Tag: 2025

09/25/2025

Marie Nemes-Crawford, Editor

Oct. 2: Help prepare whistles for Downtown Business Trick or Treat on Tuesday, Oct. 28th, 5pm-6pm

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Presiding:  President Rob Radcliff

Greeter: Michelle Blanton

Prayer: Brenna Gibson

Piano: Anita Wilson guest playing today

Song Leader: Taylor Gibson – “Get Together”, “Battle Hymn of the Republic”

Attendees – Radcliff, Wilson, Horning, I.Webb, D.Webb, Weller, McNemar, Ankrom, Kitchen, Hooks, Mabe, Doyle-Wilson, Fountain, Halley, G&S Montgomery, Droste, Blanton, T&B Gibson, McCrady, R.Wolfe, D.Wolfe, Riegel, Hedges, B.Tootle, Foster, Crawford, Nemes-Crawford, C&T Chamberlain, Routt, Poling, Wolford, Searls, Mavis, Spangler, Lambert, Robinson, Driesbach, Justinger, Neff, White

Guests – Anita Wilson in the house!

Students: from Teays Valley – Mr. Farrell introduced Dinna Doan and Nolan Luffer

Paul Harris Fellowship: Bob McCrady PHF+1; Roger Wolfe PHF+1; Jean Droste PHF+3

Club Announcements:  

1. Community Kitchen – almost 200 meals were prepared in an hour – thank you to Gary & Sandy Montgomery, Bob Foster, Bob McCrady, Betsy Weller, Warren Spangler, David & Marie Crawford
2. “Gift of Hope” boxes! Box assembly at Pickaway-Ross is October 21st at 6pm. Our donation will be $5,100 for the cause.
3. Pumpkin show schedule make sure your name is on the list
4. Big Wheel Race also coming up fast – Jim Hooks is the race director, see him to sign up. If you know of any 4 or 5 year olds – sign ups are open at pumpkinshow.com and on our Facebook page to Share.  1pm at the Race Track on Pinkney St. for all volunteers
5. Socktober! Is starting again with it expanding to winter hats/scarves/gloves/underwear and Taylor Gibson is leading her team: John Lambert, Suzi, Heidi and Stacy. WINTER SOCKS only please, not summer socks. Last day to collect is October 30th.
6. Jason Fife will be joining our club in a future meeting. He was approved by the board last week.
7. Wreaths Across America – distribution Dec. 17th – they will be $17 each again. Gary Montgomery has the sign up sheet.

SAA: Tom Kitchen

• Happy Dollars & Robert Redford trivia
• Year of his birth – 1936
• Born where? Santa Monica
• Univ. Of Colorado studied – architecture 
• Only Academy Award – for director of Ordinary People
• Played Alexander Pierce in which Marvel movie – Captain America

Scholarship Drawing:  This weeks winner is Warren Spangler $25 – Big Bean is growing to $1117

Program: Logan Elm Superintendent – Tim Williams and Financial Chair, Steve McAfee

• Tim’s 14th year as superintendent 
• Job is getting harder and all superintendents work together with the goal of creating young people who will be able to give back to their community
• Strategic plans: Student achievement, finance/operations, safety and wellness of students; community involvement 
• Report card – Elementary schools into one location improved scores to 4.5/5; High and middle school 3.5/5
• 50% of students graduate and go straight into workforce 
• Safety : 267 security cameras inside/outside; key swipes in entry; window film 
• 2,735 miles a day – bus routes (new school bus $141,000) with 21 busses on the road
• 1700 students; elementary 83% capacity; high/middle 72% capacity
• Proposed 246 homes across from OCU, the school district has capacity for the students
• First Annual 5K – November 1st
• High school 550 students with 300 play at least one sport and 50+ in band
• Since 2011, have spent $2.9million around campus improvements
• Both 1% income tax levy renewal and emergency levy failed in May – emergency property tax levy will not be on the Nov. 4th ballot (school will absorb $812,000 loss by loosing five positions)
• Renewal 1% income tax levy will be the only one on the Nov. 4th ballot. It is 14% of operating expenses ($3.8 million)

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The Presidential charity is Soldiers Monumental Society – caring for the graves of our service men and women

09/18/2025

Marie Nemes-Crawford, Editor

Sept. 25th: Logan Elm Superintendent – Tim Williams

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Presiding:  President Rob Radcliff

Greeter: Michelle Blanton

Prayer: Brenna Gibson

Piano: Ellery Elick

Song Leader: Brenna Gibson – “Home on the Range”; “ROTARY”

Attendees – Radcliff, Ankrom, Blanton, C&T Chamberlain, Hall, Crawford, Driesbach, Droste, Elick, Foster, Fountain, B.Gibson, Halley, Hooks, Horning, Kitchen, Kramer, Lambert, Lanman, McCrady, G&S Montgomery, Neff, Poling, Rawlins, Riegel, Robinson, Saunders, Searls, Brown, Sneed, Spangler, Weller, White, Wilson, D.Wolfe; R.Wolfe, Wolford

Guests – Daryl introduced the new P3 director Brian Hill who is taking Tim Colburn’s place

A moment of silence for our own Bill Stout

Bill joined Rotary in 1961 and was a member until his passing Sept. 13, 2025. As membership chair, back in the day, he would call any club member that missed a meeting and drive the members to their make up meetings – he was so proud of our club’s attendance record and his own 57 years of perfect attendance. He enjoyed traveling to over 64 countries and has Rotary club flags to prove it. He was our club President 1983-84 and District Governor 1990-91. His father, Rotarian J.Boyd Stout, started the scholarship fund we still have today for students attending technical schools. A friend to all with an open door and wise counsel. Thank you Governor, you will be missed.

New member today RD Saunders with Norm Wilson as his sponsor. RD is the President of Ohio Christian University. RD believes in service and this community. He is excited to serve alongside all Rotarians. He is the featured speaker at the District Fall Conference in Nelsonville, October 18th.

Jason Fife, our speaker today, has submitted an application for membership and has been board approved! His sponsor is Ty Ankrom.

Club Announcements:  

1. Canned Goods still being collected for community cupboards, through end of month
2. Monday, Sept. 22nd. Community Kitchen – we are preparing 180 meals now. Join us at the Presbyterian Church on Mound Street. 4:00pm-5:30pm 
3. Club has currently collected $2,550 from members for the “Gift of Hope” boxes! Board approved doubling the donation. Box assembly at Pickaway-Ross is October 21st at 6pm
4. Pumpkin show schedule is filling up – you don’t want to miss your chance to help at the largest fundraiser of the year!
5. Big Wheel Race also coming up fast – Jim Hooks is the race director, see him to sign up. If you know of any 4 or 5 year olds – sign ups are open at pumpkinshow.com and on our Facebook page to Share
6. Golf outing Sept. 26th at Crown Hill – benefits a cancer patient and two care providers. If interested, email Raymund@grownhillgolfclub.net.  If you want to come for dinner = $50. There will be former OSU players in attendance. Contact Rotarian Raymund to sign up!
7. Socktober! Is starting again and we are expanding it to winter hats/scarves/gloves/underwear and Taylor Gibson is leading her team: John Lambert, Suzi, Heidi and Stacy. WINTER SOCKS only please, not summer socks.

Community Events: 

• OCU this Sunday, Sept. 21nd. 4pm-7pm: The American Constitution Movie in the MPAC Auditorium

SAA: Tom Kitchen

• Memories of Bill Stout for $1
• Any Westfall grads – pay $1 in honor of Mr. Fife speaking
• Happy Dollars

Scholarship Drawing:  This weeks winner is Rob Radcliff $20 (going back to scholarships) – Big Bean is growing to $1092

Program:  Jason Fife-Westfall Superintendent and Emily Clark, communications director

• Westfall covers over 200 sq miles and 6 townships
• Over 1400 students; over 200 employees
• 90% graduation rate, goal of course is 100% 
• Goal is safety of our students; We want our students to grow; we want to have a relationship with the families
• We want to be good stewards with financial resources 
• Social Media is one of the biggest challenges for students
• Two resource officers on campus (first county school with resource officer)
• Capacity is fine – we do not currently see growth within our school district, but will not be surprised if growth reaches Westfall school district in the future
• Westfall academic report card is a 3 star rank

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The Presidential charity is Soldiers Monumental Society – caring for the graves of our service men and women

09/11/2025

Marie Nemes-Crawford, Editor

Sept. 18th: Jason Fife-Westfall Superintendent

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Presiding:  President Rob Radcliff

Greeter: Michelle Blanton

Prayer: Brenna Gibson

Piano: Ellery Elick

Song Leader: Taylor Gibson –  “America The Beautiful” & “God Bless America”

Attendees – Radcliff, Elick, Wilson, T.Tootle, McNemar, Neff, White, Huff, Reitano, Sneed, B.Tootle, D.Webb, I.Webb, G&T Taylor, Riegel, McCrady, Blanton, Hedges, Mabe, Robinson, Hooks, G&S Montgomery, Droste, Foll, Halley, Mavis, Brown, D.Wolfe, C&T Chamberlain, Fountain, Wolford, Poling, Schreiner, Horning, Rawlins, Crawford, Nemes-Crawford, Lambert

Visiting Rotarian: Steve Tomlinson from Sunrise

Students of week! – are from Logan Elm: Bret King introduced Claire & Brady

Club Announcements:  

1. Bonus Community Kitchen – thank you to Daryl, Rob & Dodie, Warren, Ellery, Gary & Sandy, Bob Mc, David & Marie
2. Canned Goods still being collected for community cupboards
3. Club has currently collected $2,300+ from members for the “Gift of Hope” boxes! Board approved doubling the donation. Box assembly at Pickaway-Ross is October 21st at 6pm
4. Pumpkin show schedule is out – please contact Daryl or Rob to sign up…really, give them a call – this is our biggest fundraising effort of the year and we need YOU! (And your friends/neighbors/partner)
5. Big Wheel Race also coming up fast – Jim Hooks is the race director, see him to sign up
6. Socktober! Is starting again and we are expanding it to winter hats/scarves/gloves and Taylor Gibson is leading her team: John Lambert, Suzi, Heidi and Stacy. WINTER SOCKS only please, not summer socks.

Community Events: 

• Sunday, Sept. 14th: Circleville Community Band at Mount Oval. Free chili at 5pm; music starts at 6. Bring your own drinks and chairs

SAA: Michele Lanman

• Any first responders or veterans? People sitting to the left, pay $1
• 1967 – musician/actor born on Sept. 11th. Harry Connick, Jr. on Will & Grace
• Pete Rose did what on this day in 1985 – broke Ty Cobb’s hits record when he hit number 4,129.  How many total hits is his record? 4,256
• 1297 – September 11, Battle of Stirling Bridge which was Scotland’s first battle against England for independence. What movie battle and who played the lead? 1996, Braveheart, Mel Gibson
• 1941 – construction started on this date for what US office building? Pentagon and took it 15 months

Scholarship Drawing:  This weeks winner is  Rick Rawlins $20 – Big Bean is growing to $1072

Program:  Circleville Superintendent Kim Halley and Communications Director Darci Valentine along with students completing an internship in the communications pathway: Madison Blakemen & Auri Travis

• Second school resource officer added this year so one in both buildings
• Mission is to maximize the achievement of each student in a safe environment 
• Vape sensor’s have been added to the school building and it has worked
• Portrait of a Circleville Tiger sounds like our 4-Way test focus. It is a roadmap to learning. Launched in 2023.
• District Momentum Goals: Academic improvement; Safety, Engagement and Belonging; Data Analysis supporting the first two
• Student involvement: Elementary 50 student counsel members, Band 80 members, Middle school has 133 athletes in 17 fall sports, High school 196 athletes in 23 fall sports 
• Over 100 people in woodworking club
• Capacity of schools with 3 new developments could have a 330 student impact to Circleville schools is a big question. High school is 54% capacity; middle school is 66% and elementary is 78% capacity.
• Twenty years ago was the adoption of the operating levy
• The bond will be paid 9 years early in 2031
• 4 year graduation rate is 93%
• 19 daily bus routes totaling 1,137 miles a day
• Enrollment 2,088 and 293 staff members
• 120 acres
• Atomic Credit union started in high school, then middle school and this year starts in elementary school
• No personal communication devices (cell phones and watches) in Ohio schools – starting in January 2026. Circleville High School implemented it this year, middle school started last. Students indicated they are seeing their other students faces now and communicating! 

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The Presidential charity is Soldiers Monumental Society – caring for the graves of our service men and women

09/04/2025

Marie Nemes-Crawford, Editor

Sept. 11th: Circleville Superintendent Kim Halley and Communications Director Darci Valentine

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Presiding:  President Rob Radcliff

Prayer: Brenna Gibson

Piano: Ellery Elick

Song Leader: Ian filling in for Taylor – “Clementine” & “Rotary Will Go Round the World”

Guest – Jean brought in son, Steve, from NJ ; Austin Brooks from YMCA with Heidi

Students of week! – CHS Steve Wastier introduced Drew Hoskins and Zach Bell

Club Announcements:  

1. Bonus Community Kitchen – Monday, September 8th, 4-5:30pm 
2. Canned Goods still being collected for community cupboards
3. Club has currently collected $2,390 from members for the “Gift of Hope” boxes! That will be added to our club’s donation. Details for the box assembly week after Pumpkin Show at Pic-Ross still in works.
4. Pumpkin show schedule is out – please contact Daryl or Rob to sign up…really, give them a call – this is our biggest fundraising effort of the year and we need YOU! (And your friends/neighbors/partner)
5. Honor Flight – Gary Baker (PDG) is on Sept. 25th flight; Charlie goes Nov 6th; Jim Rogers was bumped to May 2026.
6. Socktober! Is starting again and Taylor Gibson is leading the charge. WINTER SOCKS please. More details to come.

SAA: Tom Kitchen 

• Winners and losers for Ohio college football programs – Div 1 only
• First college football game was 1869 – which two teams? Rutgers vs Princeton 
• Who was “Father of American Football”? Walter Camp
• 1902 – first post season college football game – Rose Bowl
• 1987 ESPN’s College GameDay debuted, since 2003 only one college flag as appeared on all sets since – Washington State (what?!)
• Which bowl game mascot was eaten by a team mascot? Pop Tart Bowl

Scholarship Drawing:  This weeks winner is Tom Duvall (I think) $20 – Big Bean is growing to $1046

Program: Teays Valley Superintendent – Kyle Wolfe with Teays Valley trivia

• Square miles for Teays – 154
• Athletic league – OCC Buckeye 
• UC defensive end, now defensive line coach at UC – Walt Stewart – grad of Teays Valley
• 4 elementary schools – Ashville, Scioto, South Bloomfield, Walnut; 2 middle schools (East & West); 1 high school
• Largest employer in Pickaway County – Teays Valley School District – 625 employees
• Which river valley reaching from Pickaway county into West Virginia gives the school its name? Teays River
• 4,806 students enrolled in Teays Valley school district (175 students away from having more students than Circleville + Logan Elm + Westfall combined)
• In last 10 years have add 900 students. Projection is 1200-1700 students in next 10 years. 260 students just since May.
• 40 full time bus drivers; 7 full time van drivers; covering 80 routes which is 652,784 miles in a school year
• 2 mental health specialists and 2 case managers who work with the students and families
• TV digital academy created in 2014 – last year, 67 full time students
• 13 college courses offered at the high school
• 60 English learner students
• FAA or Ag Ed is largest pathway for high school students; Informational Technology also large pathway
• Special ed students are 25% now. Over 1,000 students have an IEP or need other services

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The Presidential charity is Soldiers Monumental Society – caring for the graves of our service men and women