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THE EARLY BIRD NEWSPAPER
S U N D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 1 4 , 2 0 1 6
Dollar Tree closing – but only temporarily? RYAN BERRY
MANAGING EDITOR editor@earlybirdpaper.com
GREENVILLE – One of the more popular stores in Greenville will soon be shutting its doors, but customers are hoping it won’t be for too long. The Dollar Tree has confirmed it will be closing its Greenville store on Feb. 28. However, plans for a new store have been approved by Greenville’s Planning & Zoning Commission and the city and The Dollar Tree’s developer, Elcan & Associates, is in the process of signing a development agreement. According to the Darke County Building Regulations Department, the proposed facility will be lo-
cated at 1555 Wagner Ave., Greenville, just north of the Walmart Supercenter. The company has applied for permits, which have been approved. The department is waiting for a contractor to be awarded the project to issue the permits. The new building is expected to be 9,977 sq. ft. with a cost of approximately $1.2 million. Shelley Davis, with The Dollar Tree, said they are targeting August to have the new store up and running. She added that target could move up or down depending on how the project proceeds. Davis pointed out a store will sometimes relocate to be closer to its customers or when they are providing additional value. The Greenville’s store relocation is due
to the latter. The new store will be larger and will include freezers and coolers. Davis said, “We are excited to continue our presence in Greenville.” On the closing of the store before a new building was built, Steven Speranza, president/asset manager of Tolson Enterprises, explained The Dollar Tree’s lease was expiring and a prospective new tenant for that location is in the works. Tolson Enterprises tried to work with The Dollar Tree to give them additional space, but an agreement could not be reached. Speranza would not give details on who the new tenant will be, but noted construction will begin the day after The Dollar Tree vacates the building.
The Dollar Tree’s Greenville store will close on Feb. 28, but plans are in the works to build a new store north of the Walmart Supercenter.
Tinkham enters Alford plea in child sex case, gets 5 years CLINTON RANDALL
STAFF WRITER crandall@earlybirdpaper.com
GREENVILLE – After pleading guilty in January to one count of Gross Sexual Imposition (F3), 56-yearold David M. Tinkham of New Madison entered an Alford plea Thursday to a sole count of Sexual Battery (F3) in a separate felony case involving sexual conduct with a minor. As a result of the conviction in both cases, Darke County Common Pleas Court Judge Jonathan P. Hein sentenced Tinkham to a mutually agreed five year prison term. Tinkham was indicted on seven counts in December 2015, including Rape and Sexual Battery, following an investigation accusing him of the offenses that dated as far back as 1993. As part of a plea bargain, he agreed to enter an Alford plea in exchange for the state dismissing the remaining six counts in the indictment.
David Tinkham is sent to prison after being convicted in two child sex cases. (Clinton Randall photo)
An Alford plea means that a defendant will plead guilty, but does not admit guilt in the case. The plea is entered due to the risk of a conviction in a trial is too great, as is the maximum penalty. “Mr. Tinkham agreed to an Alford plea since the state would then dismiss three Rape and three other Sexual Battery charges,” stated local defense attorney Randall E. Breaden. “Some of the Rape charges carried a possible life sentence.”
According to Darke County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Deborah S. Quigley, several reports were made to the proper authorities during the offenses nearly 20 years ago, but no charges ever resulted in the case. When a second child victim came forward, Det. Rachel Kuzmicki of the Darke County Sheriff’s Office elected to re-open the old case and pursue an indictment on both. “The case simply fell through the cracks and no
charges were ever brought up against the defendant,” Quigley noted during Thursday’s hearing. “The investigator in the case was tasked with contacting the victim and when they didn’t receive back a response, they simply closed the case.” Members of Tinkham’s family, including one of the victims, where present in the courtroom for the hearing. Two close relatives emotionally read several prepared victim impact statements prior to sentencing by Judge Hein. “I hope that by entering a guilty plea in the case that you have accepted what you have done and are admitting that what you have done is wrong. There is no amount of prison time that can fix what has been done,” a family member said to Tinkham – who sat without emotion with his head down. “You have hurt innocent people and children. My daily prayer is that you ask God for forgiveness. I
hope you know that through all the anger and hurt, that I still love you and you will always hold a place in my heart.” “Through this entire process I have had to resist nightmares that I have had locked away,” a female victim in the case directed at Tinkham. “Just for you to show some remorse and say your sorry… or feel guilty… I would be able to have some closure.” “I want you to understand that you have not just hurt me… you have hurt many people – and there is no justice for them – their voice won’t be heard,” she continued. “So during your years of being locked away and making new friends, I want you to think about every one of those girls you have hurt – and admit your guilt and pray for forgiveness!” Tinkham received three years in the GSI case and five years for the Sexual Battery, both to be ran concur-
rent with one another. He was credited with 226 days of jail time served. “I think I heard from your family, at least through my interpretation, that they hope something good will come out of this… essentially that is up to you,” Judge Hein told Tinkham. “The damage has been done, but they sound like they are trying to push through the healing that is necessary for the victims.” “It is actually very mature that they can hope that through the prison process and a conviction… that you can become a better person, but that is completely up to you,” Judge Hein added. Tinkham will be eligible for judicial release after completing four of the five year sentence. He will be placed on post release control with the Adult Parole Authority and required to register as a Tier III sex offender for the rest of his natural life once he gets out of prison.
Arcanum grad awarded first Lauren Hill scholarship SUSAN HARTLEY
STAFF WRITER shartley@earlybirdpaper.com
ARCANUM – A 2012 Arcanum High School graduate has been awarded the very first Lauren Hill Scholarship. Ms. Hill was the Mount St. Joseph student and basketball player who died April 2015, as a result of an inoperable brain tumor at the age of 19. Arcanum grad Erija Nealeigh, is a biology major and a senior at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati. She is the daughter of David and Christa Nealeigh. “I was ecstatic and very thankful and blessed,” Nealeigh said this week of receiving the $1,000 scholarship this past December. “It was surreal because of everything Lauren Hill stands for and the legacy she left -
to be able to represent her.” Nealeigh, who currently serves as the student government president for Mount St. Joseph, said she was very aware of the circumstances surrounding the late Ms. Hill’s battle with cancer and her desire to play basketball for the Lady Lions. “I followed her every step of the way and actually attended the game at Xavier,” Nealeigh said of the Nov. 2, 2014 game between Mount St. Joseph and Hiram College. The game was held at Xavier University’s Cintas Center. Ms. Hill scored the first and last baskets, leading her team to a 66-55 victory. Nealeigh, who played softball for Arcanum, said the scholarship application asked those applying to not reference their participation with sports. Instead,
students were to focus on the opportunities they have taken to “give voice to others.” After receiving an email from the Mount St. Joseph’s registrar’s office informing her about the scholarship, Nealeigh decided to apply. Her involvement with campus government, as well as working as a campus ambassador and member of the TriBeta National Honor Society, Nealeigh said she thought she’d be a good fit for the scholarship. “Our mission is to give voice,” she noted about her work with student government. “I thought I’d be a good candidate.” While at Arcanum High School, Nealeigh also was a member of the SADD club, served as president of the student council, was a member of the National Honor Society and the school’s sci-
ence club. “My essay focused on my involvement and summer internship experiences,” she explained. “I interned at the National Conference for Community and Justice of Greater Dayton. Their mission is to eliminate bias and discrimination in the community. Through that internship I was able to become a summer counselor for youth and speak to them about eliminating racism and prejudice.” This coming fall, Nealeigh will pursue a doctorate in occupational therapy at Huntington University in Ft. Wayne, Ind. The Lauren Hill Scholarship is sponsored by Connor Sports of Michigan, a supplier of professional and collegiate hardwood floors. According to the Connor Sports website, the $1,000 Lauren Hill scholarship will
Arcanum graduate and Mount St. Joseph student Erija Nealeigh, center, is pictured with Lisa Odenbeck, right and the parents of Lauren Hill, Lisa and Brent Hill. Nealeigh is the first recipient of the Lauren Hill Scholarshipi. Ms. Hill was a student and basketball player for Mount St. Joseph and lost her battle with brain cancer in April 2015.
be given annually for five years to the Mount St. Joseph student who displays academic performance and community engagement. “When Connor Sports learned of the amazing and inspiring story of Lauren
Hill and her courageous battle against the illness that eventually took her life, we asked Mt. St. Joseph University how we could help,” said Connor Sports President and GM Jon Isaacs in a statement.