I thought 2025 seemed like a tough year, yet 2026 is starting out that way….with inclement weather and the loss of loved ones. And, that bothers me.
WHIO’s former Northern Bureau Chief Steve Baker passed away as I noted in my last column, on New Year’s Eve.
Then, on Jan. 5, Christoph Keller, a member of the Darke County Agricultural Society serving on the Darke County Fair Board, passed at a young age, leaving behind his wife, and children, grandchildren, parents and other family members and friends at a young age.
Then this past week on Jan. 16,, three males were fatally injured in a three-vehicle crash south of Greenville.
Sadness seems to be striking quite often in recent weeks since the new year got underway, affecting a lot of peoples’ lives across the county. Just this past week on Jan. 16, one three-vehicle accident claimed the lives of three males. How sad!
Two of the three deceased people were the occupants in a vehicle hauling heavy equipment if I’m not mistaken, and the other fatality was the driver of a Spirit EMS bus which was transporting a young person and the caretaker to school.
The passengers in the bus survived as did the young driver in another car involved in the crash.
What a sad day in Darke County!
I knew both boys’ grandparents, all wonderful people. They were identified as 18-year-old Carl Schlechty and 19-year-old Josh Armstrong, both of whom I’m sure were active in agricultural and other fairtime activities.
Accolades to the fair board for offering the families of these deceased their facilities to assist in their mourning. A celebration to hold a Celebration of Life service for Christoph. I am thinking it took place in the Youth Building. And a candlelight vigil service was held at the new Community Center for the two young boys. What a sendoff for these three special people!
The driver of the Spirit EMS bus was identified as Chris Bemis, who too, was honored posthumously on Sunday. According to Spirit Medical President/CEO Brian K. Hathaway, Spirit EMS had the honor of taking Bemis home.
“Chris was transported from Dayton to Spirit EMS Headquarters in Greenville, where we began a procession in his honor, “ Hathaway reported on Facebook. “From there, Chris was escorted home surrounded by those who serve, protect, and care for our communities every day. The procession included Chris’s family, the Greenville Police Department, Darke County Sheriff’s Office, Spirit EMS, Union City Fire Department, Portland Fire Department, Jay County EMS, Portland Police Department, and the Jay County Sheriff’s Office.”
He concluded, “Their presence was a powerful reminder of the brotherhood and sisterhood that exists across public safety, regardless of agency or uniform.”
I sure feel sorry for the parents, siblings, other family members and friends of the deceased, not to mention those who are related to the survivors. I hope the year continues hereon with better news.
Drive safe, stay safe and may God bless you all.
*****
Jamie and I send our condolences to the family and friends of: Carl Schlechty, Josh Armstrong, Donna Arnett, Dr. John Graham, Grace Kensinger, Chris Bemis,
*****
Please pray for Evelyn Riffell Sebring, Deb Crist, Trendon Spence, Brenda Maloy, Jeff Sanders, Carol Good, Katherine Obringer, Gladys Neff, Jim Short, Katie Cothran, Margaret Bonifield Middleton, Debbie Isaacs Miller, Melissa Anderson, Rick Beam, Kathy Stone Brewer, Carl Francis, Katrina Hoening, Rick Riffell, Vickie Martin, Jim and Amy Hanes, Tom Everhart, Fred Dakin, Cearol Paul, Ted McCabe, Tracy Pratt, David Hiestand, Gary Knick, Kierra Reichert, Eddie Cline, Sharon Lapp, Terri Baker Buteau, Judy York, Roxie Thornhill, Sharon Miller, Allen Whittaker, Mike Hopkins, Don Rhoades, Dave Brewer, Clarence “Sam” Wilker, Chuck Cruze, Roan Brubaker, Vic Bothast, Tom Brewer, Todd Anderson, Dawn Dilworth, Carol Schuh, Gloria Hodge, Ralph Byrd, Jeff Brocious, Norma Kretschmar, Beth Davis, Terry Overbay, Terry “T.A.” Anthony, Katie Cothran, Lynne Bruner Hinshaw, Donn Thornhill, Carissa Rodriguez, Kevin Christman, Ivan Christian, Roger Fleckenstein, Bob Jackson, Penny Hopkins, Sherry Lawrence, Evelyn Manning, Kevin Schlechty, Darla Printz Whittaker, Sandy Partin, Sandy Gunckle, Tonya Kelly, Bob Christian, Linda Johnston, Terri Hunt, Patricia Maier, Dan Lockhart, Delores Beisner, Jodi Gilpin Snyder, Charlie Bulcher, Charlyee Severance, Justin Fritz, DeWayne Yohey, Kara Didier, Don DeBord, Otis Stewart, Slug Midlam, Bob Peters, Judy Collins, Carol Hemmerich, Roberta Hall, Kelly Kelch, Mike Mayse, Nikole Baldridge, Mark Lovejoy, Connie Stachler, Randy Heck, Ronnie Norton David Pretzman, Clinton Randall, Bruce Kaiser, Amanda Mote, Doug Whittington, Neal Gray, Randy Garrison, Kathy Gragorace, Donna Bixler, Cathy Melling and all others who are suffering from other life-altering illnesses.
*****
Happy Birthday:
Jan. 20 to Josh Riffell, Eileen Hetzler, Alexa Hetzler, David Kress and Bud House.
Jan. 21 to Elzie Bryant, Denise Huff, Jennifer Brown Trittschuh, Connie Buemi Hodson, Tina Lyme and Cindy Shuttleworth.
Jan. 22 to Becki Trobridge, Ryan Frncis, Diane Delaplane, Mindy Saylor, Greg Moody, Tammy Hodson Mendenhall, Linda Miller Budde, Shawn Trissel and Leon Rogers.
Jan. 23 to Tyler Greer, Missie Guillozet, Dixie Whittaker and Diane Sleppy.
Jan. 24 to Heather Dawn Henderson, Mindi Bowers Schaefer, Rick Lee and Toni Midlam.
Jan. 25 to Ken DeMange, Thomas Holden, Teresa Ketring, Kirk Harbison and Greg Knick.
Jan. 26 to Joey Wappelhorst, Kay Bunch, Barbara Riffell Helm, Jodi Gilpin Morgan and Carla Kunk.
Happy anniversary to Ryan and Heather Anthony on Jan. 22 and Todd and Darla Printz on July 26.
*****
Think about it: “Maturity is the ability to do a job whether or not you are supervised, to carry money without spending it and to bear an injustice without wanting to get even.”– Author Unknown
