We Deliver. All Local. All the Time.
www.bluebagmedia.com
THE EARLY BIRD NEWSPAPER
S U N D A Y, M A Y 2 2 , 2 0 1 6
Arcanum-Butler spreads kindness a mile long CLINTON RANDALL
STAFF WRITER crandall@earlybirdpaper.com
ARCANUM – It took nearly 22,000 paper links and every single student from Arcanum-Butler Schools to “stretch their acts of kindness” nearly a mile across town Thursday afternoon. According to Arcanum Principal Jason Stephan, the idea came from a school assembly which talked about
Rachel’s Challenge that encourages acts of kindness that have a positive effect on others and put a stop to bullying. Rachel Scott was the first student to be killed during the tragic shooting at Columbine High School in 1999. Since her death, the Scott family have heard many stories about her acts of kindness that made a difference in the lives around her. Along with the Arcanum
students…parents, teachers and administrators all took part in spreading kindness throughout the year. From simply picking up someone’s book or helping them with homework, a link was added to the “kindness chain” with every act of kindness. The “kindness chain” started off in the Arcanum Field House and made it’s way both directions of Main Street until every student was lined up as far north as
Sutton’s to Arcanum Hardware on the south end of town. “To be able to reward kindness and promote it throughout the year is a great cause for our school district to get behind,” Stephan said. “I am really proud of the entire school and all their efforts to make this happen!” Visit rachelschallenge. org to learn about Rachel’s Challenge and the story behind the kindness campaign.
Arcanum-Butler students stretch links of the “kindness chain” a mile down Main Street. See photos and video from the event at bluebagmedia. com (Gaylen Blosser photo)
Ormsby vows to stay tough on drugs as Prosecutor CLINTON RANDALL
STAFF WRITER crandall@earlybirdpaper.com
DARKE COUNTY – Darke County Prosecuting Attorney R. Kelly Ormsby, III knows all too well of the tremendous responsibility that falls on his office when it comes to any criminal case. With 35 years of courtroom experience as a prosecutor, he has handled just about every type of case imaginable, up to and including aggravated murder. Ormsby knows that drug abuse is usually the common factor for most defendants in the courtroom and continues to drive up crime rates across the country. “There is no easy answer to the drug problem today,” Ormsby explained. “It needs to be a team effort in not only locking up the drug dealers, but getting the help needed to the drug addicts, especially young first offenders.” After a recent announcement of a local defense attorney seeking the office of Prosecutor, Ormsby wants
the public to be aware of the many positive things that have been accomplished since he took office in 2009. In a recent article, his opponent has stated he would “clean up the office.” Ormsby feels his office is on the right track and he has a great group of assistant prosecutors that work hard and have an excellent record of convictions. “I would hate to see all we have worked for dismantled and my team broken up if my opponent were to prevail,” Ormsby said. “We have an excellent team of attorneys and support staff, most of whom have many years of experience.” Unlike his opponent, Ormsby has served his entire legal career as a prosecutor. He is happy in that role and says he has never had any desire to be a criminal defense attorney. Ormsby grew up in the Detroit area of Michigan. He later graduated from college at the University of Michigan and then the Indiana University School
Darke County Prosecuting Attorney R. Kelly Ormsby, III (Clinton Randall photo)
of Law. He started as an assistant prosecuting attorney in northwest Ohio in June 1981. He later moved to Darke County 20 years ago when he began his career with the Darke County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in 1996 – under then Prosecutor Jonathan P. Hein. Once Hein was elected Common Pleas Court Judge, Ormsby later became First Assistant Prosecutor under Prosecutor Dick Howell
– who sadly lost his battle with cancer in 2009, when Ormsby stepped up to fill the role. Kelly is a proud father of his step-son Cameron (20), who is currently serving in the U.S. Navy, and two younger sons – Alex (14) and Matthew (12). Being a father of two young boys and a resident of Darke County for much of his life, Ormsby takes a lot of pride in his job and the safety of this community.
When asked what are the biggest rewards of being a prosecutor, he said, “Getting justice for the victims of crime, for the hard working law enforcement officers, and for the community as a whole. Whether it be by a guilty plea or as a result of a trial, when justice is served, I then feel I have made a positive difference.” In addition to criminal duties, a prosecutor is expected to undertake many civil duties as well. Ormsby has been active in attending many community and budget meetings to better understand the issues facing other elected officials at every level of government and to give support where it is needed. He is also visible at many public events and is always open to answer any questions and concerns from community members. Ormsby also has been asked to serve as a special prosecutor in neighboring counties. He most recently prosecuted a child rape case in Mercer County and just last week that defen-
dant was sentenced to a prison term of 25 years to life. If he is fortunate enough to gain the voters support again this November, Ormsby vows to continue his fight against the drug epidemic that continues to plague us here in Darke County. He claims his courtroom record speaks for itself, as does that of his primary felony assistant, Deborah S. Quigley. Since he was named prosecutor in 2009, both have squared off against Ormsby’s election opponent in a number of trials…and got a conviction every time. “My opponent says that he just wants ‘to give people a choice.’ I believe the people already made a good choice in electing me…and that is why I am seeking their continued support to re-elect me this November.” The Darke County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and can be reached at 937-5477380.
‘Silent hero’ named 2016 Senior Citizen of the Year SUSAN HARTLEY
STAFF WRITER shartley@earlybirdpaper.com
GREENVILLE – Mississinawa Valley fifth-grader Naomi Hathaway knows how to keep a secret. For the past month, Naomi has known the name of the person being tapped for the 2016 Darke County Senior Citizen of the Year. “I found out on the phone,” Naomi said. “Dad was like ‘this is top secret.’” Nominated by Naomi, Ruth Howell of Greenville learned during the May 18 Senior Citizen Day event at Romer’s Catering that she had been selected to receive the senior citizen award. Ruth said she was surprised to hear Naomi’s name announced prior to her own name. “At first I didn’t catch it,” Ruth said of what was taking place. “I heard Naomi’s name and thought ‘there’s Naomi. My Naomi.’” Being named Senior Citizen of the Year, Ruth said, came as “a total surprise.”
Prior to the announcement, Naomi had been “hidden” in one of the offices at Romer’s, said her father, Brian Hathaway, co-owner of Spirit Medical in Greenville. For the past couple years, Ruth has been Naomi’s reading tutor, through Gateway’s Council on Rural Services tutoring program. A former Title I reading teacher in the Northridge school district, north of Dayton, Ruth was instrumental in helping organize a tutoring program in Darke County, through the former RSVP – the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Ruth started teaching at Northridge in 1961, before eventually moved to Greenville to care for some elderly family members. With a love for reading “many topics,” Ruth said, she decided to put her skills to work as a reading tutor for area students. Naomi read the nomination letter she wrote on behalf of Ruth to the more than 300 seniors and community members present during the Senior Citizen
Day luncheon. “This is a story of a silent hero living right here in the Darke County community,” she said. “Not only is she a hero to me, but a hero to hundreds of other children she has touched the lives of throughout her years as a teacher and now in her years of ‘retirement teaching.’” Brian and Audrey Hathaway were told during Naomi’s kindergarten year that their daughter was falling behind in reading. As a first-grader, despite making all As and Bs in her classes, she was still below grade level, even with in-school intervention. An eye doctor soon diagnosed Naomi with eyesight issues, which required her to wear bifocals. By the end of second grade, Naomi learned that she might not be able to pass the state mandated Third Grade Guarantee, which would be given at the end of the next school year. “At the age of eight,” she wrote, “it was hard for me to understand how I could be getting good grades, but might have to
stay in third grade simply because I couldn’t pass a state-required test.” Just as she was getting ready to enter third grade, Brian learned about “a lady at Gateway’s Council on Rural Service Program that was touching the lives of many Darke County children.” Naomi continued: “As soon as I met this lady, I fell in love with the way she was able to teach me.” Today, after many hours of tutoring, fifthgrader Naomi is reading at a sixth-grade, fifth month level. And, yes, she passed the Third Grade Guarantee. Ruth believes today’s senior citizens have a lot to offer during their retirement years. “I view senior citizens today as having unique opportunities. Since this was an educated generation, they have a commitment to be able to identify something that’s a personal passion or interest and pursue it in retirement. It’s perhaps the most remarkable part of life,” Ruth said. “I feel honored to receive this award, but
From left to right, Lauren Henry of Wayne HealtCare, past president of the Darke County Senior Outreach, Hathaway, Howell, and Mindy Stebbins of State of the Heart Care and incoming president for the senior outreach program. (Susan Hartley photo)
every senior citizen who nurtures their family and the community has also received it.” The Darke County Senior Outreach sponsors the annual Senior Citizen Day, with participation from many local businesses and organizations, including Spirit Medical, Reid Health Medical Equipment & Uniforms, Bethel Cardiology of Greenville, Heartland Hospice, Heartland of Greenville, Brookdale Greenville, Comprehensive Health
Network, Village Green Health Campus, Versailles Health Care Center, Union City Care Center, Rest Haven, Wayne Health Care, Wayne HealthCare Foundation, Brethren Retirement Community, State of the Heart Care, Darke County United Way, Miami Valley Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, YMCA, Catholic Social Services, Community Action Partnership, Oakley Place, and Johnston Chiropractic.