Springfield News-Sun from Springfield, Ohio • B1

News: 937-328-0346 Delivery: or 1-800-441-6397 Clark and Champaign Hometown News LOCAL STATEB SpringfieldNews-Sun Saturday, October 20, 2018 OUR COMMUNITY LOCAL FOCUS HIGHLIGHTS AREA NEWS, EVENTS B3 By Max Filby Staff Writer A local organization is prepar- ing again for one of the largest toy runs ahead of the hol- idays, and this event will even mark a milestone. The Highway Hikersmotorcy- cle club and the Salvation Army are scheduled to host their 40th annual toy runSunday.TheHigh- wayHikersbeginat 1p.m.Sunday at the VFW in Medway and end at the Clark County Fairgrounds. The event started with just about seven bikes and grew last year to about Ryan Ray of the Salvation Army of Clark County said. The goal of the toy run is to ensure no child wakes up on Christmas Day to a tree with- out a toy under it. Ray said the annual event amounts to Spring- and that it puts a big dent in the Salvation Army fulfilling its need for toys every holiday season.

we begin to do what we do if it for the Highway Hikers and the Toy Ray said. In 2016, the event brought in close received twonew toys as part of the program. Children 17 and younger are eligible to receive toys. Parents will given instructions on when and where to pick up the toys. giving back to the com- munity.

just for the chil- said one Highway Hikers member who goes by the name Pigpen. need to have toys every Christmas morning all for the Contact this reporter at 937-225- 7419 or Max.Filby@coxinc.com. Motorcycle club now biggest helpers HighwayHikers expect thousands this year for 40th annual toy run. CLARK COUNTY Thousands of bikers participated in the annual Highway Hikers Motorcycle Toy Run across Clark County last year to help the Salvation Army supply Christmas gifts for needy children. BILL LACKEY STAFF By Parker Perry Staff Writer Northeastern Local Schools are one step closer to building its two new schools.

ThedistricthiredDayton-based RuetschleArchitects for its school facilities project, the board of education announced thisweek. RuetschleArchitectswill design the $119 million con- build twonewpreschool-through-12th- grade campuses in the district. The architect group helpedwith initial designs of the building and waspresentduringpreviouscom- munity forums answering ques- tions from the community about the bond issue. Voters approved a bond issue inMay 56 percent to 44 percent, according toresults fromtheClark CountyElectionBoard.Thebond will cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $295 a year. The campuses will be located near the current South Vienna School and Kenton Ridge High School.

bring a wealth of experience in school construction and design to this project that we can build on to create facilities thatwill serveour students and communitywell for John Kronour. has workedwith thedistrict through- out theplanning and community engagement phases of the facili- ties project and their understand- ingof ourneeds and the values of our community will be an asset aswebuild the future The project is funded through a bond issue approved by vot- ers in May 2018 and a partner- ship with the state that will pro- vide about $41 million through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. The district will hold a com- munity meeting to update resi- dents on the facilities project at 7 p.m. on October 29 at Rolling Hills Elementary School to dis- cuss the project with residents. Contact this reporter at 937-328- 0254 or email Parker.Perry@ coxinc.com.

Ruetschle Architects will lead $119million construction project. Northeastern chooses architect IN OUR SCHOOLS Northeastern Local Schools has selected Ruetschle Architects to lead the construction of new all-grade campuses in the school district. STAFF FILE By Holly Shively Staff Writer AndreaHeiserwas to she was killed earlier this year. Now she has. The late21-year-oldwasgranted aposthumousdegree fromWright shewould have been a senior this year.

Within her statistics program, in veryhigh regard among according to WSU records. Heiser was a dedi- catedmemberof theKappaDelta Sorority anda gifted senior statis- ticsmajor atWright StateUniver- sity whowas committed to com- pleting her said Cheryl Schrader, president. awarding Andrea a posthumous State recognizes her accomplish- mentsandcontributionsandhon- ors her Heiser andhermother Jennifer Sironswere killed by Eric Sirons, husband, before he turned thegunonhimself inMay, according to Springfield Police. After death, WSU released a statement saying the universitywasmourning the loss of a student and friend. very, very sweet, she was very talkative, very bubbly, shewas very friendlywith every- one gan Plummer said at amemorial a week after themurder-suicide.

sorority also released a statement after her death say- ing shewas a smile always on her face and an excitement to get smile that could brighten the darkest her obituary said. enthusiasm for life and to bring joy to others was evident every- whereshewentandwillbedeeply missed but forever cherished. Andreawasknownforher selfless big heart, and would put every- feelings above her The Wright State board approved the degree Sept. 21. Contact this reporter at 937-815- 5111 or email holly.shively@coxinc.

com. Murder victimwould have been a senior at the university. Wright St. awards posthumous degree CONTINUING COVERAGE Andrea Heiser was killed by her husband in a murder- suicide. ELECTION 2018 By Max Filby Staff Writer Next month voters in Cham- will have to choose whether to re-elect an incumbentRepublican or a newcomer Democrat to the Ohio 85th district seat.

Incumbent Nino Vitale, R-ru- ralUrbana, is squaringoff against DemocratGarrett Baldwinon the Nov. 6 ballot. Vitale responded to questions for the Springfield voter guide while Baldwin did not respond by the deadline andcouldnotbe reached to comment on the race. Vitale has a degree from Ohio State University and a of business adminis- tration fromFranklin University. He and his wife Lilli Vitale have five children.

The two biggest issues facing Ohioans are and the of the fam- ily, Vitale said. Vitale called on the state to make it less expensive for busi- nesses to be located in Ohio and in terms of helping families he said the state should all it can to help mom and dad strug- gle through the hard times and flourish in the good times for the sake of the When asked what needs to be done to tackle the opioid epi- demic, Vitale said the state and federal governments need to be less lenient. thewall and severely punish any drug Vitale said. you are a drug user, I would give less Onhis campaignwebsite, Bald- win who is a local high school senior cites socio-economic change, the opioid epidemic and funding for education as someof the top issues he would tackle if elected. He said the state needs to do more to combat the opioid epi- demic.Herecommended thepos- sibility of implementing a state- run rehabilitation program.

state has failed to declare it an emergency andprovide ade- quate solutions. This is dis- Baldwin said on his website. Contact this reporter at 937-225- 7419 or Max.Filby@coxinc.com. Student wants seat Republican Vitale faces Democrat Baldwin in 85thHouse district. OHIO POLITICS HAS YOU COVERED Sign up for our daily Ohio Politics newsletter for the latest on Election 2018 and the news of the day Stay up to date with the latest from the campaign trail on Politics Speak out on the issues and candidates on our Ohio Politics Facebook page For more on the November elections, check out our interactve voter guide at voterguide OUR By Richard Wilson Staff Writer Much of the parking lot still needs paved, only one of the two gymnasiums is painted and no exercise equipment is in the fitness room yet, but today the public can get a look inside the REACH Center under construc- tion at South Progress Drive and Upper Bellbrook Road.

is set from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The $11.3 million project will provide the new location for YMCA and the Xenia Adult Recreation and Services Center. Central State University and Clark State Community Col- lege will lease space in the east side of the building dedicated to education programs. While the building is ownedby the YMCAof Greater Dayton, the property is owned by Kettering Health Network, which plans to build a separate facilitynextdoor.

The city of Xenia contributed opening within REACH Open house today for new recreation, YMCA site in Xenia. XENIA The Adult Recreation and Services Center entrance to the new REACH Center in Xenia, which is under construction. The facility is expected to open in January 2019. TY GREENLEES STAFF REACH continued on B5.