garrett, a member of the fire department. The building that serves as the New Haven firehouse today originally was a community building. The kitchen to which Garrett refers is a small hallway type space that leads to an exit. On one side of the hallway is an old, yellowish
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