DON’T MISS A GAME! GREEN WAVE GIRLS SOFTBALL
THE EARLY BIRD NEWSPAPER
WEEKEND EDITION - APRIL 22, 2018
THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE GREAT DARKE COUNTY FAIR!
Kennedy, Winteregg drop DC League of Women Voters Forum RYAN BERRY
MANAGING EDITOR editor@earlybirdpaper.com
GREENVILLE – After J.D. Winteregg announced last week that he would not be attending the Darke County League of Women Voters (LWV) Candidates Forum on April 23, Darke County Commission candidate John Kennedy has followed suit and has withdrawn from the forum. Winteregg called the LWV “too left-wing” to sponsor a Republican Primary debate and called on other candidates to withdraw from the forum. In a press release, Winteregg said, “The League endorses unrestricted abortion, funded by taxpayers, for any reason at all up to and including the moment of birth. They endorse illegal alien amnesty, increased welfare payments, Common Core, ObamaCare and Medicaid Expansion, new
and extreme anti-business environmental regulations and wide-ranging gun control laws that would essentially eliminate our Second Amendment rights.” Kennedy made the announcement on his Facebook page, John Kennedy for Darke County Commission and said, “After careful consideration I have decided not to participate in the Candidate Night associated with the League of Women Voters. I feel their political views and beliefs are not in line with my own political beliefs. I take a stand on certain issues and feel it is not in my best interest to associate with and support groups that do not share in these beliefs.” He clarified in a response some of the issues where he and the LWV do not agree are “on abortion, gun control, etc.” Holly Finnarn and Eileen Litchfield, organizers of the Candidates Forum, responded to the accu-
Left to right, Rita Robinette, Democratic Lt. Governor candidate Tara Samples and Steve Shaw visited several Greenville businesses on Thursday. (Susan Hartley photo)
Lt. Governor candidate tours Darke County SUSAN HARTLEY
STAFF WRITER shartley@earlybirdpaper.com
GREENVILLE – Ohio’s Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor Tara Samples spent Thursday morning touring several sites around Darke County. Running mate to gubanatorial candidate Dennis Kucinich, Samples is currently a city councilwoman in Akron and previously worked as a court bailiff for eight years. With the slogan #restoring the power back to the people, Samples said Thursday she and Kucinich had been touring the state the past few months. “It’s important we visit every community in the state to talk and find out what their wants and needs are,” she said, while touring KitchenAid Experience. Kucinich and Samples’ platform for Ohio include “jobs, healthcare and the opioid crisis” along with the state’s education is-
sues, Samples said. “We want to be sure no community is left behind” when presenting changes that will affect Ohioans. Samples also was scheduled to visit The Coffee Pot in downtown Greenville, where she picked up a cup of coffee, the Annie Oakley Park, Anthony Wayne School and Bear’s Mill before heading to Celina. The candidate also stopped by to visit the Darke County Courthouse and speak with engineer Jim Surber and treasurer Scott Zumbrink while in downtown Greenville. Local Democrat Central Committee members Rita Robinette and Steve Shaw, along with Karyl Parks were tour guides for Samples’ visit to Darke County. More about Kucinich and Samples’, who were recently endorsed by The Cleveland Plain Dealer, may be found at https:// kucinich.com/ The pair will appear on the May 8 ballot.
sations, “The League of Women Voters has always conducted their voter service activities in a non-partisan way. It is the League’s policy to never support or oppose a candidate. Locally, we have had candidate nights for about 30 years.” The organizers continued, “The League only takes action on issues that they have studied and have consensus on among members, Democrats, Republicans, etc.”
With Kennedy’s withdrawal from the event, LWV has been forced to modify its upcoming event. “Because of the League’s unbiased treatment of candidates and IRS rules, we will no longer be featuring the Republican Primary race for Darke County Commissioner at our forum since there are just two candidates and one of them, John Kennedy, sent notice that he was withdrawing from the event last
night,” they said. “Per the rules sent to all candidates, Mike Stegall, the other candidate, will still have the opportunity for up to two minutes for an introduction as a contested Primary candidate but will not be allowed to be on stage to answer questions.” The Darke County LWV clarified that Winteregg never accepted the League’s invitation in mid-March when all of the other candidates from the 80th and
84th House District did accept. “We look forward to having the 84th candidates (Travis Faber, Susan Manchester, Aaron Heilers) and the other 80th Candidates (George Lovett, John O’Brien, Jena Powell),” said Litchfield and Finnarn. The forum will take place on Monday, April 23, 7 p.m., at the American Legion Hall on Ohio St., Greenville and is open to the public.
Light Foundation shares success story RYAN BERRY
MANAGING EDITOR editor@earlybirdpaper.com
GREENVILLE – “I don’t think Matt’s ever done,” said Light Foundation’s Brian Rehmert. “It’s just like this building. This building broke ground two years ago in October and we just finished it this spring.” Rehmert was speaking of the new building at Chenoweth Trails during an Open House on Wednesday to share with local businesses leaders what the Light Foundation is doing in Darke County and across the country, as well as to inform them of the business opportunities that are available locally. Some local people may know that Greenville High School graduate, former New England Patriot and Super Bowl winner Matt Light has some property west of Greenville called Chenoweth Trails and others may have heard or participated in the Gauntlet that is held at the location, fewer realize what Light and his team are doing for children in the Greenville area, New England and across the country.
From Camp Vohakase to the LIGHT (Literacy, Inquiry, Getting outside and having fun and Time spent with family) Project, Light and his team are dedicated to changing the lives of young people. When starting the Light Foundation, Light said he questioned, “How can I take the platform that has been given to me, so to speak, and how can we turn into something that has a bigger mission than just the game of football.” The foundation was born in 2002 from that question. At first, the organization’s goal was to support non-profits like the Greenville Boys & Girls Club. Over the past 16-years, the Light Foundation has morphed into providing and developing their own programs. Although they still support other organizations, Light said, “We wanted to make a more direct impact.” “Camp Vohakase is the thing I’m most proud of because it’s the thing we’ve been doing the longest. It’s something that has really had an impact on the lives of people. It’s not the biggest thing in terms of
Matt Light speaks to a group of business and local leaders during an open house at Chenoweth Trails.
kids that we serve, but it is the thing that is the most intense.” His newest program is the LIGHT Project, which focuses on young kids and getting them outdoors. The program is reading and science based. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s really cool to see it in action,” said Light. Light said they had a unique approach to how they built the facility and did not take dollars raised from fundraising to apply to building the facility. “It’s almost the exact opposite of what we do,” he said. “We have a track record of about 76-cents of every dollar that goes into
programming. And that’s really hard to do.” He encouraged local businesses to partner with the Light Foundation and pointed out Chenoweth Trails has several areas where naming rights are available. “If your corporation is looking for a long-term partnership, we want to be part of that conversation.” For more information how you can volunteer or support the Light Foundation, Chenoweth Trails or any of their programs, visit MattLight72.com, call (937) 316-6352 or email programcoordinator@ mattlight72.com.
Citizen asks council to clean up properties RYAN BERRY
MANAGING EDITOR editor@earlybirdpaper.com
GREENVILLE – For a second consecutive meeting, Greenville resident Thomas L. Kesselring addressed Greenville City Council on Tuesday asking that something be done with the former Speedway/ Bonded properties on North Broadway and at Ohio and Martin Streets and also the property owned by “the woodman” on West Main Street. Kesselring said, “I have never seen the stuff that is going on with those gas stations down there and the gas station over on Martin and the pile of crap sitting in front of the house on West Main Street.” He emphatically stated, “I wouldn’t stand it if it was by my house.” He believes a
lot of people feel the same way he does. Mayor Steve Willman agreed. “They’re bad,” he said. “It’s hard to do anything else in town when you have places like that, that are falling down, look terrible and are not in compliance with our ordinances.” The mayor explained the Community Improvement Corporation is working to have something done with those properties and has contacted Speedway numerous times. He continued, “I think the same thing may go with Mr. (Greg) Metzgar’s property down here with the wood. Maybe we could stop by and say something to him one last time. Ask him if he could do something different. Maybe bring some of his wood into compliance. It’s not quite right now. He leaves his cars parked on
the street for days at a time, which is kind of illegal. A lot of people do. How do you get anybody to do anything if there’s a person that continues to get away with it.” He asked for support from the public and council to get something done. Councilman Jeff Whitaker said, “My main concern is what right does someone have to allow their property to get to a point where it affects real estate values; because it does.” He questioned how that can be permitted when others that want to build a carport or do something to improve their property have to go through the “third-degree” to get a permit. Councilman Doug Wright added, “I have to agree with Jeff. We talk about a few things at this table, but then, very seldom are things done; especially
about eyesores.” In other business, Council learned a tree lottery will be revamped and reinstituted this year. Safety Service Director Curt Garrison explained the city will soon welcome applicants for the trees. Winners of the lottery will get to pick the type of tree, the city would purchase the tree during Brown’s Nursery’s Labor Day Sale, and city crews would install the tree in the city’s right-of-way. In past years, the homeowner would be required to pay costs upfront and be reimbursed later by the city. Legislation to make changes in the ordinance will be prepared for council’s approval at future meeting. The next regular meeting of Greenville City Council will be May 1, 7:30 p.m., Council Chambers, Municipal Building.