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THE EARLY BIRD NEWSPAPER S U N D A Y, N O V E M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 1 5
Center will develop a skilled workforce RYAN BERRY
MANAGING EDITOR editor@earlybirdpaper.com
Jordan Dill, left, and Alex Waters get feed from the barn to feed the chickens they are raising this year. They are two of 21 students in the DeColores Montessori Farm School this year. (Bob Robinson photo)
DeColores seeks help for historic barn renovation BOB ROBINSON
ASSOCIATE EDITOR brobinson@earlybirdpaper.com
ARCANUM – An eighth grader arrives at school at 7 a.m. His or her job that morning might be to feed the chickens… or work in the kitchen. Or it might be to work with other students to determine what crops they will plant in the spring. There may be other chores that day. They are divided up among the 21 students who operate the DeColores Montessori Farm School. “It’s a hands-on learning environment,” said Christine Seger, Montessori School Business Manager. “Our students operate this farm.” The 20-acre farm on Arcanum-Bears Mill Road has been in operation since 2009. “They decide what they’re going to grow… they plant it, harvest it and sometimes even prepare it.” They have to oversee a budget and operate it as a business. “The idea is for a real life experience,” Seger added. “They get that here.” There are three structures on campus… a main classroom building, a smaller building for various summer camps and an historic barn very much in need of renovation. DeColores Montessori will be launching a fundraising campaign the first of December to accomplish the renovation. “We don’t want to re-
place it because of its historic value,” she said, noting the barn’s unique ‘tongue and groove’ architecture. However considerable work needs to be done. The south wall is in definite need of repair as it lets in almost as much sunlight as it blocks. They also want to add new siding, a new roof, gutters and a user-friendly garage door. “This is the only school like this in Darke County,” Seger said. “It’s a unique learning experience for our students (grades 7 through 9). They have to understand how the process works, from beginning to end.” Students have raised hogs, sheep and more recently, chickens. Students built the chicken coop that currently houses their birds, and they show at the Darke County Fair each year. Two students, Alec Waters and Jordan Dill, were enthusiastic about the program. Alec said it’s a challenge. “It’s hands-on, which is better for me. And faster.” Jordan likes doing things with his hands. “Ever since I was little, that’s been the best way to learn for me,” he said. Those wishing to assist DeColores in its renovation project can visit decoloresgreenville.com and click on the iDonate link. Or they can contact Seger at 5471334 or christinemseger@ gmail.com.
Civic Theatre will hold auditions GREENVILLE – Darke County Civic Theater will be holding auditions for the beloved family classic “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Rhoald Dahl and dramatized by Richard George on Nov. 29, 5-8 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club on Broadway in Greenville. The play features many zany characters from Willy Wonka to Violet Beauregard to Oompa Loompas and of course, Charlie Buckett himself. DCCT is looking for actors of all ages and is always welcoming new members. No prior preparation will be needed to audition, simply show up during the allotted audition period
and be ready to read select excerpts from the script provided. The show will be performed in late winter at an annual event that will be discussed with auditioners at the time of auditions. DCCT is a nonprofit organization and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is being performed in conjunction with special arrangements from Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois. The show will be directed by DCCT member Chris Chapa and produced by DCCT President Dane Leeper. For additional information, visit www.darkecountycivictheater.org or call (937) 423-5183.
GREENVILLE – Closing the skills gap and ensuring Darke County’s manufacturers have a qualified workforce has been discussed, contemplated and discussed a few more times. For some it has been a five year journey while others jumped on board midway through the most recent effort, but all have played an important role in making sure the Darke County Advanced Manufacturing Center at the Greenville Technology Center came to fruition. Local business, manufacturing and community leaders joined with government and school officials to celebrate the opening on Nov. 18 Much of what has been accomplished is the result of the initial efforts of Darke County Economic Development Director Marc Saluk and Greenville Mayor Mike Bowers. The two officials held manufacturer visits, heard about the skills gap and went to an economic development conference in Charlotte, NC. When discussing what they had heard from the manufacturers and in the conference their thought was, “How do you get manufacturing and schools together?” Bowers said, “Fast forward five years and you have this event, this opening. It goes a long way to filling that skills gap.”
The development of the Advanced Manufacturing Center and its curriculum was not left up to educational leaders alone to fill. It was a comprehensive and combined effort from local manufacturers and educational leaders from around the county. Students will gain knowledge in manufacturing that will be needed when moving from high school, technical school or college into the workforce. Dave Dunaway, of Ramco Electric Motors, understands the need for a skilled workforce and has been leading the charge to get the Advanced Manufacturing Center open. Not only has he contributed to the development of the Center and curriculum, Ramco donated $10,000 to Greenville’s career tech program. For Dunaway and other manufacturers wanting the Center to be successful may be somewhat selfish. “Industry in Darke County is expanding,” he said. “Make no mistake about that. We are trying to run a small business and getting the people with the skills that we need has really been a challenge.” Finding qualified maintenance technicians is one area where Dunaway has had difficulty. These persons keep the facility and machinery operating properly. “The skills that these folks need are becoming more technical. It’s not getting easier; it’s becoming more difficult.
Manufacturing, business and community leaders had an opportunity to see some of the equipment the Advanced Manufacturing Center at Greenville Technical Center will be using to train high school and adult students. (Ryan Berry photo)
It’s not the way it was 10 or 20 years ago.” Not only will the Advanced Manufacturing Center take an active role in educating the students of today and preparing them for careers in manufacturing, but it will eventually offer training for adults trying to gain the skills they need to be employable. Manufacturers will also be able to use the facility for training its employees. Thanks to a grant from the State of Ohio, the facility built and filled with equipment needed in the industry today. Students will be able to work with everything from electrical systems to robotics. Saluk stated, “We can’t under sell what this means to the future of the county. A better skilled and a better trained workforce means a better opportunity to work to keep our companies, to
accommodate their expansions, to bring in new companies, help workers upgrade their skills, which oftentimes means increased salaries and standard of living in our households. Most importantly of all, no Darke County company or company looking at Darke County ever needs to say that they can’t consider doing their project in Darke County because their workforce lacked the skills.” Entities and individuals responsible for getting funding and ensuring the Center and curriculum will be able to train the next generation’s workforce include Representative Jim Buchy, Senator Bill Beagle, Greenville City Schools, Darke County Economic Development, Dayton Development Coalition, Wright State University, and local manufacturers.
DCSO welcomes Deputy Day and Britta to K-9 Unit CLINTON RANDALL
STAFF WRITER crandall@earlybirdpaper.com
DARKE COUNTY – After completing the required training, Darke County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Mike Day and his partner Britta are now officially a part of the Darke County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit. The pair join Deputy Jay Person and Eric on active duty for the department. “Adding Deputy Day and Britta to our K-9 road patrol will definitely give us the much needed advantage,” Darke County Sheriff Toby Spencer stated. “In addition to tracking and locating a missing child… the addition to our force will give us an edge in the growing drug running issues currently plaguing our roads. One of our main goals is putting a stop to all the dope coming through Darke County… Britta and Eric will play a major roll in helping the department make that happen.” Following a morning of training at the Darke County Fairgrounds and EMA building, Britta was officially deputized by Sheriff Spencer. Deputy Day was
presented with a certification for completing the required 240 hours of K-9 training. They will alternate shifts with Deputy Pearson and Eric… meaning Darke County will always have a K-9 Unit ready to go when needed. “Eric and Britta have different styles, but get the job done just the same,” said Sgt. Mike Burns who is the Primary Handler Darke County K-9 Training Center, which was established earlier this summer. Burns, who has been a K-9 handler since 1979, was the first to work with Britta after she transferred to DCSO in late spring. The city of Camden, Ohio was forced to let the 4-year-old female German Shepherd go after learning their K-9 handler was unable to continue duty. Always wanting to become part of a K-9 Unit, 25-year-old Deputy Day was thrilled when he learned of the opportunity that literally fell in his lap after rejoining the Darke County Sheriff’s Office. After a brief transitional stay at the Darke County Animal Shelter, Britta officially went to live with Day, his
Deputy Mike Day and Britta are officially on duty as the second part of the Darke County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit. See photos from K-9 training at bluebagmedia.com/photos (Clinton Randall photo)
wife Abbey and young son Colton. “She is a great family dog,” Day said about Britta. “She’s got that switch. She knows when its time to work and relaxes when she is at home. I really couldn’t ask for a better dog.” When asked what is important about a deputy having his dog live at home, Sgt. Burns noted, “It creates that closeness and sociability since you are always around each other and she is around other people. They are not caged up all the time and come out like a ball of fire ready to bite someone or run off somewhere.”
Britta is trained in many areas, including suspect apprehension, narcotics and article search, human tracking, open-air and building search, officer protection and vehicle deployment. She demonstrated her skills for some of Darke County’s elected officials during the certification ceremony Monday. Eric was also re-deputized to symbolize the K-9 Unit becoming complete for the Darke County Sheriff’s Office. Look for more information about Eric and Britta coming soon to the DCSO official website at darkecountysheriff.org.