Home Care In Montpelier, OH

On January 15th, 2023, the First Presbyterian Church of Montpelier, Ohio held an open house and potluck in honor of their new pastor, Rev. Janice Desterhaft.

Rev. Desterhaft, who moved to Northwest Ohio from Nebraska just over a week ago, had her first official day in the pulpit on Sunday as well.

Her first week in the area consisted of unpacking, attending meetings, and getting acquainted with her new community.

“My home and my office are both filled with boxes of things and I’m trying to make order out of chaos” laughed Rev. Desterhaft.

It’s fair to say that Desterhaft was born to minister. Her father is a retired Presbyterian pastor and her grandparents on both sides were missionaries in China where both of her parents were born.

When Janice was seven, the Desterhaft family moved to Iowa City where the University of Iowa is located.

Janice soon fell in love with all things Hawkeye and knew she had to attend college there, from which she graduated in 1988.

In the years to follow, Janice has devoted her life to serving God through working many years with emotionally disturbed youth. She also served four years as a 5th-grade teacher in Christian schools.

In 2005, Desterhaft graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary, over 50 years after her father was in the school’s second graduating class.

She has been an ordained Pastor for the Presbyterian Church USA since May 2010.

When not in the pulpit and serving her church and community, Rev. Desterhaft enjoys reading, writing, singing, playing volleyball, watching movies, playing board games, and especially the occasional cribbage game.

Rev. Desterhaft aspires “to just love the people in this church and in the community with the love of Christ.

Her goal is to “serve well with a sense of humor and share how this church can be an active part of what God is doing in the community.”

Rev. Desterhaft wants to share with the community, who Jesus is, and to help them grow in a relationship with Him.

The First Presbyterian Church of Montpelier holds weekly Sunday services at 10:30 am at 114 W Washington St, Montpelier.

You can find more information about the congregation at https://www.montpelierfirstpresbyterian.org/.

Amy can be reached at [email protected]

Civil Lawsuit Filed Against Lassus Handy Dandy After Company Hires Registered Sex Offender Who Then Takes 12-Year-Old Girl From Store and Rapes Her

Lawsuit alleges gas station/convenience store chain Lassus Handy Dandy knew or should have known that customer service applicant had been recently convicted of sexual assault against a minor aged child, but nonetheless hired the individual to work at its Montpelier, Ohio location, which is a popular hangout for school-aged children. Employee, with the assistance of his co-worker, targeted a minor child and then enticed her to return to the store as he was finishing his shift. He then took the child to a secluded location and raped her.

TOLEDO, Ohio – On April 4, 2022, Charles E. Boyk Law Offices announced that they have filed a lawsuit on behalf of a minor child and her parents, in federal court in the Northern District of Ohio. The lawsuit is against Indiana corporation, Lassus Bros, Inc., which operates a chain of gas stations and dine-in convenience stores.

The lawsuit alleges that Lassus Bros. was aware, or should have been aware, that Mr. Austin Schudel, 24 yrs. of age, of Montpelier, Ohio was a registered sex offender, having been charged with committing a sexual assault against a minor-aged female. Despite the conviction and his status as a registered sex offender, Lassus overlooked the issue in order to staff its newly opened Montpelier, Ohio Handy Dandy store.

The Complaint asserts Lassus Bros. targets and markets to child-aged consumers as part of its business model and that it knew Mr. Schudel would be in close contact and/or interacting with children. “This company markets and promotes itself as a faith-based organization that operates with a sense of responsibility to its customers and does what’s right, no matter what,” says the child’s attorney, Wes Merillat. “However, in this situation, every indication is that they the set those values aside in the name of business and a child was made to pay the ultimate price. As both an attorney and a parent of a 12-year-old child, I am utterly disgusted.”

Mr. Schudel was charged and convicted for assault. The child victim suffered severe physical and emotional harm, leading her to suicide attempt. Her psychological trauma is expected to be permanent.

READ ENTIRE LEGAL COMPLAINT (CLICK)

PRESS RELEASE COURTESY – Charles E. Boyk Law Offices (Story updated 11:05 p.m. / April 4th, 2022)

After spending most of his adult life working in factories and other short-term jobs, Todd Brown wanted to do something that would make him happy.

Brown believes he has found happiness in the form of a new restaurant, Empire Street Grill. The business has recently opened and has given the owner a chance to run an eatery and bring new life to a well-known building in Montpelier.

“A friend of mine owns the building and offered me an opportunity to get it back up,” Brown said, explaining why he wanted to turn the former bar into a diner. “I was not happy with my career choices.”

The building, which sits at Empire and Depot streets, had always been a bar since it was first built a century ago, Brown said. He has a photo from 1932 showing the building’s use even then.

“This is the last one standing,” Brown said about the neighborhood which used to be home to the city’s depot. “Both of my grandpas worked for the railroad.”

Getting the building ready for opening has meant long hours of hard work. This is his first time running a restaurant, but he has managed a small bar before.

“I jumped in with both feet,” Brown said.

The opening caught him off guard as he had to turn people away the first week. Now with the addition of a new manager, he has been able to handle the bumps a new store brings, he said.

The building’s location is not an issue for him as many people have heard about his place and have filled the dining room on many nights, Brown said. The clientele are those who remember the building and the neighborhood and come to check things out.

Many a night he will reconnect with someone from his past or the building’s. The fact his store can be seen from the Platt Street Bridge makes people realize people are stopping by.

This summer his nephew is going to wear a chicken suit and point people to the restaurant, Brown said.

While the building has a history of being a bar, Brown said his establishment is alcohol free and should be considered a family place.

The manager is Crystal White who brings many years of experience to the business. A longtime friend of Brown, she was helping out when he first opened and after two days he offered her the job.

“He needed the help,” White said.

The move was the right one as she said she is much happier than at her former position.

“It’s constant,” White said of the pace. “I am never bored.”

The menu features American dishes of burgers, hot dogs, broasted chicken and more. Brown has a creation called the Empire Burger which is a 1/3-pound burger covered in Velveeta Cheese on Texas Toast. :

“We are all fresh,” White said about the ingredients in her food.

White and Brown agree the menu is a work in progress and patrons should not be afraid to ask for special orders. The best time to get an off-menu dish is during the slow times, she said.

“If we are not slammed, we are willing to make any request,” White said.

The business is open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. every day except Sunday (closed) and may stay open until 9p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant is at 625 Empire St, Montpelier, OH 43543. Phone: (419) 485-2223.

On Wednesday night, the Montpelier Local School Board voted to allow certain individuals in the school building to carry concealed weapons.

MONTPELIER, OH (Toledo News Now) - It has been a plan in the works for months, but in light of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Newtown, CT, on Wednesday night the Montpelier Exempted Village School district voted to allow individuals in the school, to carry concealed weapons.

According to a summary of Jan. 9's board meeting on the school's website, the board "Approved a resolution authorizing certain individuals to carry concealed firearms on school premises pursuant to O.R.C. § 2923.122."

Even though current security measures are in place, Montpelier school leaders decided to allow staff members to receive a concealed carry permit and bring firearms into Montpelier schools.

"Although we felt we were doing a good job with keeping the doors locked and making the visitors sign in and all that, we just felt as though it was time to take another step," explained Superintendent Jamie Grime.

Up to four individuals will have a gun on school grounds at any given time. However, none of them will be teachers. Over the next few weeks, the school board will select those individuals, and it will be at their own discretion if they want to take advantage of the new policy.

The school will also be offering training through the Tactical Defense Institute this spring.

"It will definitely not be just hand the gun to somebody and say "here, now walk around the school." There will be a lot of training that goes into this," assured Grime.

School officials say decisions like this will be made at other school districts across the country.

"I don't think it was a matter of if anybody was gonna do this. It's just a matter of when," said Grime.

Local residents had mixed reactions to the decision.

"It's kind of scary just to think about having guns in a school full of children," said Megan Kreisher.

"The people that want to do it, I think it's fine. Because those people will take the time to do it and do it right," said Ric Echler.

The superintendent says the decision was a must to ensure everyone's safety.

"At the end of the day, it's my authority and their authority, to make sure everybody comes to school in a safe environment. And we're willing to take whatever measures are necessary to make that happen," said Grime.

By: John Winright THE VILLAGE REPORTER

At 106 Empire Street in Montpelier, Ohio one can enter the door to a long time business establishment by the name of Rockey’s Barber Shop. As you walk through that door you will be enthusiastically welcomed by the owner and proprietor Jim Rockey.

Jim was born in Williams County on November 30, 1939 to Clinton and Kathrina Rockey. He was one of seven boys raised by his parents in this community.

He attended Montpelier Schools from grades 1 thru 12 and graduated from Montpelier High School in 1957. That same year he married his lovely wife Deanna “Kay” Matthews and they are the parents of Tammy, Pamela, and Debra. Jim and “Kay” have seven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. Speaking of “Kay”, Jim says, “I knew very early on that she was the one for me.”

After graduation and marriage “Rockey” worked at different odd jobs around Montpelier, and then entered Barber College in Toledo, Ohio where he graduated in 1959.

Upon graduation Jim went to work for George Kutler in Edon, Ohio and was there until 1962 when he moved back to Montpelier on Main Street and worked for Jerry Brannan for two years. Then in 1964 he relocated to the present location at 106 Empire Street having purchased it from Walt Shambarger.

At that time in history there were four barbershops in Montpelier supporting nine barbers. It was not unusual to walk into one of these shops and wait your turn to get a haircut from one of the two or three barbers working that day.

During this period the railroad was still very active and there were three hotels in town. Many of the factories were doing very well and growing at a hectic pace. Montpelier was a booming place. Many local names came up during our conversation such as the Bibles, Keischers, and the factory magnet names of Hofbauer, Winzeler, Swartz and Haldiman.

Family doctors names such as Luxan, Taylor, Bemis and DeMuth also made their way into the conversation, as well as a Chiropractor by the name of Blossom, a Dentist named Ely, and an Ophthalmologist by the name of Dreffer.

Jim has been a part of this community, not only as a barber and business owner, but also as a Little League Coach for five years, City Councilman for twelve years and the Volunteer Fire Department for 31 years.

He and his wife and daughters have been a part of the local Lutheran congregation and have belonged to the local Moose and Eagles Organizations for many years and enjoy their patronage and fellowship there.

When one thinks about a job that puts you out in the public eye every work day and the different temperaments and personalities that you may have to address, one may wonder how a person can do that for so long and not be showing any signs of stopping.

Then you take a look at Jim and you see someone that honestly and truly cares for his fellow man. As a person that has heard many stories over the years of both happiness and sadness in people’s lives, Jim thrives in this environment.

He has given customers the first haircut of their life and also has given customers their final haircut.

When you have been doing the same thing for as long as Jim has, you actually have the privilege of serving generations. “Rockey” is now servicing great grandchildren of customers from his initial years as a barber.

Thus he could probably have written a very interesting book, if only he would have kept a daily journal.

One of the things that Jim really enjoys is when someone may have moved out of the area and they come back to town and stop in to see him and talk about old times.

Or when a person that was on one of the little league teams that he coached comes up and shares that not only did they learn about baseball from their coach, but also about life.

Jim lives about three quarters of a mile from the shop and has walked to and from work for over fifty years, every day. That totals over 12,000 miles so far. This winter is the first in all that time that he has finally given in to a little motorized transportation. He says “I always liked the exercise. It was great for my legs.”

As you look around the walls of Rockey’s Barber Shop and see the banners, pictures and other memorabilia hanging there, it doesn’t take long to figure out that Jim is a big sports enthusiast. The teams that he roots for are The Montpelier Locomotives, Ohio State Buckeyes, Toledo Rockets, Cleveland Browns and The Cleveland Cavaliers.

Asked about health issues he may have had, Jim shares that he had a serious bowel blockage in 2006 and a heart attack in 2013 and surgery was required for both. He has recovered nicely and just keeps on working and enjoying life.

Sometimes we take small things like a haircut for granted, but in reality, the relationships that have been gained from sitting in Jim Rockey’s barber’s chair are those of friendships and memories that will last a lifetime and will be passed down for generations.

Over the years, the number of barbershops has diminished in Montpelier, Ohio, but as long as Jim Rockey can function, the one at 106 Empire will be there to serve the community. This man absolutely loves what he does and has no plans of retiring in the near future.

When asked what advice he would like to share, Jim says this, “Be honest, be faithful, have a strong work ethic, and most of all treat people the way you would like to be treated.”

Jim is a man in whom you can immediately see his love for his wife, children and family. But even beyond that, his love for every person that he comes into contact with is very evident. That is why he has been so successful in life in every endeavor he has been involved in.

Montpelier is a better place to live because of folks like Jim Rockey! Thank you Jim for all the years of support and dedication that you have given to this community!

John may be reached at [email protected]