PIQUA — Students from the Kids Learning Place in Bellefontaine recently presented Council on Rural Service Executive Director Shirley Hathaway with a “Thank You” card to express their appreciation for her service, as she retires Dec. 31.

Serving as executive director during the majority of her 36 years with CORS, Ms. Hathaway’s leadership helped the organization through the process of expanding service areas to nine counties, creating new programs for children, youth and adults; establishing collaborative partnerships in the communities, and purchasing and building local child care centers, according to a release.

“I am so proud to be part of this agency and am equally grateful to have had an experience to watch literally thousands of children and youth reach towards their continuing potential,” Ms. Hathaway said. “It has also been my blessing to work with such dedicated staff whose inspiration every day has enormous impact in our communities.”

She currently serves on the board of trustees of Clear Creek Farm Youth Group Home and Edison Community College Human Services Advisory Council. She is also a member of national, state and community organizations as well as a longtime member of Rotary International and first woman president of the Greenville Rotary Club.

Dan Schwanitz has been named the interim executive director.

The Council on Rural Services organization administers grants and programs in a nine-county area of west Central Ohio that includes Head Start, Early Head Start, Kids Learning Place, Help Me Grow, Gateway Youth Programs, and Achievement Center for Educational Success. It also offers volunteer programs, such as HandsOn West Central Ohio, and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

McDonald’s Restaurants of the Miami Valley presented education grant awards this week to a number of area schools, including Bellefontaine Elementary, Indian Lake Elementary and Calvary Christian School, during a recognition ceremony at the the Ray and Joan Kroc Center in Dayton.

More than $40,000 was awarded to 89 area teachers as part of the Make Activities Count grants program.

Local teachers who attended the ceremony included Cari Hyde from Calvary Christian School, Sara Stahler and Lauren Burkhardt from Bellefontaine Elementary, and Theresa Nelson from Indian Lake Elementary.

Over the last 11 years, McDonald’s has received more than 2,600 applications from schools all over the Miami Valley and has awarded more than 1,000 teachers with grants totaling more than $470,000. Grants are designed to supplement classroom curriculum with hands-on activities.

Teachers with kindergarten through eighth-grade classrooms in the Miami Valley, the greater Lima area and Richmond, Ind., are eligible to apply for the grants, which can be worth up to $500.

Sandy Beach Bridge is lighted for the holidays as a thin layer of ice begins to form over the Russells Point harbor. Efforts to raise funds for the restoration of the bridge continue. For more information, visit sandybeachbridge.com. (EXAMINER PHOTO | RICK PITTS)

Psychologists study lots of magical things, none more so than the mind of a child.  To learn about this firsthand the Benjamin Logan High School Psychology students took a trip to the BL elementary classrooms of Mrs. Anspach, Mrs. Cox, Mrs. Crissinger, Mrs. Johns, Mrs. McPheron, and Mrs. Fry.  The high schoolers were welcomed by the kindergartners who were excited to see these juniors and seniors.  The experience involved the sharing of books on friendship, dealing with bullies, and stories about Thanksgiving.

Mrs. Jill McKelvey’s Introduction to Psychology students are studying child development, language development and cognition.  The students’ task was to use naturalistic observation to study the concepts of Jean Piaget, Erik Erikson, Lawrence Kohlberg, and Norm Chomsky.  The high school students selected books and then practiced the “art” of reading aloud (reminding each other to make sure to share the pictures as you read) which most had not done in quite some time.  

The kindergarten teachers and students welcomed the high schoolers and demonstrated gratitude when they left by saying “thank you.”

Shown in the photo reading to students is Camille Watson and Logan McPherson.

Santa, played by Jim Hoffman, greets children outside the West Liberty Fire Department
after Friday’s Christmas parade through the village. Joan Thoman was the grand marshal for the parade. (EXAMINER PHOTO | JOEL E. MAST)

Vehicles streak by traffic lights at the newly-expanded Main Street and Reynolds Street intersection in this time elapse exposure taken Tuesday. The lights are flashing now and will become fully functional in mid-December.

(EXAMINER PHOTO | JOEL E. MAST)

Russells Point Mayor Robin Reames, right, and Councilwoman Sharon DeVault braved the chill Tuesday to decorate the Friends Serving Friends Christmas display between U.S. Route 33 and Fairview Avenue. The Christmas tree is dedicated to longtime FSF friend Albert Arndst. This year’s event begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, in St. Mary of the Woods Parish Hall in the village. (EXAMINER PHOTO | RICK PITTS)