Services for Jack Shores' wife, Sandy, scheduled

Sandra L. Shores, wife for former T-R Publisher Jack Shores, died Tuesday.

She was born in Shanesville on Sep. 5, 1938.


Visitation: Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Service: Monday, Jan. 30, 2012
11:00 am

Family Gathering: Monday, Jan. 30, 2012


Cemetery: Dover Burial Park

Toland-Herzig Funeral Home in Dover is handling arrangments. Click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.

Services for Jennifer Starn Shira

Jennifer C. Shira, 23, passed away January 9, 2012 from injuries received in an auto accident near Burley, Idaho. She joined her older brother Shayne along with her Grandma Rae and Grandfather “Pop”.

Jennifer was born December 3, 1988 in Westerville, Ohio. She is the cherished wife of Bryson Shira and daughter of Michael and Sheri Starn. She graduated high school in New Philadelphia, Ohio andattended Kent State University while still in high school and then attended BYU Idaho.

She married Bryson Shira on February 26, 2008 in the Logan, Utah LDS Temple. They made their home in Kooskia, Idaho before moving to Grangeville, Idaho in July 2011.

Jennifer was a ray of sunshine and brought her kind and gentle spirit everywhere she went. She was passionate about being a devoted wife to Bryson, and loving mother to daughter Sage and son Raden. Please go to Jennifer’s blog (http://toddlerhairstyles.blogspot.com) to view an example of her devotion to her daughter. There was no greater joy in her life than the nurturing of Raden and Sage with Bryson at her side. And her love for the Savior will always be a testimony for us to live by.

Jennifer enjoyed bringing everyone together to play games and loved the times she spent with her family.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Grangeville.She loved working in the Young Women’s Organization.

Jennifer is survived by her husband Bryson (26), her children Sage Elizabeth (age 2) and Raden Michael (age 10 months) all of Grangeville, her parents Michael and Sheri Starn of Wellsville, Utah, brother Nicholas Starn and sister-in-law Heidi of Alexandria VA,brothers Tyler Starn and Jon Starn, both of Catharpin, VA, her sister Laurissa (Starn) Hansen and brother-in-law James of Salt Lake City, Utah, Grandmother Susan “Boo” Starn of Granville, Ohio, Grandfather Harold John “Hal” Howard of Newark, Ohio, Grandmother Pat “Grammy” Shira, Grandmother Leath Henderson, Father-in-law William “Bill” Shira, Mother-in-law Jeris Henderson Shira, Brother-in-law Mitchell Shira and Sister-in-law Tori, Brothers-in-law Thann, Rand, Kallan, Kade, Kyle, Jace, and Ty Shira and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her infant brother Shayne Michael Starn.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Grangeville LDS Church in Grangeville, ID. Jennifer will be laid to rest at Tahoe Ridge Cemetary, Kooskia, ID. Services are under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville, ID. Send condolences to the family in the care of BlackmerFuneralHome.com.

Mike Starn's daughter killed in Idaho accident

Jennifer Shira, 23, of Kooskia, Idaho, daughter of former T-R Publisher Mike Starn, was killed Jan. 9 in an Idaho traffic crash. Her husband and two children, who were passengers in the car, apparently are OK.

Our condolences to the Starn family.

Here's a link to a story.

We'll provide more details as they become available.

Services for Shorty

James ''Shorty'' Grages Born in New Philadelphia, OH on Jul. 27, 1949 Departed on Dec. 20, 2011 and resided in New Philadelphia, OH. Visitation: Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011 10:00 am - 11:00 am Service: Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011 11:00 am Cemetery: Evergreen Burial Park Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.

James A. "Shorty" Grages, age 62, of New Philadelphia died unexpectedly on Tuesday, December 20, 2011. A son of the late John A. and Florence Metzger Grages, Jim, was born on July 27, 1949, in the family home, where he lived his entire life. Jim was a graduate of New Philadelphia High School and for the past 30 years he has served the Times Reporter as a newspaper delivery driver, ensuring each carrier was well supplied every morning. He was known as a quiet individual whose true passion in life was sports, and sporting statistics, as a younger gentleman, he enjoyed golfing and bowling. For many years, he was well known for his true passion, coaching and umpiring for the New Philadelphia Little League. He is survived by three nieces, Lori (Jim) Patterson of North Port, Florida, Connie (Vince) Pace of Idaho, and Clara Ann Grages of Mineral City; three nephews, Jeff (Sherri) Grages of New Port News, VA, Billy (Haley) Grages of Stone Creek and Bobby (Susan) Grages of Mineral City. Numerous great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins also survive. In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by three brothers; John, Kenny and Dale Grages. The family will receive friends on Saturday, December 24, 2011, one hour prior to services, from 10:00 – 11:00 AM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. Reverend Frank Sapp, Jr. will lead a funeral service for Jim on Saturday at 11 AM in the funeral home's chapel. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Burial Park at New Philadelphia. Memorial contributions in Jim's name may be directed to the the New Philadelphia Little League c/o Tuscora Park, 161 Tuscora Avenue NW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.

Mke Gorsich suffers stroke

Mike Gorsich, who served two stints as circulation director of The Times-Reporter (and did a heckuva job), is recovering June 5, 2011, at home from a stroke.

Prognosis is good. You can send Mike a card at:

Mike Gorsich
121 Joseph Dr.
Fairview Heights, IL 62208

He'd love to hear from you.

Kathy Vaughan latest to hang it up

From Dick Farrell's Bargain Hunter commentary (June 3, 2011)

I first met Kathy Vaughan at a party that some college buddies and I attended on a farm somewhere outside New Philadelphia. I’m not sure of the year, but it was while I was a student at Kent State in the very early ’70s.
At the time, Kathy was on the state desk at the Times-Reporter daily newspaper. I was studying journalism at the time and was in awe of someone who actually was earning a living doinNeedless to say, I asked for advice.

“Go into something else,” she said.

Obviously I didn’t take her advice and, as fate would have it, I took a job in 1973 at Kathy’s newspaper. It didn’t take very long for me to realize that I wasn’t a very good writer. I know that because Kathy told me so -- on numerous occasions.

Seriously, I had trouble writing a coherent police blotter item.

I began to question my career path. But with Kathy’s and other editors’ help, it began to click. And in the ensuing 36 years, Kathy and I spent more time together than most husbands and wives. And she is a principal reason why the newspaper once upon a time was so well received.

Kathy is retiring after a long, award-winning career. And while casual readers of the daily newspaper might not notice her absence, I certainly will.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention Sandy Stewart, the T-R’s managing editor who retired in 2009. Sandy, like Kathy, is a stickler for details and continues to edit my literary pieces to this day. Perhaps Kathy can share in that task after she enjoys some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

(Have a picture of Kathy? Send it to df1898@gmail.com)

Where are they now: Kyle Kondik

Kyle D. Kondik, who served as a reporter for The Times-Reporter in 2006-2007 after graduating from Ohio University, is now media relations coordinator for the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

Here's a bio from the Center:


Kyle Kondik joined the Center for Politics in March 2011 as Media Relations Coordinator; as such, he closely follows congressional and gubernatorial races and contributes to Sabato's Crystal Ball, a political analysis web site and newsletter created by Center for Politics Director Larry Sabato. He also responds to media inquiries and promotes Center for Politics events.

Kyle previously served as Director of Policy and Research in the office of former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray, where he wrote speeches and directed the office's online communications. Prior to that, Kyle was an editorial page editor and political columnist at The Chronicle-Telegram and a reporter at The Times-Reporter, two mid-sized newspapers in Northeast Ohio. He held internships at The Columbus Dispatch and at the Akron Beacon Journal, and he was twice honored by the Associated Press Society of Ohio for editorial writing.

Before leaving Ohio University as the top graduating senior in the school's online journalism sequence, Kyle served as editor in chief of the university's independent student newspaper, The Post. His interests include Midwest politics, American history and the Cleveland Browns.

You can e-mail Kyle at kondik@virginia.edu