SHOWERS AND POSSIBLY SOME THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA LATE TONIGHT AHEAD OF A VERY ENERGETIC WEATHER SYSTEM. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG TO SEVERE WIND GUSTS WITH THESE SHOWERS AND STORMS. IN ADDITION…LOCALIZED HEAVY RAIN COULD LEAD TO MINOR FLOODING. STRONG TO SEVERE WIND GUSTS AND LOCALIZED FLOODING WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE WITH SHOWERS AND STORMS INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL FOLLOW WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL STRENGTHEN WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE COLD FRONT. WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
NATIONAL RELIGIOUS BROADCASTERS HAS ANNOUNCED THAT OPEN DOORS WILL RECEIVE THE MILESTONE AWARD DURING THE NRB CONVENTION IN EARLY MARCH. THE MILESTONE AWARD IS GIVEN ANNUALLY TO MINISTRIES WHICH HAVE MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS MINISTRY IN CHRISTIAN OUTREACH AND BROADCASTING. OPEN DOORS IS CELEBRATING 58 YEARS OF SERVING PERSECUTED BELIEVERS IN RESTRICTED COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. TEN MINISTRIES WILL RECEIVE THE AWARD DURING NRB’S 70TH ANNUAL CONVENTION MARCH 2ND-5TH IN NASHVILLE. OPEN DOORS CEO JEFF TAYLOR SHARED, “THE LORD HAS BLESSED OPEN DOORS SINCE OUR FOUNDER BROTHER ANDREW FIRST DELIVERED BIBLES BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN IN 1955.” HE GOES ON TO SAY, “TODAY OPEN DOORS CONTINUES TO SUSTAIN AND STRENGTHEN CHRISTIANS LIVING IN HOSTILE COUNTRIES SO THEY CAN SPREAD THE GOSPEL.” TAYLOR THANKS THE LORD FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED AND PRAYED FOR PERSECUTED BROTHERS AND SISTERS THROUGH THE YEARS. NRB PRESIDENT AND CEO DR. FRANK WRIGHT COMMENTED, “THE MINISTRY HAS (ALSO) DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB IN RAISING AWARENESS OF SUFFERING CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD, AND IN MOBILIZING THE CHURCH IN THE WEST TO PRAY. ONLY GOD KNOWS THE FULL IMPACT OF THIS TREMENDOUS MINISTRY.”
GOVERNOR KASICH HAS PROCLAIMED THIS WEEK “OHIO SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK”. 20 OTHER U.S. GOVERNORS HAVE ISSUED NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK PROCLAMATIONS. THIS IS TO SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON ALL EFFECTIVE EDUCATION OPTIONS FOR CHILDREN. PARTICIPANTS IN NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK EVENTS IN OHIO AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY BELIEVE THAT CHILDREN DESERVE GREATER ACCESS TO CHALLENGING, MOTIVATING EDUCATION OPTIONS – FROM HIGH-PERFORMING PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS, MAGNET SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, ONLINE LEARNING AND HOMESCHOOLING.
CENTERVILLE CITY SCHOOLS APPROVED $2.6 MILLION IN CUTS FROM ITS BUDGET NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AND ARE ALSO REQUESTING A 6.9-MILL OPERATING LEVY FROM VOTERS IN MAY. THEIR NOVEMBER LEVY FAILED BY LESS THAN A PERCENTAGE POINT. CENTERVILLE BOARD PRESIDENT DR. DAVID ROER SAID THE $2.6 MILLION INCLUDES CUTS TO EXPENDITURES, INCLUDING PROGRAMMING CHANGES AND THE REDUCTION OF 13 NET POSITIONS AND INCREASED REVENUE THROUGH STUDENT FEES. IF THE MAY LEVY IS PASSED, IT WOULD COST THE OWNER OF A $100,000 HOME $211.31 ANNUALLY AND WOULD GENERATE $11.4 MILLION EACH YEAR FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS STARTED A NEW PROGRAM TO HELP ELDERLY RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. SENIOR WATCH, STILL IN ITS EARLY STAGES, WILL HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS PERIODICALLY VISTING ELDERLY RESIDENTS WITH THE HOPES THAT THESE VISITS WILL LEAD TO BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESIDENTS AND FEWER SCAMS. THE PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY AT NO COSTS, ACCORDING TO CHAMPAIGN COUNTY SHERIFF MATT MELVIN. FOR RESIDENTS WHO ENROLL, THEIR NAMES AND ADDRESSES WILL BE ENTERED INTO A DATABASE THAT DEPUTIES WILL ACCESS FROM A LAPTOP IN THEIR VEHICLES. THEN, DURING REGULAR PATROLS, DEPUTIES WILL PERIODICALLY STOP BY THOSE RESIDENTS’ HOMES, CHECK UP ON THEM AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IF NEEDED. SHERIFF MELVIN SAID THE VISITS WILL BE BRIEF AND UNOBTRUSIVE. THE URBANA POLICE DIVISION ALSO OFFERS A SAFETY PROGRAM TO ASSIST THE HOMEBOUND AND ELDERLY, ACCORDING TO THE REPORT IN THE NEWS SUN. THEIR PROGRAM IS CALLED “ARE YOU OKAY” AND SENDS AUTOMATED PHONE CALLS TO RESIDENTS WHO SIGN UP. IF THE PERSON DOESN’T ANSWER THE CALL OR THE LINE IS BUSY, THE PROGRAM MAKES TWO MORE AUTOMATED CALLS. IF NO CONTACT IS MADE, A POLICE OFFICER IS ALERTED AND DISPATCHED TO THE HOME TO CHECK ON THE RESIDENT’S WELL-BEING. THAT PROGRAM IS ALSO FREE TO URBANA RESIDENTS. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY RESIDENTS WISHING TO SIGN UP OR FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE “SENIOR WATCH PROGRAM” SHOULD CALL THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AT 937/484-6091. URBANA RESIDENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO ENROLL IN THE “ARE YOU OK” SAFETY PROGRAM CAN CALL: 937/652-4350.
THERE WERE A COUPLE SHOOTING INCIDENTS IN THE MIAMI VALLEY YESTERDAY. TWO PEOPLE WERE SHOT YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AFTER A RESIDENT DECIDED TO FIGHT BACK IN AN APPARENT HOME INVASION IN FAIRBORN. TWO PEOPLE WERE HOME AT THE TIME WHEN FIVE PEOPLE STORMED INTO THE HOUSE WITH THE INTENT TO ASSAULT OR ROB THE HOMEOWNER, SAID FAIRBORN POLICE SGT. PAUL HICKS. ONE RESIDENT WAS INJURED AND TWO OF THE HOME INVADERS WERE SHOT, WITH ONE HAVING LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES.
THE OTHER SHOOTING OCCURRED IN MIAMI TOWNSHIP AND THAT MAN DIED MONDAY NIGHT AFTER BEING SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES INSIDE AN APARTMENT ON EASTBROOK DRIVE. MIAMI TOWNSHIP SGT. SCOTT FITZGERALD SAID OFFICERS FOUND THAT MAN SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES INSIDE AN APARTMENT. HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT MIAMI VALLEY HOSPITAL. THERE WERE THREE CHILDREN AND THEIR MOTHER IN THE HOME AT THE TIME OF THE SHOOTING. AUTHORITIES SAY A MAN WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND SHOWED UP AT MIAMI VALLEY HOSPITAL AND DETECTIVES WILL BE INVESTIGATING TO SEE IF THAT PERSON WAS AT THE APARTMENT AT THE TIME OF THE SHOOTING WITH THE VICTIM. IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ON THIS SHOOTING, PLEASE CALL THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY REGIONAL DISPATCH CENTER AT 937/225-4357.
THE ORGANIZATION FAMILY AND YOUTH INITIATIVES IS COMPRISED OF FOUR PRIMARY PROGRAMS: THE WOMEN’S NETWORK PROVIDES EDUCATION AND RESOURCES TO PREGNANT AND/OR PARENTING WOMEN AND THEIR PARTNERS THROUGH THE EARN WHILE YOU LEARN PROGRAM. REAL LIFE…A MATTER OF CHOICES PROGRAM SERVES MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN CLARK, CHAMPAIGN, GREENE, LOGAN AND SHELBY COUNTIES WITH RELATIONSHIP/CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. COLE’S WARRIORS IS A DRUG TASK FORCE CREATED TO PROVIDE AWARENESS, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH REGARDING THE DANGERS OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE. THE FOURTH ASPECT OF FAMILY & YOUTH INITIATIVES IS GARDENING FOR HEALTH, A COMMUNITY GARDEN PROJECT DESIGNED TO PROVIDE CLIENTS AND THE COMMUNITY EDUCATION ON HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES AND REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE GROWING, HARVESTING, PRESERVING AND COOKING FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FROM THEIR OWN GARDENS. THEIR GOAL IS TO EDUCATE OUR YOUTH AND FAMILIES ON HOW TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY AND HELP THEM BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT ADULTS WHO MAKE POSITIVE CHOICES, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR LIVES AND THE FAMILIES THEY CREATE AND TO HAVE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FAMILY & YOUTH INITIATIVES CALL PAT AT 937/845-0403.
FAMILY & YOUTH INITIATIVES WILL BE ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS VYING FOR A MICROGRANT AT THE SOUP ‘N’SERVE DINNER WEDNESDAY NIGHT, JANUARY 30TH. SOUP ‘N’ SERVE IS A MICROGRANT DINNER EVENT WHERE PRESENTATIONS ARE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO WOULD LIKE TO WIN A MICROGRANT FOR THEIR ORGANIZATION. DINNER PARTICIPANTS PAY A MINIMUM $5 DONATION FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THE PRESENTATION THEY THINK MOST WORTHY WITH THE TOP VOTEGETTER WINNING THE EVENING’S DONATIONS. PARTICIPANTS GET TO ENJOY A SIMPLE SOUP SUPPER. THIS EVENT IS BEING HELD WEDNESDAY NIGHT, JANUARY 30TH FROM 6-7:30PM AT THE CLARK COUNTY TECHNICAL CENTER, 1901 SELMA ROAD IN SPRINGFIELD. FOOD WILL BE MADE BY THE CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM OF SPRINGFIELD CLARK CTC.
IF YOU ARE GOING OUT TO THE SOUP ‘N’ SERVE YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE YOUR UMBRELLAS…AND YOUR HEAVY COATS AND GLOVES! THE WEATHER WILL BE CHANGING AS A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. HIGHS WILL HIT 59 DEGREES AROUND 8:00 WEDNESDAY MORNING, THEN START TO COOL, GOING DOWN TO 50 DEGREES THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND GETTING DOWNRIGHT COLD OVERNIGHT AS LOWS HIT 23 DEGREES. AS THE TEMPERATURES GET COLDER, THE RAIN THAT IS FORECAST FOR TOMORROW WILL CHANGE OVER TO SNOW. IT WILL BE WINDY AS WELL WITH WINDS GUSTING TO 40 MPH. TEMPERATURES WILL THEN REMAIN COLD THROUGH THE WEEKEND. FOR TONIGHT THOUGH…STILL WARMER WITH LOWS ONLY GETTING DOWN TO 57 DEGREES AND A 70 PERCENT PROBABILITY OF RAIN SHOWERS.
