Military

Air Force Airman James R. Bowling graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base. James, son of Selena and Rick Bowling of Morrow, is a 2011 graduate of Kings High School.

Army Reserve Pvt. Champ C. Brown III has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson. Champ, son of Nina and Champ Brown Jr. of Pleasant Plain, is a 2009 graduate of Little Miami High School.

Academic

Local student named to honor list

Philippa Watts of Lebanon was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at the University of Cincinnati, where she is in her sophomore year majoring in Neuroscience.

Shelby Roe of Middletown, and Jay Allen and Jessica Allen of Lebanon were named to the dean’s list at Ohio Christian University for the fall semester.

Lydia Twigg, daughter of Dennis and Louise Twigg of Middletown, received a President’s Recognition at Clearwater Christian College for scholastic achievement during the 2012 fall semester. Lydia, a graduate of Middletown Christian School, is a senior English major.

Lauren Hawkins, daughter of Lisa and Wayne Hawkins of Middletown, was named to the dean’s list for the first semester at the University of Cincinnati. Lauren is a graduate of Bishop Fenwick High School.

Local student took part in mission trip

Shelby Roe of Middletown was part of the mission trip taken by the Ohio Christian University Women’s Basketball Team to the Dominican Republic. The trip involved holding a youth clinic and ministering to local children. The team visited a girls orphanage where they had a chance to worship with the girls and drop-off items such as toys, nail-polish and make-up to bring a little Christmas cheer. At Emmanuel’s House, a Christian school and day care for under-privileged children, they helped with some paint work and visited and played with the children. The team also visited children in a village outside of Juan Dolio and Josiah’s House, an all-boys home where the team played soccer and ran races with the boys.

Club news

Middletown Poetry Circle met Dec. 17. A number of original poems were read and discussed. Many of the poems were Hanukkah and Christmas related. The group also discussed the special holiday traditions of various peoples. Members were encouraged to bring poems related to the new year or winter for the January meeting. The next meeting will be 7 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Middletown Area Business Women’s Association (MABWC) conducted their first meeting of 2013 on Jan. 8 at the First Christian Church on Rosedale Road. Following dinner, a program was presented by Kelly George and Jenny Blake of “Touching Hearts at Home,” who offer a wide variety of services, customized to meet the needs of each client. The object is to help seniors and people with disabilities preserve their quality of life and remain independent in their own homes as long as possible. Scholarship chair Kiki Demetrion Gordon reported that applications will be distributed to area high schools by the end of the month, to enable high school seniors to apply for one of the scholarships presented in the spring. Officers for the newly formed club include: President, Jackie Sullivan; Vice President, Pam Parramore; Secretary, Sherry Lawson; Treasurer, Audrey Schroff. Next meeting will be held Feb. 14. For more information regarding the club, call (513) 423-8980.