Latest news with #LimaRotaryClub
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Warriors Way shares mission with Lima Rotary
May 19—LIMA — Founded on the belief in second chances in 2020, Warriors Way has grown into a nonprofit organization that provides connections for veterans, first responders and youth. Whether it's bladesmithing, blacksmithing, archery or being together under a roof sharing the same goal, Warriors Way members grow together through peer support. "Our programs serve people who are often at a breaking point," said David Bates, the founder of Warriors Way, during Monday's meeting of the Lima Rotary Club at Veterans Memorial Civic Center. "Instead of watching them fall through the cracks, we teach them to rebuild and start with their own two hands." A veteran himself, Bates started forging knives in 2016 as a hobby to relieve stress from serving three tours in Iraq from 2006 to 2012. Bates spoke about his traumatic experiences and how the idea of Warriors Way came about after he persevered through multiple life-threatening obstacles. "That just strengthened my resolve and what I want to do with my life," Bates said about a vehicle fire he put out after making sure those around him were safe. According to data from Bates, 44 percent of veterans face challenges when reintegrating into society and are at a significantly higher risk of suicide during this period. Warriors Way served nearly 800 individuals in 2024, 163 of whom were age 6 through 18. The organization hopes to grow through more collaboration and events continuing to shine a light on its mission. Warriors Way is located at 3865 S. Dixie Highway, Lima. "We have so many connections based on our mission, and our mission is to solely serve those who have served us and that are currently serving us," said Jeffrey Dauterman, the chief marketing officer of Warriors Way. "It is to give youth something to look forward to." Dauterman spoke highly of the youth involved in the organization. "They do not fit into the conventional sports world or whatever the popular thing that is going in the community," Dauterman said. "These are the ones that are the quietest." Looking to the future, Warriors Way is seeking collaboration with local youth centers. "We hope that youth also comes through our partnership with the Bradfield (Community) Center and the Boys & Girls Club of America," Bates said. Warriors Way is also looking to help nonviolent first-time offenders. "We're also working with the Hardin County courts and the sheriff's department, preparing to serve nonviolent, first-time offenders instead of letting these individuals disappear into a system," Bates said. The organization encouraged Rotarians to donate and support the mission. Classes will always be free, Bates said. Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351 Featured Local Savings
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Allen Lima Youth Leadership projects try to improve community
May 5—LIMA — Five teams representing 10 schools presented projects at the Lima Rotary Club on Monday that identified a community problem and proposed a solution, with $1,500 awaiting the winner. Projects included mental health and suicide prevention from Teens for Change, substance abuse and addiction prevention by the Clean Team, addressing poverty from the Poverty Purgers and the impact of recycling and limiting waste by the Green Stars. The winning team, Soil Savers, discussed how to reduce food waste through composting. The group received the most votes from Rotarians and will be awarded a $1,500 donation from the United Way of Greater Lima to support the project's advancement. According to data from the presentation, 530,000 tons of food and $1.7 billion of food are wasted in the U.S. each year. The team plans to implement compost bins inside and outside schools as soon as funding is received. "Composting can be broken down into four simple steps: the first one being scrapping, then decomposition, maintenance and the formation of compost," Olivia Venturella said during the presentation. Other students will play a prominent role both within and towards the project goals. "We're going to take our winnings and get actual compost bins, not ones that we created, so they would be easier for students to use in local areas," said group member Michael Quatman. Each member of Soil Savers is a student at Lima Central Catholic High School. Following presentations, 30 local high school sophomores and juniors celebrated their graduation from the Allen Lima Youth Leadership Program Class of 2025. The Allen Lima Leadership Youth Program began in 1995. The program actively involves, educates and challenges youth to reach their fullest potential as leaders. Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351 Featured Local Savings
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Area counties team up for specialized foster program
Apr. 21—LIMA — Child welfare agencies from Allen, Auglaize and Hardin counties are launching a multi-agency, tri-county Treatment Foster Care program. Allen County Children Services Executive Director Sarah Newland spoke at the Lima Rotary Club on Monday, explaining what the program means and what the public can expect moving forward. The program will create specialized, highly trained foster homes to treat children with behavioral and mental health needs in the homes to produce better outcomes for the children while keeping them in their communities. In the past, children from Allen County have been placed outside of the county to meet their needs. "With the rising number of kids that have special needs, higher needs and a decline in placement statewide, we are trying to find options for our youth that can meet their needs locally," Newland said. "We want kids back in our community." Allen County Children Services took in 762 reports in 2024, 72 percent of which were due to neglect or physical abuse. It also handled cases involving 414 positive drug screens. Children in group homes from Allen County are as far away as Cincinnati, Dayton and the northeastern part of the state. "It's not the best for kids," Newland said. "(We want to be able to) keep them in the school district, be around their family, so, that is our goal." The plan to develop Treatment Foster Care is moving forward, including recruiting and supporting treatment foster homes willing to take on eligible children for the program with individual support, training, on-call 24/7 caseworker support and counseling for crisis response, according to information from Children Services. Anyone interested in fostering can call the Allen County Children Services at 419-227-8590. "We are always looking for foster care placements," Newland said. Allen County Children Services is located at 123 W. Spring St., Lima. Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351 Featured Local Savings
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Yahoo
Apollo shows off new public safety training center
Mar. 24—SHAWNEE TOWNSHIP — More than $10 million was put into the new public safety center on the campus of Apollo Career Center. About half of the facility was paid for by Apollo's general fund dollars and permanent improvement dollars, while the other half was secured through capital dollars and state funding, the training center's leader told members of the Lima Rotary Club during a visit Monday. "We went to Matt Huffman and also Bob Cupp, and we were able to secure capital dollars in 2022. That was about $2.5 million," Keith Horner, superintendent at Apollo Career Center, said. "About a year later the state comes out with a great opportunity for career tech education to be able to expand career tech education, which gave another $2.9 million." The 28,000-square-foot facility has three separate bays and adds a modern space to develop and prepare public safety transportation; commercial driver's license training; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; and future firefighters and police officers. "The need is there so much that we're trying to fill that void as fast as we can," Horner said. There are multiple classrooms and offices throughout the facility. Apollo will offer course pathways in the American criminal justice system, constitutional and criminal law, psychological and sociological theories on crimes, processes and personnel of court systems and police work and practices. "We will offer telecommunications dispatch basic certification, and they will leave with their basic certification to begin a career in dispatch," Tony Swygart, criminal justice instructor at Apollo, said about the police work. "We will study post-release programs like probation and parole." The Apollo Career Center Advisory Board is physically preparing students to pass the Ohio Peace Officers Training Council physical fitness standards. "I am truly excited that we have our SES coach, coach (Joey) Benda, to agree to individualized assessments and planning for students in criminal justice," Swygart said. Horner believes career tech is trending in the right direction due to workforce issues. "Most of us remember when we were growing up the big question was what the stigma was," Horner said. "Well, I can tell you that that has, it's obviously, significantly, flipped, which we're very blessed to be able to take part of." Apollo, which began the year with 950 students, has grown around 40 percent in the last 10 years, Horner said. Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351 Featured Local Savings
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rotary hears about DD Awareness Month
Mar. 3—LIMA — Accessability improvements in the Lima community and the changes in how society has accommodated those with disabilities in the past were the topics of discussion at Monday's Lima Rotary Club meeting at Veterans Memorial Civic Center, with the Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities giving this week's presentation. Monday's visit comes as the board marks Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month for the month of March. "Changes in rules and regulations over the years as human rights advocacy, and just changing attitudes, have led to a shift in where people with disabilities are spending their time," Allen County Board of DD Superintendent Renee Kohler said. The Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities received approximately $600,000 in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act in December 2023, a large sum aimed at addressing a variety of issues in this area, according to Kohler. "As much as our system and services used to be isolated and siloed in our own little corner of the world, there is no way that leadership at the Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities would've applied in December of 2023 for nearly $600,000 in grant funding without the confidence of knowing that the relationships and partnerships that have been built over the years would mean that we could successfully bring that amount of money into Allen County that would lead to some pretty amazing projects," she said. The board has partnered with 18 local businesses and organizations to bring accessibility improvements to Allen County, such as door openers, wheelchair accessible doorways, and universal changing tables. "Accessibility and inclusion is for all," community relations coordinator Sierra Weltmer said. The board also dedicated to funds to over 70 individuals for various community experiences that they otherwise wouldn't experience. Individuals with disabilities had very few choices and opportunities other than living in institutions or staying in the family home before the 1950s. Around this time, county boards were established as schools by parents who wanted educational opportunities for their children. "Prior to that effort, a lot of children, just by virtue of a disability, may have been sent to an institution, or kept at home isolated from their communities," said Kohler. As children attending these schools grew older, workshops began to emerge, offering adults with disabilities somewhere to go during the day. Workshops then turned toward residential options, forming group homes. "A lot of people would live locally as an alternative to sending them to an institution," said Kohler. "In many cases [group homes] provided an opportunity for people who had been sent away to come back to their communities closer to their families and friends." During the month, the Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities will take part in 23 countywide school readings, a bingo event, silent disco night and movie night on March 20 and a partnership luncheon on March 27. "It's not about the buildings, but more about supporting people in their communities to live their best lives as independently as possible," Kohler said. Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351. Featured Local Savings
