Early Bird eNewspaper 040118

Page 1

The Early Bird Newspaper/Bluebag Media presents: FACEBOOK LIVE DARKE COUNTY

Commission Candidate Debate

April 4, 2018, 6-7 p.m. Mike STEGALL

John KENNEDY

Watch

LIVE

Chestnut Village, Brethren Retirement Community

o Facebno o

The public is invited to attend (seating is limited) or visit The Early Bird’s Facebook Link to WATCH LIVE! Republican Commission candidates on the May 8 Primary Ballot

k

THE EARLY BIRD NEWSPAPER

WEEKEND EDITION - APRIL 1, 2018

THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE GREAT DARKE COUNTY FAIR!

Students earn BPA awards; reveal fundraiser totals SUSAN HARTLEY

STAFF WRITER shartley@earlybirdpaper.com

GREENVILLE – Greenville High School’s Supply Chain Management program is the recipient of two state level awards of achievement from Business Professionals of America. On Wednesday, March 28, instructor Dara Buchy and SCM juniors and seniors held a reception to announce both the awards and this year’s total raised by the group’s A Night in Hollywood fundraiser for Darke County Special Olympics. In addition to students enrolled in the SCM program, reception guests included Superintendent Doug Fries, school board member Mark Libert, principals Andrea Townsend and Stan Hughes, and from the Darke DD program, transition coordinator Sue Huston with Night in Hollywood participants Elizabeth Brewer and Sam Ploch. Earning the BPA awards, Townsend said “it’s amazing for our students to be recognized. The awards rep-

resent the work they put in, the hours of effort and skills they share.” During the reception Buchy invited students and guests to share what they enjoyed most about what’s become an anticipated event, which includes a talent show, artwork display, raffles, and a Special Olympian’s walk on the red carpet. Senior Ethan Emrick is carrying on a family tradition – his sister Logan was one of the Night in Hollywood founders. Emrick said he was happy to be part of the tradition his sister began “because it goes back to Special Olympics.” Senior Kaleb Anderson explained the team earned the coveted Special Olympics traveling trophy given to the program which raises the most for Special Olympics. For the reporting period, the team raised $10,400. According to Anderson, “this is extra special because we did this. Our competition was Btavia High School, who traditionally

Sam Ploch shares ribbons and medals he earned as a GHS student with Andrea Townsend, CTC principal. (Susan Hartley photo)

wins this award by participating in the national fund raising event – the Polar Plunge.” Proceeds from that event are divided across the state, where proceeds from A Night in Hollywood stay in Darke County. According to Buchy, her students have been able to raise the county’s Special Olympics budget by a third for the past four years. The SCM team also received the BPA Cares Community Service award for participating in 1,000 hours of community service, primarily for A Night in Hollywood. Students also volun-

Supply Chain Management students have earned two state level awards, including a traveling trophy for their service project A Night in Hollywood. Above, students and GHS staff pose with special guests, front row: Superintendent Doug Fries, Sam Ploch, Elizabeth Brewer, Sue Huston, and school board member Mark Libert. (Susan Hartley photo)

teered time with the Darke County Business Professional Women’s Breakfast with Santa Scholarship fundraiser and the Main Street Greenville’s Beggar’s Night. Fries thanked Buchy and the SCM students for their commitment to serve. “It’s been good for our community,” he said, noting how they may one day forget some of their high school accomplishments but will always remember how “they tried to help others. Being of service is very important and we thank you for that.” This year’s A Night in Hollywood has so far netted

$7,400, which was revealed during Wednesday’s reception by senior Connor Null, SCM Team treasurer. This is the largest total amount raised during the four years the event has taken place. Both Ploch and Brewer also thanked SCM students for their service. A GHS graduate, Brewer, 36, has participated in the Hollywood talent show all four years. “I like to dance and sing,” she told the students, adding she also enjoys applause from the audience. “I do the best job I can to make a difference in this world.” Ploch, who served as a co-MC with John Whirledge

for A Night in Hollywood also gave students some advice, sharing medals and ribbons he earned while a media student at the Career Technology Center. “It’s something I always wanted to do while I was a student here,” he said of hosting. “You can accomplish anything, even with a disability.” As part of planning this year’s fundraiser, SCM seniors partnered with Darke County DD adults who participate in the county’s dayhabs. On Wednesday, Huston shared how the collaboration made a positive impact with the participation of adults in the Hollywood event. “One of our goals is to bring awareness about people with disabilities and what they can do,” Huston said. The date for the 2019 A Night in Hollywood has been set for March 2. If you would like to receive email updates about A Night in Hollywood, contact Buchy at dbuchy@gcswave.com.

Greenville grad shares wife’s journey with cancer LINDA MOODY

CORRESPONDENT

GREENVILLE – While struggling with cancer before her death on Oct. 2, 2016, Jenna Henderson penned a journal, and now, her husband, Scott, has published a book memorializing his wife and her journey with cancer. “About a month after Jenna passed away, I started feeling prompted that our story wasn’t over yet...that I needed to share her story,” he said. “Out of

that, came the thought of publishing a book. At first I wanted to rush it and get it out to friends and family that Christmas (in 2016), but as my brother, Ryan, helped me process this, he helped me slow down. He helped me realize that this book could be bigger than I could imagine if it were done right.” Henderson said his purpose in sharing this book was threefold. “It was to keep Jenna’s story going; to share how Jenna was so joyful with something so devastating

Candidates face-off at Early Bird debate GREENVILLE – Absentee Balloting for the May 8th Primary Election will begin April 10 and The Early Bird Newspaper and Bluebag Media want you to be prepared. How much do you know about the Republican Darke County Commission candidates? Where do they stand on the issues that face local residents? What is their view of the county and where it is headed? On April 4, 6-7 p.m., at Chestnut Village Center on the Brethren Retirement Community campus, the county’s first choice for news, features and sports will sponsor The Early Bird/ Bluebag Media Facebook Live Commission Candidate Debate that will put candidates John Kennedy and Mike Stegall face-to-face. There are no candidates from other parties running

against the Republican challengers, which makes this Primary Election critical. Early Bird staff members will prepare the questions and moderate the event. No questions will be taken from the audience or through Facebook due to the one-hour time limit. However, nonslanderous and non-vulgar comments are always welcome on Facebook. Interested persons are welcome to attend the event at Chestnut Village Center; as a reminder, seating is limited. The debate will be streamed live on The Early Bird’s Facebook Page, which can be found at https:// www.facebook.com/bluebagnews. Like The Early Bird on Facebook and keep upto-date with news and sports from around the county.

with others going through difficult times; and to share Jesus (and Jenna’s faith) with those who may not know Him,” Scott said. His wife, he said, had ovarian cancer twice when she was in high school, followed by 13 years of remission. “We found out that it came back in April 2015,” he recalled. “After six months of aggressive treatment, we felt as though we had beaten the disease. Six months later though, the pains returned and the cancer came back different and more aggressive.” Henderson, who grew up in Greenville, graduating from Greenville High School in 2001 and from Ohio University in 2005, had this to say about his wife and her feelings, mentally, faith and

Scott Henderson, shown here with wife Jenna who died of cancer in October 2016, wrote a book focusing on her blogs and journal she kept during her illness. (Courtesy photo)

health-wise. “Much of the book walks through how she was feeling

in all three of these areas,” he said. “She was strong, hopeful, and many times, even healthy (minus the chemo and radiation plans). Jenna never complained. The only real ‘negative comment I ever heard her state was when she was feeling so horrible toward the end, is when she said ‘This sucks, I want to go be with Jesus.’” According to him, even to the end, she was never afraid of death. “I’d describe it as more excited to be healed, but mostly to be with the one she loved more than anything else...Jesus,” he said. Has the book helped him in his grieving? “Yes and no,” he replied. “It still feels like Jenna and I are married... that this is our last big adventure together and that our story isn’t over

yet. I find comfort in knowing her hope and her joy. I also cherish that I have her words to remind me of her daily. However, it’s also been a good distraction because publishing a book is a lot of work. In a way, it has helped my mind to not wander and to keep me focused on sharing Jenna with the world. I’m not certain if that has delayed some of the grieving process, but I’m sure that more is still to come.” The book, Henderson said, is available: Online at www.WorthTheSuffering. com; in Greenville at Bread of Life; in Cincinnati at Joseph Beth Booksellers in Rookwood; in Batesville, at four locations. More of the Hendersons story can be found at www. bluebagmedia.com.

Zechar Bailey draws attention to Autism Awareness SUSAN HARTLEY

STAFF WRITER shartley@earlybirdpaper.com

GREENVILLE – The staff of Zechar-Bailey Funeral Home will be bringing attention to National Autism Awareness Month, April 1-30. National Autism Day is Monday, April 2. “We’re showing our support,” said funeral home director Greg Zechar, whose son Austin was diagnosed with autism as a third-grader and attended Nicholas School in Piqua until this school year. “He transitioned back at the high school this year and

is doing wonderful,” Zechar said of Austin, who participates in Greenville’s ROTC program. Visitors to the Greenville funeral home will notice exterior blue lights – the official color of autism – shining throughout the month of April. Staff members also will be wearing colorful Autism Awareness puzzle neckties during April – the puzzle is now the most recognized symbol of autism. According to the Autism Society website, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is prevalent in 1 in 68 children in the United States. Greg and Heather Zechar

Zechar-Bailey staff will be wearing puzzle-themed neckties in recognition of Autism Awareness Month in April. From left to right, Greg Zechar, John Wirrig, Kent Zechar, Jeff Lyme, Dave Nixon, Phillip Pierri, Tom Blakeley.

and their family have participated in Autism Awareness activities, including walks in Columbus and Indianapolis, and Greg serves as vice president of the Darke County Developmental Disabilities Board. Locally, the Autism Society of Dayton will host an awareness walk from 9 a.m.

to 1 p.m. April 28 at Payne Recreation Center in Moraine. For more information, call (937) 237-3904. For more information on autism, how to donate or find autism awareness activities, visit http://www. autism-society.org/getinvolved/national-autismawareness-month.

Call today for your FREE HEARING SCREENING! Appointment times are limited. $1000 OFF FREE COUPON

1 pair of Trust 17 or 9 Hearing Aids

CALL TODAY 548-4242. Expires 4/30/18 Cannot be combined w/insurance, other coupons or discounts.

Call Today!!!

548-4242 303 S. Broadway GREENVILLE

Hearing Screening Call Today 548-4242 Expires 4/30/18

Dr. Kylie Young CCC-A


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.