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THE EARLY BIRD NEWSPAPER
S U N D A Y, J U N E 2 6 , 2 0 1 6
Board discusses future of JH property SUSAN HARTLEY
STAFF WRITER shartley@earlybirdpaper.com
Chris Norris retires from the Greenville Twp Fire Department. (Clinton Randall photo)
Norris to focus on family, retires after 31 years of service CLINTON RANDALL
STAFF WRITER crandall@earlybirdpaper.com
GREENVILLE TWP – “I’m at the point in my life that I just want to enjoy more time with my family,” Chris Norris said about his recent retirement from the Greenville Township Fire Department. Norris officially retired from the department as Chief Administrative Officer on May 31 after 31 years in emergency service for the Darke County area. He began his career as an EMT in 1980 with the Greenville Area Emergency Rescue Service (GAERS), which is now Greenville Twp Rescue, for 19 years. Also during the 80’s, Chris spent four years with Tri-Village Rescue, two of which were as an administrator. He gained fire training in 1988 through the City of Greenville Auxiliary. Beginning in 1991, Norris spent 15 years as Deputy Director with the Darke County Emergency Management Agency (EMA). He has also served as a representative on the EMS board for 20 years. Before taking a break in 2009, Norris was a founding member in the formation of the Greenville Township Fire Department in July 2007. “Chris was invaluable in helping us get the Greenville Township FD off the ground. With his knowledge of insurance and extensive fire background made a huge different in making it all come together,” explained Darke County Commission Mike Stegall – who at the time was a Greenville Township Trustee member. “When starting up something like that, you definitely need someone like Chris Norris!” According to Norris, the department had many ups and downs in the beginning and was definitely struggling. He accepted to return to the department in 2012
to aid in overcoming several obstacles and challenges to create a more efficient operation that the department is today. “I feel like I have done everything possible to help the Greenville Township Fire Department and that I can finally step away and feel good about where it is headed,” Norris told The Early Bird. “I know my workload has been placed in very capable hands and am confident in Fire Chief Ken Stiefel, Assistant Chief Aaron Ward and Administrative Assistant Nate Epperly will get the job done!” In a recent Greenville Township Trustee meeting, the talk of a merger between the Fire and Rescue departments was at the forefront. As the Greenville Township Emergency Services prepares to expand with it’s 2015 purchase of the land currently occupied by Woodland Primary School, the township will be better equipped to respond to emergencies with the secondary station once it is complete. In addition to emergency services, Norris has had a 36 year career in the insurance business. He has been an agent with the local insurance company Littman Thomas for the last 25 years and plans to stay there despite retiring from his position with Greenville Township Fire Department. “The department knows they can still call on me with any questions or problems while working through the transition,” Norris added. “I will definitely miss all the great people I worked with, but I assure you I will not miss the paperwork!” Chris says he now is looking forward to finally having the quality “papaw time” to spend with his seven grandchildren, which he is excitedly ready to meet number eight in October. He also says he can now have more time to dedicate to his other passion in life – photography.
NM Special Meeting NEW MADISON – New Madison Village Council will hold a special meeting on June 29, 6 p.m. at 124
S. Harrison St., New Madison regarding the 2017 budget.
GREENVILLE – Greenville Board of Education and administration are looking at turning the current junior high site into a parking lot with green space. The lot would offer about 180 parking spaces for those attending events at Memorial Hall. On Thursday, June 23, Shira Elder of GarmannMiller Architects presented four proposals for consideration. “We’re waiting on direction from you,” Elder told the board. As part of the bond issue passed in August 2013 for the district’s current K-8 construction project, voters also approved that “certain” facilities owned by Greenville City Schools would be demolished, as part of the Ohio School Facilities Commission OSFC) requirements. Four of the buildings currently being used have been slated for demolition – Woodland Primary, South school, East school and the junior high building. During the board’s regular session following the work meeting, Greenville resident Richard Halley questioned the board’s decision to demolish the junior high, which was constructed in the 1920s as a high school. Halley questioned the use of the word “certain” in the August 2013 bond issue ballot language. “’Certain’ is not all,” Halley said, telling the board he doesn’t recall specifically voting that the junior high building would be demolished. Halley presented his views on the proposed de-
molition of the junior high, stating that Memorial Hall and the junior high were part of Greenville’s history. Tearing down the building, he said, would be like “throwing cold water on the rest of historic downtown Greenville.” Halley told the board they should consider selling the property to a developer, mentioning Miller-Valentine in particular. According to Halley, Miller-Valentine is renovating the old Eaton High School, turning it into a senior citizen residential facility. Haley also questioned whether the board had heard from MillerValentine. Halley also said he toured the Eaton High School to educate himself on the project. According to Supt. Doug Fries, an email had been received by the school district from the Cincinnatibased company last week, but no concrete arrangements were made to tour the junior high or speak further with administration or board members. “An agreement to look is a lot different than a commitment to purchase,” board member Brad Gettinger said. “As a school district we can’t be responsible for renovating.” Board president Fred Matix also addressed Halley’s concerns. “We’re not taking them all down,” he said, noting that the high school and Memorial Hall would remain standing and will continue to be used by the school district. Greenville Township Fire and Rescue has purchased the Woodland site. Matix also reminded Halley that the district did conduct a survey about the future of the four school buildings, with the consensus that the South and
East buildings, along with the junior high be demolished. “We’ve got to act for us to get the dollars back from the OSFC or we might end up with the taxpayers paying for the whole thing,” Matix said of the demolition plan. During the board’s work session and after a quick review of the junior high site parking lot proposals, Gettinger said he’d “rather see more green spaces.”
Board member David Ernst also commented, asking Elder if she could “show us a plan where we look at the existing lot with additional green space.” Elder’s proposals could be changed, she said, noting that the “existing lot (current junior high parking) is not efficient.” The school district will be working with city officials on the final plan for the junior high site.
Greenville BOE sets 2016-17 school fees GREENVILLE – The Greenville Board of Education met in regular session June 23 and approved the following fees for the 2016-17 school year: * Woodland Primary School (Grades K-2) – Flat fee: $22; Activity fee (K): $5; Activity fee (K) $5; Activity fee for grades 1 and 2: $10; Art: $3; Total for Kindergarten students: $30; total for grades 1-2: $35. * East Intermediate School (Grades 3-4) – Flat fee: $22; Activity fee: $10; Art: $3; Total: $35. * South Middle School (Grades 5-6) – Flat fee: $22; Activity fee: $10; Art:
$6; Science lab fee: $2; Assignment notebook and folder: $5; Total: $45. * Junior High School (Grades 7-8) – Flat fee: $22; Activity fee $15; Science lab fee: $2.50; Assignment pass book: $2.50; Art lab fee (8th grade elective) $5; Replacement lock for locker: $5.50; 2nd Assignment pass book: $3; Replacement ID: $5; * Senior High School (Grades 9-12) – Flat fee: $22; Activity fee: $20; Student planner fee: $3; Parking fee: $25. The totals listed for high school do not include labs or workbook fees.
Daughter calls dad her hero, wins Father’s Day prize basket CLINTON RANDALL
STAFF WRITER crandall@earlybirdpaper.com
DARKE COUNTY – An area radio station surprised a Darke County dad Monday afternoon with a Father’s Day prize package. Kelly Moody was chosen as one of five winners of the annual STAR 88.3 Share the Love with Dad giveaway. According to the station, over 140 nominations were submitted. Moody’s daughter Caitlin submitted a heartfelt letter to the Indiana-based Christian radio station, putting her love and admiration for her father into words. She wrote about how
amazing and inspirational man of God her father is – referring to him as her hero. She went on to talk about her father’s values, both as a pastor for 18 years and a deputy sheriff for the last 12 years. As a father, Caitlin wrote about how her dad has taught her about faith and always placing God first. She recalled her childhood and her dad singing Jesus Loves Me to her each night before bed. Learning to ride a horse, ride a bike and even roof a house were other things Caitlin went on to thank her father for in the letter. “It is because of my father that my sister and I are the Godly women we are today,” Caitlin wrote.
Pictured from L-R are Cristy and Kelly Moody, Naomi Cantrell, Caitlin and Cortney Moody. (Clinton Randall photo)
“He is the bravest and most courageous man I know and cannot fathom my life without him!” “It was very touching to hear what she had to say,” Kelly told The Early Bird. “I really raised some good girls…and it is all because of God, not me.”
The surprise prize basket was personally delivered to the Moody home by STAR 88.3 Community Representative, Naomi Cantrell. At home, Kelly was joined by his wife Cristy and daughters Cortney (20) and Caitlin (18).