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THE EARLY BIRD NEWSPAPER S U N D A Y, O C T O B E R 1 1 , 2 0 1 5
Early Bird/Bluebag Media Halloween Parade set for Oct. 29 GREENVILLE – The Early Bird/Bluebag Media is pleased to announce it has assumed sponsorship of the annual Halloween Parade in downtown Greenville on Oct. 29. The locally owned and operated hometown newspaper and website is proud to continue a tradition started by the Greenville Lions Club approximately 40 years ago. Children, adults, families and groups are encouraged to take part in the annual event and show off your costumes. The Early Bird/Bluebag Media will be giving prizes to the top three in the following categories – Tiny Tots Girls – up to age 6; Tiny Tot Boys – up to age 6; Masked Girls – ages 6-10; Masked Boys – ages 6-10; Masked Girls and Boys – ages 11-16; Costumed Adults; and Costumed Groups. Prizes will be $30 for first place, $20 for second place and $10 for third place. In addition to the
stars of the parade, several groups have already agreed to participate, including the Greenville Police and Fire Departments, Greenville High School’s NJROTC, marching band and varsity cheerleaders, Darke County’s Honor Guard and the VFW. If you would like to participate in the parade, contact Jessica Winn, at 5483330. No political campaigning will be allowed. Parade line-up will begin at 6:30 p.m. on W. Fifth Street, next to Wayne Cinema. The parade begins at 7 p.m. and will travel down South Broadway to the Circle where prizes will be awarded. Be sure to stay downtown after the parade for Main Street Greenville’s Beggars’ Night. Businesses downtown will be handing out candy to all little beggars. Candy for Beggars’ Night will not be distributed until after the judging – so be sure to take part in the parade and contest.
Ken Hossler, Whirlpool Plant Leader, talks to 70 Franklin Monroe sophomores about the opportunities available at their KitchenAid plant. (Bob Robinson photo)
Following a brief introduction, three groups of students were given tours of the plant. Students wore headsets so they could hear the descriptions of the work they were seeing. (Bob Robinson photo)
Can-do mentality? Whirlpool wants you! BOB ROBINSON
ASSOCIATE EDITOR brobinson@earlybirdpaper.com
GREENVILLE – “We have a job for just about every educational pursuit,” said Ken Hossler, Whirlpool Plant Leader. He and his staff hosted 70 Franklin Monroe sophomores Oct. 2 for National Manufacturing Day. Later he noted one of the areas where there is a need is engineering. “Nuclear engineer? Won’t work in nuclear technology but we need the engineering skills.” Hossler told the students the company will train; they look for hard workers with a good attitude. After they’ve been on the job, if they see
a posted job they would like, they can apply for it. “You can go to college while you’re working at Whirlpool… the company pays for it.” Hossler also noted the stability of Whirlpool… “With Whirlpool you don’t get laid off,” he said. The students were broken into three groups for tours. Due to the machinery noise, they were given headsets so they could hear the information provided by the guides. As in nearly all manufacturing facilities they were given safety glasses to wear. Students saw multiple products – from blenders to stand mixers and more – being built in the new 200,000 sq. ft. facility. “Makes no difference where you go – Eu-
rope, anywhere – if you see a KitchenAid product it was built right here in Greenville, Ohio,” said one of the guides. “We have to be competitive, which means our folks have to be extremely competitive,” Hossler said. “The competition is tough; we have to be flexible.” Whirlpool is the largest manufacturer of appliances in the world. The company does $20 billion in annual sales and has 20,000 employees, 10,000 of them in Ohio. Later, Hossler said he saw a number of faces in the group he thought were interested, noting the body language, facial expressions; also questions asked. “Seventy in the tour this
morning? I could use them all,” he added. The local manufacturer currently has over 1,000 employees, and has been hiring 20-45 people every quarter for the last two years. Hossler looks for creativity, innovation, a can-do mentality, team worker and a problem solver. “Today’s manufacturing is not your father’s manufacturing,” he said. “We make jobs better through technology, tools and processes. It’s more ‘finesse’ today (than in the past).” He added the company will stay competitive if its employees continue to work as a team. “It takes teamwork; we have to be better for a better tomorrow!”
March of Dimes readies for 2016 walk GREENVILLE – The March of Dimes’ March for Babies may only take a few hours to complete, but the planning that goes into making it successful begins months before. Darke County’s preparation began a few weeks ago when the Executive Leadership Team met for the first time to begin working on the 2016 March for Babies. The planning continued on October 6 when the leadership team met with many of the corporate sponsors and top givers for the 2016 Darke County March for Babies Leadership Breakfast. Kristina Knapp Bradley, of Dave Knapp Ford Lincoln and chair for the local 2016 March for Babies, welcomed guests encouraged them to help the organization reach its goal of
$110,000. Jackie Allen, division director, and Brian Hammond, community director, stressed the importance of the work March of Dimes is doing and how every baby born is affected by the research the organization has supported and continues to support. Allen pointed out March of Dimes is responsible for ultra sounds, Neonatal Intensive Care, PKU test and the 29 newborn screenings every child born in the United States undergoes. Ohio offers between 34 and 36 screenings. She also noted 1 in 8 babies in Ohio is born prematurely and nationally 1 in 9 is born early. The figures represent a $12 billion burden. Hammond said the work of five collaboratives across the country, including the I-71 corridor in Ohio that now includes Wright State University, is making a dif-
GREENVILLE – The Early Bird will once again be honoring local veterans on Nov. 8. A special edition, featuring photos and stories of those that have served in the Armed Forces, will celebrate their sacrifice and service while fighting to preserve our freedom. Pictures of family members and friends from area residents, past and pres-
ent, that have served are currently being accepted. Past editions have featured photographs of soldiers beginning with the Civil War through those presently serving. In addition to continuing the tradition of accepting photographs, The Early Bird will also accept stories and memories from our veterans from their time in
RYAN BERRY
MANAGING EDITOR editor@earlybirdpaper.com
Threat at GHS was a student ‘playing around’ RYAN BERRY
MANAGING EDITOR editor@earlybirdpaper.com
GREENVILLE – Greenville High School Principal Jeff Cassell says a threat found on a social media site aimed at the school and its students was not serious and the student making the threat has been disciplined. The district has a policy of not discussing the type of discipline given to students. Earlier this week, Greenville City Schools learned a threat had been posted, and although rumors have run rampant across the district as to what the threat was, Principal Cassell said there weren’t any specifics. The threat merely said something was going to happen on Tuesday, but it didn’t say what would happen. The same student followed that post with a second similar post later in
the day said it would take place third period or after. The principal and school’s resource officer called the student into his office on Tuesday and were told he/she was “just playing around.” Cassell stressed to the student those types of comments are not appropriate in this day and age. Cassell has received several calls from parents and noted some students remained fearful on Wednesday. “We want our students to feel safe. We are safe. We have a secure building,” said Cassell. He pointed out they do not take these incidents lightly and investigate everything that comes to them. While some parents questioned why a One Call was not made, Cassell accepted responsibility for that decision. “I chose not to do a One Call because that could increase the panic,” he said.
Several local leaders were invited to the 2016 Darke County March for Babies Leadership Breakfast to prepare for next year’s event. Kristina Knapp Bradley welcomed the group. (Ryan Berry photo)
ference in trying to prevent and help children born prematurely. The money raised in Darke County helps fund these collaboratives. He encouraged the leadership breakfast attendees to form teams and come up with inventive ways to raise money for this effort. The Darke County March for Babies walk will return to its original weekend in 2016. The event will
take place on April 30 at the Darke County Fairgrounds and will include a 5 mile walk, 1 mile family fun walk, Kid Zone, breakfast and lunch, and entertainment. For more information on the Darke County March for Babies, contact Hammond at (937) 329-9274 or email bhammond@marchofdimes.org.
Early Bird honors vets with special edition service. Send or drop off photographs with the person’s name, branch of service and years served or stories/ memories to The Early Bird, c/o Veterans, 5312 Sebring Warner Road, Greenville, Ohio 45331. Photographs and information will also be accepted via email at editor@earlybirdpaper.com (please put Veteran in the
subject line). For more information, call and ask for Ryan Berry, managing editor, 548-3330. The deadline for entries is Oct. 30, 4 p.m. To make it easier for some area residents, The Early Bird has kept past photographs and information on file. Call or email if you would like to have the information published in this year’s special section.