Darke County View

Darke County Commissioner Terry Haworth will not be taking on the role as Interim Economic Development Director for Darke County after closer examination of the rules revealed that his acceptance of this position would violate ethics laws governed by the Ohio Ethics Commission.

This is a free camp for youth for youth 8-14 years of age in the Darke County Ohio area and is provided by Coach Larry Masters who has been operating this camp for over a decade and reaching thousands of young people annually.  This camp opens each June for three-days.  Contact Coach Larry Masters at:  lespmasters@aol.com

This camp is a great chance for experienced players and for first-timers to learn the basic fundamentals of the game.

The camp runs on June 15 and 16. The deadline to register is June 8.

Download entry form here.

All students in Darke County will be out of school for the summer and  probably very ready for the break. Although some parents are not.

Everyone can relate to the exitement of the last day of school.

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DAYTON – Greenville senior boys pole vaulter Kevin Leland made history Wednesday night at Dayton’s Welcome Stadium when he cleared 16-1 to break what is believed to be the Division I state record.

This kid is awesome! How high will he go?

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If you have filled up your tank or driven by any gas station in town, you had to have noticed that gas is once again on the rise. Is it do to summer coming? Or maybe the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East is to blame? Either way, hold on to your wallets Darke County, here we go again!

The idea of a new venture starting in the county that creates about 100 news jobs is a great thing. In this economy there is no doubt that this deal will be under a microscope. With details and location not specified yet, the residents of the county will be watching to see how county and city officials will be accomodating and encouraging LAH Development to bring their new wind turbine business to the area. Good luck to Mr. Hart and let’s keep our fingers crossed.

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Not as good as his first outing, Craig Stammen still didn’t pitch a bad game Tuesday night.

The rookie righthander for the Washington Nationals gave up three earned runs and six hits in five innings of mound work as the starter at Citi Field Tuesday night versus the New York Mets.

He surrendered one run in the bottom of the second inning, then two runs in the third, before blanking New York in both the fifth and the sixth innings.

So even though it wasn’t as good as the first outing, it was good enough to warrant future starts, especially for the worst team in the National League.

Stammen’s next normal pitching turn would come on Sunday.

And not just the Versailles girls team, the boys team is on the rise as well.

Not only did the girls team keep its team title, over a very strong Fort Loramie team, but the Lady V-Tigers set seven, yes I said seven, district records in a single meet.

Sure a number of those came from an exemplary senior class of athletes, a class that includes three Division I track athletes, and maybe more, at least potentially.

But there are a handful of underclassmen who will keep the V-Tiger girls track fires burning long after Christine Borchers, Mary Prakel, Kristen Schulte, Mindy Henry and some of the other seniors have left the halls of VHS.

This is an interesting Versailles team, and one to watch in the regional and state meet, what with the high-scoring potential of its senior team leaders, plus the talented underclassmen.

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It’s the best time of the year to be a hot prep sports team.

Ansonia’s senior-led varsity girls fastpitch softball team is on a roll, and at just the right time of the year.

With last Friday’s 4-0 district final win over Newton, the A-Tigers are back in the Division IV regionals for the second straight year, and to think back in the sectional semifinals, just less than two weeks ago, the team came close to being eliminated by Mechanicsburg.

But most impressive wins over Houston and Newton have followed, and this team is on a mission now.

Take Ansonia softball as far as possible, and I like this team’s chances Thursday night versus Triad.

Even though the Lady Cardinals are a state power, and beat Ansonia at this point last year, the pressure is off the A-Tigers now, so they can relax, play and try to keep the postseason run going.

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The Ohio State Highway Patrol reports 11 fatal crashes this holiday weekend, killing 12 people. This is one more fatality that was reported for the same period last year. Over the holiday weekend State Troopers arrested 558 impaired drivers and assisted 4,941 motorists.

The following Ohio traffic statistics are for the holiday weekend period of May 22 at 6 p.m. through May 25 at midnight.

Zac and Jordan are going to Texas!

Former prep baseball standouts Zac Richard (Versailles) of Xavier and Jordan Marker (Greenville) of Wright State will both be going to the state of Texas this weekend for the first round of the NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

XU will play Kansas State at the Rice regional in Houston, while WSU will meet Texas Christian University at Dallas/Fort Worth.

It’s the biggest stage in college baseball, and the fact that two players, on separate teams, from Darke County are in such programs should be a source of pride for all in prep baseball circles in the area, and not just the Greenville and Versailles programs, specifically.

It goes without saying that the Richard and Marker families should be greatly honored, as well as the two young men themselves. Good show!

From Versailles to the major leagues.

That has been the odyssey for Craig Stammen of Versailles, and few could say they saw this coming.

A very good, but not great high school player, bloomed into a very good, but not great, major college baseball pitcher.

The key to Stammen’s climb has truly been his hard work and dedication, and now at 25, the righthander has become an elite pitcher (every MLB pitcher is elite, or they wouldn’t be in the bigs) in a sport that has an incredibly high number of talented washouts who never earn a spot in “The Game”.

He is well on his way to being a regular part of the Washington Nationals starting rotation, and the team comes to Cincinnati and Great American Ball Park for four games in mid-August.

Stammen could very well start one of those games.

A new week of memorable baseball successes for former Darke County prep baseball standouts began Sunday when Greenville’s Jordan Marker and his Wright State University team won the Horizon League Tournament with an extra-inning win. The win moves the Raiders on to the NCAA Tournament next weekend.

With Zac Richard of Versailles already there with Xavier, two recent pitching standouts will play in college baseball’s showcase event — in the same year.

Talented baseball players are produced here in Darke County every year, and the fact that these two pitchers have reached the pinnacle is not a surprise.

It is a big accomplishment, and both have been key contributors on the mound for their respective teams.

Zac Richard has saved his best for last this spring.

The junior righthander from Versailles worked six shutout innings for the Xavier University baseball team in a 10-1 win over Rhode lsland to win the A-10 Tournament.

Bothered by a sore arm for most of the season, Richard won his team’s first, and last, game of the tournament, matching his season’s mound win total (two) in just the past three days in the biggest games of the season.

Richard was clutch for his team, this after leading the team with a .368 batting average as a first baseman and designated hitter for most of the year.

Could the major leagues be calling for the 6-5, 260-pound Richard in next month’s amateur draft?

Wave road looks good for return to state.

Ansonia faces Triad powerhouse.

Those are the perspectives for the two remaining area prep diamond teams going into regional play this coming week.

Greenville is easily the highest-ranked varsity girls fastpitch softball team left in the Division I state tournament, at least in this part of the state of Ohio.

After beating Fairborn 7-2 Saturday in the district finals to go to 28-3, the Lady Wave will play Glen Este next, with Lakota East and Colerain in the other half of the Dayton regional bracket.

Greenville looks to be in position, but as we all know, you still have to play-and win- the games.

Ansonia faces the team that knocked the Lady A-Tigers out in the same round a year ago, the state power Triad Lady Cardinals.

But Ansonia is seasoned and ready this year, and the team is playing its best softball of the season, just at the right time.

I give the Lady A-Tigers a very good chance at pulling what many would consider an upset.

Time, and Thursday night, will tell.

Wow!

Versailles girls track and field was expected to do well in this year’s Division III district meet, but who could have expected this.

How about 165.5 points, 341.5 better than talented Fort Loramie, and seven district record performances?

From individual records from freshman Tammy Berger (two), to seniors Mindy Henry and Christine Borchers, to multiple relay marks, it was V-Tiger girls track at its best.

The Versailles boys did well also, and Arcanum’s Angie Cates and Nathaniel Mogle of Tri-Village won D-III district district races at Dayton’s Welcome Stadium. D-III regional track is Wednesday and Friday at Troy Memorial Stadium.

Should be very interesting.

Are you a seasoned adult that is looking to step back in time and relive the prom once again? If so, The Daily Advocate invites you to the “Senior-Senior Prom” on June 6 from 6:30-10:30 p.m. at Lighthouse Christian Center in Greenville. Seniors will have the chance to dance the night away like they did years ago, as a DJ will be on hand to keep the tropical-theme party going strong. So bring your Hawaiian attire or just come casual, but be prepared to escape to a tropical paradise. There will be snacks and punch available, as well as door prizes. Of course, it wouldn’t be a prom without a King and a Queen, so be on hand to see who gets crowned.

Tickets prices for event are $10 a couple and $7.50 for singles, and can be purchased at the Daily Advocate, Sweet Annie’s Cabin, PAWS Bingo or VFW Bingo.

The prom is sponsored by Integrity Ambulance Service, Family Heath, Rest Haven Nursing Home, Spirit Medical Transport LLC, Amedisys, Heartland of Greenville, PAWS Bingo, VFW Bingo, Mercer Savings Bank, Telcom Wireless, Greenville National Bank, Wholesale Carpet Outlet, Zechar Bailey Funeral Home, D&Co. Stylists, Silver Towne, L.P., Kaup Pharmacy, Curves, Oliver Floyd Funeral Home, Snap Fitness, Tiger Eye Design and Littman-Thomas Agency.

For more information about the event, please call Karen Baker at the Daily Advocate, 548-3151 ext. 120.

Versailles native Craig Stammen had quite a debut in the nation’s capital.

The righthander made his major league baseball debut with the Washington Nationals and pitched into the seventh inning of a 5-4 Nats win.

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Frustrations abound as the “countywide growth initiative” for economic development, Partnering for Progress, has failed to even make it out of the starting gate, according to some.

The initiative was introduced to business communities within the county in the fall of 2008 as a joint venture between the Darke County Economic Development, Darke County Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) and the Darke County Chamber of Commerce.

The plan was to start progressing with the initiative at the beginning of the year. Almost six months later, the hunt for an experienced person in economic development to increase manpower and lead the initiative.

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The dark horse surged ahead at the last minute to win it in a photo finish.

With almost 100 million votes tallied, Kris Allen defeated front-runner and judges’ favorite Adam Lambert to become the ‘American Idol’ season 8 winner.

Former Atlanta Falcons star quarterback, Michael Vick, was released from a Kansas prison on Wednesday morning.

He will finish his 23-month sentence by home confinement in Virginia. Vick, 29, was convicted of interstate dog fighting in 2007, and hasn’t played a down in the National Football League since the 2006 season.

Vick will begin training at his home in Virginia for a possible comeback to the NFL. His main goals are to rebuild his image with the fans and perhaps find a new start with another franchise, as early as this season.

However, getting a team to admit they’re interested is a whole other matter entirely.

To be continued …

Two-time Heisman Trophy winner No. 45 Archie Griffin will be at the Greenville Country Club on June 22 to support the 13th Annual OSU Scholarship Golf Outing.
Sponsored by the OSU Alumni of Darke County, all proceeds from the event go to the group’s scholarship fund.
Griffin is the only person to ever receive the prestigious Heisman Trophy twice. The OSU graduate was also a three-time All American and received a number of awards and recognitions during his college career.
Participants in the outing will have a chance to meet Archie, and play a round of golf in one of the premier courses in Darke County, Greenville Country Club.
At the same time, they will be helping a deserving student obtain a scholarship to Ohio State University.
The event is open to the public. The entry fee is $75 per person. There will be cash prizes, raffles and the chance to win a new car from Ron Garrett Chevrolet.
Special guest Archie Griffin is well known for his skill on the field and his community service.
In 1976, he was a first round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals, where he served as a co-captain and played for eight years.
He returned to Ohio State University where he eventually served as Associate Director of Athletics.
Griffin has been heavily involved in various community service organizations. He and his wife, Bonita, formed the Archie and Bonita Griffin Foundation Fund that helps develop sports, educational, and travel programs for youth in central Ohio.
He was named president and CEO of the OSU Alumni Foundation in January 2004.

After just three years as a commentator on ESPN’s Monday Night Football, Tony Kornheiser has decided to step down from his perch, citing a fear of flying as the reason for his departure.

Like his predecessor, John Madden, who also had a fear of flying, Kornheiser opted not to purchase a luxury bus liner to usher him from city to city — also like his predecessor.

“My fear of planes is legendary and sadly true,” Kornheiser told ESPN. “When I looked at the upcoming schedule it was the perfect storm that would’ve frequently moved me from the bus to the air.”

Former Tampa Bay head coach, Jon Gruden, has been selected as Kornheiser’s replacement this fall on MNF.

Gruden, a native of Sandusky, Ohio and a graduate of the University of Dayton, will bring that gruff, yet knowledgeable football mind, to the program — which has been lacking since Madden left the booth.

The Super Bowl winning coach will join analyst Ron Jaworski and play-by-play man Mike Tirico in the booth.

“This is a tremendous opportunity and I am very excited to be associated with ESPN and Monday Night Football,” Gruden said in a statement. “I grew up a fan of Monday Night Football, and whether I’ve coached on monday night or watched, I’ve hardly missed a game in all these years.”

Gruden’s no-nonsense type of behavior will definitely be a welcomed addition to the fall football lineup.

Gruden’s first appearance on MNF will be on August 13, when the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Arizona Cardinals in a preseason Super Bowl rematch.

“Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is?” is a phrase that Bob Robinson remembers well. It came from a reader of his In My Opinion column, and the topic that week was his rantings about government and taxes, for which he is well known.

At the time, he was the managing editor of The Daily Advocate, and his job, he said, was to be a watchdog of government. Now, he says, he wants to be a part of it.

On May 13 he officially announced his candidacy for Darke County Commissioner on the steps of the courthouse. Photos

Related articles:

• Robinson declares (article by Christina Chalmers)