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June 15, 2025  |  by Ted Craft

A summer TOPSoccer program has been scheduled at Weston’s Morehouse Town Park, following a successful session in the spring.

The program is for young athletes in grades K–8 with physical or learning disabilities. Each player is paired with a volunteer buddy who is with them at all times on the field.

Five one-hour sessions run on July 14 through the 18^th from 4:00 to 5:00, featuring fun games, drills, and small-team soccer games.

TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) was launched in 1991, designed and now administered by US Youth Soccer, the nation’s largest youth sports organization. It is all about fostering physical and emotional growth, learning about being part of a team, and building social skills, fitness, and self-esteem. More important, it is designed to be fun.

The summer program fee is $50. Kids can be registered here.

At that same link, volunteers who would like to be TOPSoccer buddies can sign up to be part of the program. Buddies should be in seventh grade or higher.

Players need to wear sneakers or cleats and bring a soccer ball and water bottle. Parents must stay at the field for the entire session.

For more information about TOPSoccer, email Dr. Kerry Sheffield.

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This Sunday is Father’s Day, a time set aside to recognize and appreciate dads, stepdads, and father figures for the roles they play in families and communities.

Across the U.S., people are celebrating in different ways—from backyard cookouts and family dinners to simple phone calls or messages of thanks.

Father’s Day has been officially recognized in the U.S. since 1972, when President Richard Nixon signed it into law as a national holiday.

But it started much earlier.

The first Father’s Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington, in 1910. It was organized by Sonora Smart Dodd, who wanted to honor her father, a Civil War veteran who raised six children on his own.

Inspired by the already established Mother’s Day, Dodd pushed for a similar day to recognize fathers.

Over time, the idea spread, though it took decades to become a permanent holiday.

Father’s Day is often marked by giving gifts, spending time together, or simply saying thanks.

Popular gifts include tools, tech gadgets, clothes, and hobby-related items.

Some people choose to go out for meals or plan low-key activities like watching sports or going fishing.

For many, Father’s Day is a chance to pause and appreciate the people who helped raise them, whether that’s a dad, stepdad, grandfather, uncle, or mentor.

Happy Father’s Day!

Youth shelters are much more than a place to sleep for teens in crisis; they are a vital part of the safety net that helps vulnerable young people break cycles of instability, trauma and justice system involvement.

As communities across the nation grapple with rising concerns about youth homelessness and juvenile delinquency, the benefits of youth shelters have become increasingly clear: They provide stability, healing and direction and play a critical role in reducing recidivism.

Every year, thousands of youth find themselves without a safe place to go. Some are fleeing abuse or neglect at home, while others are aging out of foster care or have been kicked out due to family conflict.

Many turn to couch surfing, sleeping on the streets or engaging in illegal activities just to survive. Without intervention, these youth are at higher risk for arrest, detention and ongoing involvement in the juvenile justice system.

Youth shelters offer a lifeline. They provide a safe, stable environment where young people can access basic needs like food, clothing and shelter, but also wraparound services that address the underlying issues that brought them there. These services often include mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, academic support, job training and family reunification programs.

One of the key benefits of youth shelters is their focus on trauma-informed care. Many youth who end up in the juvenile justice system have experienced significant trauma, whether through abuse, neglect or chronic instability. Youth shelters provide a structured, supportive setting where young people can begin to process their experiences and develop healthier ways of coping.

This supportive environment plays a powerful role in reducing recidivism. According to research from the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, youth who are diverted to community-based programs, like shelters, are significantly less likely to reoffend compared to those who are placed in detention centers. This is because shelters focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment, addressing the root causes of delinquent behavior and giving youth the tools they need to succeed.

Programs that combine shelter with consistent mentorship and skill-building help youth set goals, build confidence and make positive choices. Case managers and counselors work with young people to create individualized plans that support long-term stability – whether through re-engagement with school, job placement or connecting them with permanent housing.

Youth shelters also collaborate with local courts and law enforcement to serve as an alternative to detention for non-violent offenders.

These diversion programs emphasize accountability and growth, giving youth a second chance while relieving pressure on overcrowded juvenile justice systems.

Perhaps most importantly, youth shelters send a clear message to young people: you matter and your future isn’t defined by your past.

By providing safety, structure and support, they help youth rewrite their stories and build lives of purpose and promise.

In the effort to reduce youth recidivism and support long-term success, investing in youth shelters isn’t just compassionate, it’s effective. These shelters are not just temporary stops; they are launching pads for hope, healing and lasting change.

More information about Youth Emergency Shelter & Supports can be found at www.yesshubbard.org, @YESSHubbard on Facebook or by emailing youthmatterinhubbardcounty@gmail.com.

ASHLAND — Grace Bryant has spent plenty of time on the Miss Ohio stage, but this will be her first year competing for a crown. 

Bryant, 23, has been a vocalist at the program for the past several years. She has entertained crowds at the opening of each show and between phases of the competition. 

This year, she’ll be representing her hometown as Miss Ashland.

“My goal is to win Miss Ohio, but my mission is to win my experience,” Bryant said. “I think that’s what really kept me grounded and not putting too much pressure on myself.”

Bryant graduated from Bowling Green State University, where she studied communications and media production. She’s currently pursuing a master’s in sports administration from BGSU.

Bryant said she’s been interested in competing on the Miss Ohio stage for a while, but she wasn’t sure what her community service initiative would be.

“I wanted to do this with very pure intentions,” she said. “Yes it’s so fun, but I wanted to find, ‘What is my purpose? What do I want to represent?’”

Bryant said her graduate studies gave her a clear vision for her platform.

“I have been advocating for youth sports participation because not only are sports beneficial physically, but it’s a tool that’s often overlooked to help students grow socially and emotionally,” she said.

“It’s what I want to advocate for, what I want to ground my research in.”

Bryant titled her initiative L.A.C.E.S. – Limitless Accessibility for Children to Experience Sports. She hopes to advocate for eliminating barriers like cost, lack of equipment and limited opportunities that keep kids on the sidelines. 

Bryant also hopes to challenge the “win-at-all-costs” mentality that often exists in sports. 

“Unfortunately, a lot of the programs are focused on building the next pro athlete instead of building a great human (being),” she said.

“My love for softball was ruined after my sophomore year of high school because I realized how political it was.”

Bryant will be showcasing her vocal capabilities once again during the talent completion, singing “I Have Nothing” by Whitney Houston — a song she’s been performing since her teen years.

“I started in the gymnasium of (Ashland) high school singing this song and now I’m bringing it to the Miss Ohio stage, so I’m really excited about that,” she said.

Bryant said the competition is about much more than gowns and glitter — it’s about service, sisterhood and becoming the best woman one can be.

Even as a performer, Bryant said she looked forward to the annual reminder to reset and be her most authentic self.

“It is such a special organization, it’s so much more than a pageant,” Bryant said. “It helps build character, it helps you grow and it helps you serve for a greater purpose.”

WARSAW — OrthoWorx announced the appointment of Ryan Christner as president and chief executive officer, effective June 9. Christner, a longtime community and orthopedic leader in Kosciusko County, steps into the role following his time as executive director of the Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative (OIRI).

“Ryan brings a deep understanding of both the orthopedic industry and the broader needs of our community,” said Terry Schlotterback, OrthoWorx board chair. “He has already demonstrated his commitment to advancing our mission through his leadership of the OIRI project and his many years of service in talent development initiatives. His collaborative style, community focus, and industry insight make him uniquely qualified to lead OrthoWorx into its next chapter.”

A lifelong resident of Kosciusko County, Christner has over 15 years of experience in the orthopedic industry, having held roles in operations management, supply chain, logistics, customer service, and human resources at local orthopedic companies. He holds both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Grace College and has been actively involved in community efforts related to education, workforce development, and youth mentorship. Most recently, he played a key role in founding Youth & the Outdoors United, a nonprofit organization committed to connecting local youth with outdoor recreation through hands-on, experiential learning opportunities. In his new role, Christner will focus on growing and sustaining OrthoWorx’s impact as a catalyst for talent attraction, retention, community engagement, and industry relations across the community.

“Stepping into the role of president and CEO at OrthoWorx is a tremendous honor,” Christner said. “Our community has a remarkable legacy of orthopedic innovation, and I am deeply committed to ensuring it continues to be a place where individuals and families choose to live, work, and thrive. We have a wonderful story to tell and I’m excited to build on our strong foundation and advance our mission of connecting industry, education, and community so we can attract and retain the talent which will shape our future for generations to come.”

Christner’s appointment follows his leadership of the OIRI project, a $30 million state-funded initiative focused on enhancing quality of life and solidifying Kosciusko County’s position as a global center of orthopedic excellence. Under his guidance, the initiative has already begun to unite stakeholders around transformative projects supporting long-term community and workforce development.

“Ryan has shown time and again that he can bring people together to solve complex challenges,” said Suzie Light, a founding OrthoWorx board member, “His ability to work across sectors and his deep roots in the community make him exactly the kind of leader OrthoWorx needs to expand its influence and impact.”

As CEO, Christner will continue to strengthen OrthoWorx’s role as a convenor of partners and a driver of strategic initiatives designed to enhance educational opportunities, workforce pathways, quality of place, and cultivate innovation.

“Our mission of Advancing the Orthopedic Capital of the World for generations to come has never been more vital,” Schlotterback said. “With Ryan at the helm, we are confident OrthoWorx will continue to lead boldly, collaborate widely, and innovate meaningfully for the benefit of our industry and community.”

Christner lives in Kosciusko County with his wife and four children. An avid outdoorsmen and dedicated community advocate, he actively volunteers, coaches youth sports, and brings a deep personal passion to OrthoWorx’s mission of impact-driven leadership.