LESS THAN TWO YEARS FROM ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY, OAKLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WILL JOIN ABOUT 28 OTHER MAINLINE PROTESTANT CHURHCES THAT HAVE BEEN DISBANDED OR CONSOLIDATED IN CLARK COUNTY SINCE 1980. THAT DATA IS FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF RELIGIOUS DATA ARCHIVES. THE LOSS IN CLARK COUNTY IS SIMILAR TO THE TREND AT THE NAT IONAL LEVEL, WHERE CHURCH ROLLS HAVE DROPPED BY MORE THAN 7 MILLION MEMBERS BETWEEN 1980 AND 2010. THE NEWS SUN ARTICLE SHARES THAT THE CHURCH AT ONE TIME HAD ABOUT 1,400 MEMBERS, BUT BY THE 1980’S THAT NUMBER HAD DROPPED TO 800 AND TODAY, THE CHURCH HAS 90 MEMBERS AND DRAWS FEWER THAN 35 CONGREGANTS TO MOST SERVICES. IN 2009, THREE LOCAL METHODIST CHURCHES COMBINED TO MAKE FAITH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN DOWNTOWN SPRINGFIELD, WHICH NOW SERVES THE FORMER CONGREGATIONS FROM CENTRAL, STORY-HYPES AND LAGONDA UNITED METHODIST CHURCHES. JEFF MULLINIX, PASTOR FOR THE FAITH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH SHARES THAT, “THEY ALL HAD A DESIRE TO CONTINUE MINISTRY, AND THEY FELT THE BEST WAY TO SURVIVE AND TO UTILIZE THEIR RESOURCES AND GIFTS WAS TO MERGE TOGETHER AND BECOME ONE CONGREGATION.”
BEGINNING TODAY, THE NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILROAD WILL REMOVE THE VACANT TRACK THAT RUNS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY AND PARALLEL TO ANOTHER TRACK IN FAIRBORN WHERE KAUFFMAN AVENUE TURNS INTO CENTRAL AVENUE. THE REMOVAL SHOULD LAST ABOUT TWO TO THREE DAYS AND A DETOUR HAS BEEN ARRANGED.
THE FARM SCIENCE REVIEW HAS BEEN GOING ON AT THE MOLLY CAREN AGRICULTURAL CENTER IN MADISON COUNTY. THAT REVIEW CONTINUES THROUGH THURSDAY NEAR LONDON. A RESEARCHER FROM OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY SAYS HE SEES THE DAY THAT WHEN A FARMER WATERS THE CROPS, THAT HE WILL LAUNCH AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE TO MONITOR PRECISELY WHERE THE WATER WENT. MATT McCRINK SAYS HE THINKS THIS WILL BE A “STAPLE OF FUTURE FARMING OPERATIONS.” THE 27 YEAR OLD PH.D. STUDENT IS STUDYING AEROSPACE ENGINEERING. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY PUT ITS INAUGURAL DRONE PROTOTYPE ON PUBLIC DISPLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE FARM SCIENCE REVIEW. THE DAYTON-SPRINGFIELD REGION IS IN THE POSITION TO BE A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HUB OF UAV RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND A DRONE FOR AGRICULTURAL USE IS PROMISING SINCE ONE OUT OF EVERY SEVEN JOBS IN OHIO IS TIED TO FARMING. THE REGION DESIRES TO BECOME ONE OF SIX SITES NATIONALLY THAT WILL SOON BE DESIGNATED BY THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FOR THE TESTING OF UAV’S. THE FAA WANTS TO SEE IF UAV’S CAN SAFELY BE INTEGRATED INTO MANNED AIRSPACE BY 2015, AND THE SPRINGFIELD BECKLEY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT IS BEING CONSIDERED AS ONE SUCH TESTING SPACE.
THE WEST JEFFERSON POST OF THE OHIO STATE HIGHWAY PATROL IS INVESTIGATING A TWO VEHICLE FATAL CRASH THAT OCCURRED ON STATE ROUTE 142, SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 70 IN MADISON COUNTY. ON TUESDAY, AROUND 2:23PM, THE PATROL RECEIVED A CALL OF A TWO VEHICLE CRASH ON ROUTE 142. TROOPERS FOUND A SOUTHBOUND BLACK FORD EXPEDITION HAD GONE LEFT OF CENTER STRIKING A JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP MEDIC SQUAD TRAVELLING NORTHBOUND. 53 YEAR OLD MARCIA FREDERICK OF WEST JEFFERSON, DRIVER OF THE FORD EXPEDITION, WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE BY THE MADISON COUNTY CORONER. FREDERICK WAS AN OFF-DUTY COLUMBUS POLICE OFFICER. BOTH MEDICS IN THE JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP SQUAD WERE INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO OSU HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. BOTH OCCUPANTS BEING TRANSPORTED BY THE SQUAD FOR TREATMENT FROM A NON-RELATED INCIDENT WERE TAKEN ON TO GRANT HOSPITAL FOR FURTHER TREATMENT.
THE UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON IS HONORING FIVE ALUMNI FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AND SERVICE IN THE UNIVERSITY’S TRADITIONS OF LEARN, LEAD AND SERVE. THE ALUMNI WILL BE HONORED DURING THE NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION’S AWARDS DINNER ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND. THE 2012 U.D. ALUMNI AWARD RECEIPIENTS ARE:
RICARDO BRESSANI, GRADUATE IN 1948, RECEIVING THE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD FOR NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS. THROUGH HIS RESEARCH AND DISCOVERIES IN NUTRITION AND FOOD SCIENCES, BRESSANI HAS HELPED NOURISH CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD. FROM 1977 AND 1978, RICK AND CLAIRE TIERNEY PFLEGER ARE RECEIVING THE CHRISTIAN SERVICE AWARD FOR LIVING OUT MARIANIST IDEALS IN TODAY’S SOCIETY. KENNETH OAKS, 1987 GRADUATE WILL RECEIVE A SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR DISTINCTION IN PROFESSIONAL OR CIVIC ACTIVITIES. HE IS THE CO-FOUNDER OF TOTAL QUALITY LOGISTICS. THE JOE BELLE MEMORIAL AWARD FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE TO STUDENTS AND EARLY CAREER ACHIEVEMENT IS BEING AWARDED TO MICHAEL LOFTON FROM 2005 AND 2007. CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH!
RELATIVES OR CLOSE FAMILY FRIENDS OFTEN AGREE TO CARE FOR CHILDREN WHEN THEIR PARENTS ARE UNABLE TO DO SO. IN OH IO, THESE “KINSHIP CARE” SITUATIONS ARE ON THE RISE, UP 18 PERCENT FROM THE LAST DECADE. WHEN THE CALL CAME TO HEATHER ROUCH OF PERRY COUNTY, ASKING HER TO CARE FOR A RELATIVE’S BABY, SHE DID SO IMMEDIATELY, PLANNING TO CARE FOR THE CHILD UNTIL THE PARENTS GOT ON THEIR FEET. SHE ALSO ENDED UP TAKING CARE OF TWO OF THEIR OTHER CHILDREN. IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE CHILDREN HAD NOT BEEN GETTING PROPER CARE AND ATTENTION. DENISE BELL, A SOCIAL WORKER WITH CLARK COUNTY JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES, SAYS ROUCH DID EVERYTHING SHE COULD TO HELP THE COUNTY REUNITE THE CHILDREN WITH THEIR PARENTS. BUT AFTER A YEAR, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST CHOICE FOR THE KIDS, AND ROUCH BECAME THE LEGAL GUARDIAN OF FOUR CHILDREN…ALL UNDER THE AGE OF FOUR. BELL SAYS TODAY THE KIDS ARE FLOURISHING. AN ESTIMATED 100,000 CHILDREN ARE NOW LIVING IN KINSHIP CARE SITUATIONS AROUND THE STATE. CLARK COUNTY JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES RECEIVED A FEDERAL GRANT TO BETTER SERVE THE NEEDS OF KINSHIP CAREGIVERS AND FAMILIES. AS SUPERVISOR OF THE KINSHIP UNIT, KRISTIE HECKMAN SAYS THERE IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR FOSTER CARE, BUT A FRIEND’S OR RELATIVE’S HOME IS TYPICALLY THE BEST OPTION FOR THE CHILD. AS HEATHER ROUCH SHARED, “FAMILY IS FAMILY” . EVEN THOUGH HER CHILDREN ARE GROWN, AND SHE FEELS LIKE SHE IS STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN, SHE ENCOURAGES OTHERS WHO ARE ASKED TO PROVIDE KINSHIP CARE…TO GO FOR IT…TO HELP THE CHILDREN WHO NEED SOMEONE TO LOVE AND CARE FOR THEM!
SEPTEMBER 16TH WAS NATIONAL BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY AND REPORTS ARE THAT 13,152 CONGREGATIONS OF VARIOUS DENOMINATIONS, STYLES AND THEOLOGIES UNITED TO INVITE AN ESTIMATED 7.5 MILLION FRIENDS, FAMILY, NEIGHBORS AND COWORKERS TO ATTEND CHURCH ON THE 4TH NATIONAL BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY. PARTICIPATING CHURCHES SAW AN ESTIMATED 38 PERCENT INCREASE IN ATTENDANCE! THE MOVEMENT IS BASED ON THE SIMPLE PRINCIPLE THAT 82 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WILL COME TO CHURCH IF INVITED BY A FRIEND, ACCORDING TO THOM RAINER’S BOOK “THE UNCHURCHED NEXT DOOR”. BUT, IN A RECENT LIFEWAY RESEARCH STUDY, ONLY 48 PERCENT OF CHURCH MEMBERS INVITED THEIR UNCHURCHED FRIENDS TO CHURCH IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS, PLEASE GO ON-LINE TO: WWW.BACKTOCHURCH.COM .
SINCLAIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS BEEN AWARDED $6.7 MILLION TO HELP UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE EARN CERTIFICATES AND DEGREES IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. THE GRANT IS FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WILL HELP VETERANS AND THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS OR HAD THEIR WORK HOURS AND WAGES REDUCED AS A RESULT OF INCREASED IMPORTS, THEREFORE QUALIFYING FOR TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE, ACCORDING TO SENATOR SHERROD BROWN’S OFFICE.
THE DAYTON DAILY NEWS REPORTS THAT ENROLLMENT HAS DROPPED AT NEARLY ALL OF THE 17 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THAT SWITCHED FROM QUARTERS TO A SEMESTER CALENDAR THIS FALL. ENROLLMENT HAS DECREASED BY 13,500 STUDENTS AND ALTHOUGH IT WAS EXPECTED, PUTS A FINANCIAL STRAIN ON SOME OF THE INSTITUTIONS. THE FALL-OFF IN ENROLLMENT IS ALSO ATTRIBUTED TO THOUSANDS FEWER STUDENTS RECEIVING THE FEDERAL PELL GRANT BECAUSE OF ELIGIBILITY CHANGES, FEWER OHIO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES AND…THE ECONOMY IS IMPROVING SOME, SO SOME STUDENTS CHOOSE JOBS INSTEAD OF EDUCATION. ABOUT 35.8 PERCENT OF OHIOANS NOW HAVE COLLEGE DEGREES. ESTIMATES ARE THAT 57 PERCENT OF JOBS IN THE FUTURE WILL REQUIRE A COLLEGE EDUCATION, REPORTS THE LUMINA FOUNDATION, A NATIONAL NONPROFIT FOCUSED ON ENROLLING AND GRADUATING MORE STUDENTS. THE CHANGE TO SEMESTERS WAS MADE TO HELP STUDENTS TRANSFER BETWEEN THE STATE’S 37 PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS MORE EASILY.
IT WILL GET PRETTY COOL TONIGHT WITH LOWS DROPPING TO AROUND 46 DEGREES. ALONG WITH SUNSHINE, TEMPERATURES BEGIN TO WARM THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WITH HIGHS ON THURSDAY PEAKING AT 73, GOING UP TO 75 ON FRIDAY. THERE IS A 50 PERCENT PROBABILITY OF SOME RAIN FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY. TEMPERATURES COOL SOME AGAIN FOR THE WEEKEND, WITH HIGHS ON SATURDAY NEAR 66. BY SUNDAY WE SHOULD SEE SUNSHINE AGAIN, BUT TEMPERATURES WILL ONLY WARM TO 60 DEGREES.
