Special Weather Statement issued March 19 at 4:28AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)
Gusty winds from 35 to 40 mph this afternoon could blow around unsecured items. Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor items.
Today 53° Today 53° 32° 32° Tomorrow 41° Tomorrow 41° 21° 21°
Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

Marion teacher named one of top 25 in nation

By William Kincaid
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard

Marion Local fifth-grade teacher Julia Sommer helps Hailey Platfoot with reading at school this morning. Sommer is a finalist for a national teacher award.

MARIA STEIN - An overwhelming community response has resulted in Marion Local teacher Julia Sommer's being named one of 25 finalists for the "Best Teacher in America" award.
The grand prize winner will receive a $25,000 school technology grant, 30 iPod Touches and an iPad for their district. The Technology in Education Grant is administered by Worth Ave. Group, an electronic device insurance provider.
Sommer, a fifth-grade teacher who has worked in the district for six years, learned she was a finalist in early March after receiving enough online votes.
"I mean, it's the nation," she said about accumulating enough votes.
Sommer was nominated by her fellow teachers. School officials then launched a cheerleading initiative through Facebook and school newsletters to encourage community members to vote for her. The deadline to cast a vote was Saturday. The top vote-getter amongst the finalists will be announced April 16.
"It says everything about the community," Sommer said about getting enough votes from a rural area to qualify her as a finalist. "It's a great school to work for."
Superintendent Mike Pohlman agreed.
"It shows how much they value education," he said of the community.
He added that in these tough economic times, school officials are actively seeking opportunities to fund technology.
"We implemented a one-on-one computing initiative; we started that in the fifth grade, and it keeps moving up," Pohlman said. "Julia does an outstanding job with implementing lessons with her curriculum and having students use this to enhance their learning."
Fifth-graders receive inexpensive laptops from the district, which they use to take tests, learn vocabulary and access texts online, Sommer said.
"We really, really pushed the fact they have to be responsible for them (the computers)," she said.
The devices also have helped with student engagement and motivation.
"In education, you have to change with the times," she said.
Computer literacy is paramount for college preparation and almost every job, Sommer said. Also, new state standards being updated for 2014 may include computer assessments instead of using paper and pencil tests, she said.
Sommer said continually updating technology is a challenge. Teachers are held accountable for demonstrating student growth through technology, she added.
"She has done a phenomenal job and has been a big part of this initiative," Pohlman said.
Additional online story on this date
CELINA - Walks haunted Celina's baseball team on Tuesday night in the Western Buckeye League opener against Elida at Montgomery Field.
Three of the six walks issued to Elida's batters came around to score, which was enough to hold off Celina for a 5-2 win in a battle of Bulldogs. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
NEW BREMEN - A long-time New Bremen resident and business owner was honored Tuesday as the third recipient of New Bremen Community Improvement Corporation's Excellence in Business Award.
Grand Lake Watershed residents
GRAND LAKE - The Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed Alliance has until Aug. 30 to spend about $83,000 in grant funds for best management practices designed to keep nutrients out of Grand Lake.
Mayor sees progress for downtown merchants
CELINA - Mayor Jeff Hazel told Celina downtown merchants: "Things are moving forward."
Hazel reported during a Celina Merchants Association meeting
MINSTER - No comments were made at a public hearing Tuesday for a street vacation request by Precision Strip.
Only one person attended the hearing held by the village council.
ROCKFORD - The new junk inspector will be paid a higher wage despite objections from council members.
Mayor Amy Joseph set the pay for the new position at Tuesday's council meeting.
Darke County
A 52-year-old Arcanum-area youth pastor was killed when another driver failed to yield at a stop sign at the intersection of U.S. 127 and Hollansburg-Arcanum Road at 10:40 a.m. Tuesday in Darke County.
CELINA - Two brothers this week opened Schott's Bargain Center in Paul's Mini Mall to sell household products and electronics.
Owners Tom and Matt
ST. MARYS - A Lima-based financial institution soon will join Kohl's, Buffalo Wild Wings and the other establishments at the Shoppes at St. Marys plaza.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Two events, two national titles for Josh Fleagle.
The Auglaize-Mercer Family YMCA Waves' standout swimmer won his
Local Roundup
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
St. Marys opened the Western Buckeye League portion of its schedule by beating Van Wert for the second time in a week as the Roughriders slipped past the Cougars 5-3 on Tuesday at K.C. Geiger Park. The Roughriders also beat the Cougars in a nonleague game last week.
COLDWATER - The Coldwater softball team used small ball in scoring all five of their runs and then survived a late Lima Central Catholic T-Bird rally for a 5-4 win on Tuesday afternoon at Memorial Park.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
The Wright State University-Lake Campus' baseball team improved to 3-1 in Ohio Regional College Conference play after splitting a doubleheader on the road against Miami University-Hamilton on Tuesday in Hamilton.