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TCN Behavioral Health Announces Opening of Second See U Now (“SUN”) Clinic

In Charities, Dayton Ohio News, Health, Local News, psychology, Uncategorized on January 11, 2024 at 9:07 am

TCN clients can now access SUN Clinics on Tuesdays from 1pm to 4pm and Fridays from 10am to 1pm.

Bellefontaine, Ohio – January 9, 2024 – TCN Behavioral Health Services, Inc. announces the opening of its second See U Now (or “SUN”) Clinic on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. The clinic, located physically in the Bellefontaine office at 118 Maple Avenue, will be open weekly on Tuesdays from 1pm to 4pm and can see clients both in person and via telehealth.

TCN’s first SUN Clinic opened on January 6, 2023 in TCN’s Xenia office, and in 2023 provided 434 services to 262 clients both in person and via telehealth. The SUN Clinic is intended to serve clients without a prior appointment as their need arises. A Clinic Coordinator works with the client to choose the services they wish to receive from a multi-disciplinary team of providers including nursing, psych, MAT, primary care, substance use and mental health counseling, case management and peer support. The Clinic accepts all payment options including Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, and self-pay. As with all TCN services, local board funding is available for clients who qualify.

“TCN is always proud of our innovative practice to meet clients where they are, and the SUN Clinic is another example of this,” says TCN CEO Lori Strobl. “SUN’s motto is “nothing about you, without you” and its mission is to empower the client to be in control of their healthcare and truly partner with their clinical team.”

“We are very excited to welcome this new model of behavioral health care to our communities,” says Dr. Adam Sorensen, Executive Director of the Mental Health Drug & Alcohol Services Board of Logan & Champaign Counties. “TCN’s SUN Clinic approach has a proven track record, and it is a perfect example of TCN’s commitment to offering high-quality, person-centered care. We appreciate TCN’s ongoing partnership and willingness to be innovative with our shared goals of improving access and quality of care in our neighborhoods.” 

Founded in 1990, TCN Behavioral Health Services, Inc. is a comprehensive behavioral health agency dedicated to improving lives by providing clinically excellent and accessible behavioral health services.  TCN provides mental health, substance use and psychiatric services for adults and youth in Logan and Champaign counties.  For more information or to donate to TCN call (937)376-8700 or visit http://www.tcn.org.

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GCCOA Hosts Memory Loss Presentation

In Children and Family, Dayton Ohio News, Health, Local News, psychology, Science, Senior Lifestyle, Uncategorized on January 4, 2024 at 1:47 pm

The Greene Count Council on Aging is hosting a free memory loss information session titled, “Is It Dementia?” The event will be held at 2:30 PM, on Wednesday, January 10th, at the Xenia Community Center, 1265 W. Second St., in Xenia. Seating is limited, so please call 937-376-5486 or email YourFriends@gccoa.org to reserve yours.

From the GCCOA information:

We all experience memory loss at one time or another and many of us are fearful of what it might mean. Is it ‘normal’ memory loss or is it caused by dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease?

Experts will answer your questions, address your concerns, discuss the types of dementia and explore things to consider as a caregiver or someone wanting to learn more about memory loss and dementia.

From the editor: For more on dementia, here is a study from Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center – https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/one-10-older-americans-has-dementia

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Deer in … headlights.

In Business, Health, Local News, Opinion, State News, Uncategorized on December 29, 2023 at 9:10 am

Deer In Headlines II

By Gery Deer

A few weeks ago, I was driving along minding my own business when a deer decided it would be a great time to remodel the front end of my pickup truck. It was dark but I was neither sleepy nor distracted yet saw nothing in advance of the collision. The animal seemed to come from out of nowhere. There was a loud, metallic bang, a hard shudder, and the hood of my truck popped straight up in front of the windshield.

Fortunately, I could see well enough around the hood to get the vehicle to the side of the road. Once I stopped and the dust had settled, the first words that entered my mind were, “So that happened.”

I called 911 to report the accident, and no irony was lost on either me or the dispatcher about a guy named Deer hitting a deer. Not to worry, she was great and sent an officer right away. If you have followed my column, you know this was certainly not my first traffic accident, nor was it the most serious. It was, however, my second deer strike in about four years. Enough, already. I’ve met my quota now, right?

Here’s a photo of Gery’s Ford F-150 truck from this article. It was totaled.

I think I was most upset because I had recently paid off the loan on the truck and, just that morning, even ordered new tires. Ever the optimist, I remember I laughed out loud and said to nobody, “Well, at least I don’t have to buy the tires now.” Like they say, onward and upward, right?

Hitting a deer on an Ohio roadway is almost a rite of passage. I’m surprised our driver’s education classes don’t include a section detailing what to do after a deer strike. I can hear it now, in the best 1970s filmstrip narrator’s voice. “After you have hit the animal, get out to see if it’s still alive. Oh, it’s a six-pointer! Be careful. Those antlers are sharp!” Then, it would go on to tell you to call the police and decide what to do with the carcass.

Here in the Buckeye state, if you hit a deer with your car, you’re entitled to keep it. What you do with it after that is entirely up to you. The first time it happened to me, the responding police officer asked if I wanted the carcass, and I said no. Then she said, “Well, you’ll need to decide which of the guys arguing over it gets to take it home.” Seriously? I told her to flip a coin. In hindsight, I should have sold it to one of them. After all, I was out a truck, and they got free venison.

Between hunters flushing them out of the woods into the road and people feeding them on the back porch, deer strikes are becoming more problematic every year. I read an Ohio highway statistic that vehicles had hit more than 13,000 deer in 2022. I can believe that. The day the body shop picked up my truck, the flatbed driver told me he’d hauled four other deer-damaged vehicles just that afternoon. With an overall deer population in the state just under 800,000, I’m surprised the accident tally is so low.

What can you do to avoid hitting a deer? Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer. The problem with deer is that they’re jittery, indecisive, and never travel alone. Trying to outguess them will get you hurt or worse.

The best things you can do are buckle up, drive with your bright beams on in rural or wooded areas, and always remember when you see one, there are always others. By the way, those deer whistles that you stick to the grill don’t work — a siren, maybe, but not those.

Above all, avoid distractions while driving, especially at night. No text, call, or cigarette is that important. Put that stuff down and pay attention to the road. Trust me, it takes only an instant for everything to change.

Although my truck was totaled, it was at least large enough to protect me. I have seen deer go up the hood and crash through the windshield, seriously injuring the driver and passengers. So, please watch out for those… deer in headlights.

Publication Notices: Deer In Headlines and Deer In Headlines II are media properties of Gery L. Deer and GLD Enterprises Communications, Ltd., who is also the copyright holder. The product is distributed via The Jamestown Comet.com (A property of GLD Communications), and by Green County Newspapers / The Xenia Daily Gazette by special permission.

On the dark side.

In Local News on December 29, 2023 at 8:56 am

Deer In Headlines II

By Gery Deer

Early 20th-century poet and screenwriter Dorothy Parker once wrote, “I do not like my state of mind.” One of the founders of the Algonquin Roundtable, she was known for her dark, snarky writings and suffered from what we know now was likely debilitating depression. Anyone can be overtaken by feelings of depression, sadness, and self-doubt.

No matter what your personality, there are times in your life when you’ve probably felt riddled with self-doubt or depression, like even the ordinary challenges of daily life seem either insurmountable or pointless. It’s not unusual, and you’re not alone.

I deal with all of those things too, probably more than you might think. I don’t think I’m clinically depressed – then again, who does? I’m no addict or alcoholic – I don’t drink at all, so at least that’s certain. I can say, though, that Mrs. Parker’s words have haunted me of late – “I do not like my state of mind.”

I’m comforted, at least, that I recognize how I’m feeling. Some people don’t. I am usually confident, motivated, and encouraging, so such emotions can be quite unsettling. It’s also possible that someone like me might be more likely to experience the opposite to a higher degree than expected. I’d guess the overall effects depend on the individual.

It sounds hokey, but I really do see things like failures and challenges as opportunities – most of the time. With all life throws at us, I’ve managed to keep moving forward. Still, this dark mindset can settle in like someone dropped a blanket over my head. I feel trapped, unkind, angry, defensive, and frustrated, and my usual assemblage of talent, whatever that is, escapes me. Any sense of motivation or inspiration isn’t just fleeting. It’s… nonexistent, there’s a flood of self-doubt, and I start to second-guess everything.

Like many writers, Dorothy Parker was plagued by depression, self-doubt, and a host of conditions that stemmed from those issues.

Are all my efforts completely in vain? Am I too old to be useful anymore? Does anything I do really even matter or have value to anyone – did it ever? The greatest hits just keep playing on a loop. My usual confident optimism moves out of reach as if someone stuck it on the highest shelf and hid the stepstool.

I start to question whether I’ve just been fooling myself all this time and I’m not really good at anything. What is it called today? “Imposter Syndrome?” Or maybe I am just a “poser,” as the kids say. I could panic were I prone to it.

And don’t get me started on how relationships contribute to the malaise. We constantly lose colleagues, friends, family members, and clients, and I’m never sure how or why. Sadly, I’ve learned that relationships tend to be more transactional than we’d care to admit to ourselves. It’s pretty disappointing.

Oh, and the holidays are coming. The demand for holiday spirit isn’t just a burden. It’s downright debilitating. Compared to me, the Grinch would seem more like one of the Brady kids.

I have got to get out of this! But how? I can’t be social right now, ugh. Sunshine helps sometimes, but outside, it’s pouring, dark, and cold. Exercise and cycling can take some of the edge off, and writing. Sometimes work helps, but business has slowed – which I’m sure has contributed to all of this in a big way.

Don’t worry, though. I always snap out of it. It’s not easy. In fact, it’s incredibly hard sometimes, but I have to work through it on my own. Admittedly, I rarely share when I’m dealing with such a state of mind, even with family or friends, and it’s doubtful anyone has a clue. I rarely articulate my feelings very well, so I usually do better alone rather than trying to explain my state of mind.

Remember that we don’t always know what people are dealing with on the inside. Even if they want to talk about what’s going on, they may not feel safe doing so.

 I understand how hard it is to pull yourself out of those dark places. If you’re feeling this way, try to do something that helps you feel better. If that fails, maybe seek help. Talk to a friend or family member or even your doctor.

Deer In Headlines and Deer In Headlines II are media properties of Gery L. Deer and GLD Enterprises Communications, Ltd., who is also the copyright holder. The product is distributed via The Jamestown Comet.com (A property of GLD Communications), and by Green County Newspapers / The Xenia Daily Gazette by special permission.

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Good Morning Captain

In Children and Family, Local News, Opinion, Uncategorized on December 3, 2023 at 8:21 am

Deer In Headlines II

By Gery Deer

In May of 1961, Newton Minow, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission at the time, referred to television as, “a vast wasteland.” For the most part, he wasn’t wrong – and things got much worse. Thanks to unscripted television (reality shows), crashing standards, and a laughable rating system, Minow’s wasteland expanded. And, as bad as it was for adults, it became absolutely dismal for children.

Today, endless streaming channels offer even more kids’ TV, still overloaded with mindless nonsense, little to no educational value, and more product placement than you can shake your debit card at. Yes, there are a few exceptions out there, but very few. But, in the early days of television, one man set an unparalleled standard for children’s programming, and it has yet to be replicated.

In the 1950s, networks were new, most TV for kids was locally produced, and much of it centered around some form of live host or clown, surrounded with an array of puppets, cheap props, and goofy slapstick. All of this was thought necessary to keep little Junior occupied and attentive.

But on October 3, 1955, a new program hit the CBS television network’s morning airwaves. A wizened, mustached man in a long, long coat with huge pockets took over TV screens around the country and welcomed children into his Treasure House. From that day on, “Captain Kangaroo,” whose title character was played by Bob Keeshan, would remain a staple of children’s programming for 29 original seasons.

Bob “Captain Kangaroo” Keeshan (right) with Hugh “Mr. Green Jeans” Brannum in a 1960s episode.

His work in local television as a character actor gave him a first-hand look at the burgeoning children’s programming industry that, in his view, often insulted the intelligence of children. The Captain’s kindly soft-voiced approach was markedly different from other contemporaries, like Howdy Doody, and The Mickey Mouse Club.

Keeshan’s character, Captain Kangaroo, was based on the relationship generally enjoyed between children and grandparents. Just 25 years of age, he adopted a low, quiet voice, and wig that made him appear as a kindly old grandfather. That’s why, to many of us, the Captain never seemed to age as we grew up.

Keeshan always engaged young viewers directly through the TV camera, one-on-one. He had no live studio audience, often referred to as a gallery, because he felt it detracted from his connection with the children at home. In his view, it was impossible to make each child feel special if the cast was focused on a group of kids on the set.

Captain Kangaroo opened his show every morning jingling a large ring of keys to an upbeat theme song as he opened his Treasure House. Then he spent the next hour educating his young viewers through play with the help of Mr. Green Jeans, Mr. Moose, Bunny Rabbit, and a host of other colorful characters. “Play is the work of children,” he said. “It’s serious stuff.”

About 13 years after the Captain’s debut, the neighborhood trolly brought Mister Rogers to PBS. The tone of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” was like Keeshan’s and the two eventually became good friends.

Unfortunately, even retooling couldn’t save the Captain from sagging ratings and CBS’s need for a competitive morning news presence. It was finally canceled in 1984. But he found a new home in edited, half-hour reruns on PBS through 1993. Rogers’ show ran until 2001.

By the way, having been raised in southwest Ohio, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the “Uncle Al Show,” based at WCPO Channel 9 in Cincinnati from 1950 to 1985 – predating both Keeshan and Rogers. Al Lewis (Uncle Al) and his airborne sidekick, “Captain Windy,” played by his wife Wanda Lewis, offered music, colorful characters, and even a circus at the end of each show. He was probably a big reason I got into music.

Like millions of others who grew up between the 1950s and 1980s, I have fond memories of the Captain, Mr. Rogers, and Uncle Al, well into my teens. Each left an indelible mark on my personality. At the time, I was completely unaware of how much I was learning about character, kindness, self-confidence, and, of course, how to get someone to stand in the perfect spot to dump ping-pong balls on their head.

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Those Were The Days

In Local News, Opinion, Uncategorized on November 17, 2023 at 6:03 pm

Deer In Headlines II

By Gery Deer

In 1951, my parents, Lois and Gary, were young newlyweds who left the small, hillside towns of southeastern Ohio, for the hustle and bustle of Dayton. Escaping a poor, rural life to join the newly minted middle class of post-war America was challenging. Eventually, the life they’d built for our family came full circle, returning them – and me – to their rural roots.

Dad told me stories of their early years in the city. He rode the bus downtown from their north Dayton duplex to work at the telephone company. Soon, thanks to pressure from my mother’s family, he went to work at National Cash Register. Dayton was brimming with factory jobs in those days at companies like NCR, Delco, and Frigidaire.

Gary Deer Sr., and Gary Deer Jr., around 1956.

Some of the factory complexes resembled small cities, with nearly everything a worker and his family could ever need. Many offered educational programs, free healthcare, recreational facilities, and extra pay for suggested improvements that saved the company money.

By the end of 1955, my parents already had two children, my brother Gary, Jr., and sister, Cathy. Before long, Dad managed to buy their first home and put a car in the driveway. A Cadillac, of course – my father’s favorite. My parents played cards with neighbors, participated in ballroom skating events at the local rink, and even hitched up the camping trailer for long weekend vacations.

Dad worked hard to make a life for us that was a total one-eighty from his Appalachian
upbringing. By the time I’d made my appearance in the late 1960s, he had created a very
“Leave it to Beaver” lifestyle for them. But soon, that idealized, if not completely artificial,
suburban world would fade into history. The world was changing and so was my family.

By the late 1970s, my brother and sister were adults with their own children, and Dad’s job situation had dramatically changed. He had long since left factory work behind for a teaching job. Thanks to an even more complex set of circumstances, we also relocated from suburbia to the farm where I would grow up which gave me a very different childhood than my siblings.

Money was tighter then, but I think there were greater rewards. Regardless of our circumstances, however, my parents managed to make us comfortable. My father used every skill he had to earn a living.

Gary Deer Jr., Cathy Deer, and Lois Deer at Niagra Falls in the early 1960s.

Over the years he did concrete and excavation work, operated a trucking business with my brother, became an agricultural mechanics teacher at the county vocational school, and ran our farm with my mother. Although she’d been a stay-at-home mom, she eventually took a job as a waitress to help make ends meet and grew vegetables and fruit that she sold at a stand on our farm. Looking back, I’m amazed at what they accomplished together.

I often think of how life probably turned out very differently than Mom and Dad might have envisioned, yet they never seemed unhappy. For them, as long as you had health and family, everything would be okay. Sadly, debilitating diseases slowly took each of them from us. But we were all right beside them for the journey, as they had been for us.

My parents were together for 59 years and 11 months. When my mother died, Dad was nearly inconsolable. He hadn’t known a day without her since he was 17 years old. Every day was a challenge, one they met head-on, with full force and commitment. I certainly hope that whenever they looked at their children and grandchildren all that struggle seemed worthwhile.

It’s easy to say, “Those were the days,” but I know things were often more difficult than I knew. Parents often shield kids from the more unpleasant parts of life. What we need to remember, is that you may start out a long way from where you end up, and there is no such thing as a perfect life.

I am incredibly thankful for how hard Mom and Dad worked to support us, and there are no words strong enough to convey my gratitude. We may have never been like the families on TV, but we were happy anyway. So, it’s just possible that those really were the days.

Ohio McDonald’s Restaurants to Donate 20 Percent of Sales to Local High School Athletics

In Business, Charities, Children and Family, Dayton Ohio News, Food, Local News, National News, Sports News, Uncategorized on September 26, 2023 at 9:30 am

Greeneview High School to receive funds earned during the Oct. 6 High School Sports Digital Fundraiser

JAMESTOWN, OHIO– McDonald’s owner-operators throughout Ohio will be raising funds for local high school athletic programs, including Greeneview High School, on October 6. During the High School Sports Digital Fundraiser Day, 20 percent of all sales purchased through the McDonald’s app will be donated to local sports programs.

High School Sports Digital Fundraiser Day was created by local McDonald’s owners/operators in Ohio as a way to support high school athletics in the communities they serve.  Each locally owned McDonald’s restaurant has chosen a high school in their community to donate 20 percent of all sales on October 6. Each identified high school will receive a minimum of $250.

“We are proud to be a part of the Jamestown community,” said McDonald’s Owner/Operator Nick Epifano. “This is the first time all Ohio area owner-operators have come together on one day to show our support for athletics in the communities we serve. Our hope is that the community will come out to support their local high school and help us make the High School Sports Digital Fundraiser Day a success throughout the state.”

The McDonald’s app is available for download in the Apple App Store and the Android Google Play Store. With the McDonald’s app, customers get access to exclusive deals, they can order ahead and pass the line with Mobile Order & Pay, plus they can join MyMcDonald’s Rewards to earn points on every order to redeem for free McDonald’s.

As always, customers can customize their orders to match their personal taste preferences, including asking for no onions or pickles or holding the sauce on their favorite burger.  

 McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s approximately 13,500 U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by independent business owners. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mcdonalds. 

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A House Divided

In Dayton Ohio News, Education, finances, Food, Health, history, Local News, News Media, Opinion, Politics, psychology, Senior Lifestyle, Uncategorized on September 2, 2023 at 2:47 pm

Deer In Headlines II

By Gery Deer

When I restarted this series after a 5-year hiatus, I decided to steer away from politics, religion, and other hot-button topics in favor of more personal subjects. That said, I’ll dip a toe into that pool only enough to express my concern at the level of divisiveness now facing our country and who actually pays the price for it.

The political climate in America today is toxic, with no end in sight. Everything is viewed only from one side by an ill-informed, angry citizenry and uncompromising elected, uncivilized government officials. Over the long haul, we simply can’t function that way. Our legislators must work together in order to govern, even to manage the most basic issues. Unfortunately, that seems unlikely to change when the only people getting attention are the radical extremists.

Regardless of your ethnic background, or whether you’re conservative, liberal, or whatever, surely there are things we can all agree on, right? For instance, instead of spending hours on cable TV news bickering about who caused inflation, wouldn’t our collective energy be better spent on ways to help people get through it? Meanwhile, our dedicated elected officials spend taxpayer money riding around in limousines, secure in their healthcare, paychecks, and benefits, all guaranteed long after they’ve left office.

More absurd is that, in the most powerful and wealthiest country on Earth, there are still people who can’t get enough food, shelter, or other necessities – particularly the elderly, veterans, and children. No, it’s beyond absurd, it’s criminal. This problem affects everyone. The number of working poor continues to grow, most of my family included. Most people are only a paycheck or two from ruin. All it takes is one major catastrophe and boom, we’re on the street. Regardless, people from every side are too busy waving flags and hating each other’s politics to care or do anything about it.

Recently, I did some work at a food pantry and had the opportunity to learn more about the mission of these organizations. I am shocked about how necessary they are in so many communities. In just one year, the number of families served might double, so they must continually find new ways to meet the constantly growing demand.

You might be surprised to know that the people who most need services like this are not homeless or indigent. They are instead the working poor, single-parent families, and, sadly, veterans. No one should feel ashamed of taking help from those who offer it. But I can’t imagine how hard must be for someone who proudly served our country and then is forced to go to a food pantry just to have enough to eat.

The number of military families and veterans who need various types of assistance is also surprising. They include elderly or disabled veterans, military wives and husbands with young children trying to make ends meet while their spouses are deployed, families of all ages and backgrounds, and the kids, wow. Watching a child’s eyes light up over a book or something as simple as a Twinkie or a fresh piece of fruit can be simultaneously enlightening and heartbreaking.

Again, while the politicians ride around in limousines and kowtow to mindless followers during ridiculous cult-like rallies, the people they claim to be fighting for wait in lines at food pantries. They have no money, little healthcare, and a veteran affairs system that’s so broken it needs to be razed and rebuilt from the ground up.

These issues aren’t conservative or liberal, Muslim, Jewish, or Christian. We are so blinded by ridiculous ideologies and political divisiveness that we can’t see the real responsibilities facing our country – poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, an ever-changing job market, and so much more. Certainly, we could all get together on some of these things. Nope, it’s just not going to happen.

The people I meet in these situations don’t want handouts. They want to be understood and for their elected legislature to work for not against them. But until we put down the flags, turn off the news, and choose to be better human beings, nothing will change. So, all I have left to say is to quote my favorite president. “A house divided cannot stand.”

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Fair Play

In Entertainment, history, Local News, Opinion, Uncategorized on August 5, 2023 at 7:27 am

Deer In Headlines II 

By Gery Deer

The onset of fall means fair season here in Ohio, and my visit to our county fair this year was simultaneously familiar and foreign. When I was a kid, the county fair was the grand finale of my summer. At the time, I was probably annoyed with how much work it was. But what I wouldn’t give to walk through the fair of my youth. I didn’t appreciate it then, but those were some of the best days of my childhood.

As a young 4-H’er, I always had multiple projects to exhibit each year. If you had livestock (I showed cattle) you generally camped on the grounds to tend to your animals and get show practice in the arena more easily. My Dad always brought our small motorhome for me, so I had a nice place to sleep and some privacy. But sometimes, just to be closer to it all, I tossed my sleeping bag on the bales of hay next to my calf’s stall in the cattle barn. At night, the summer heat gave way to a cool breeze that flowed through the open sides of the barn, and I’d fall asleep to the sounds of the fair all around me, and some occasional mooing.

In the morning, I’d feed and water my calf (I only ever showed one at a time). Then breakfast at my favorite food tent where a youth group sold Bob Evans sausage, biscuits, pancakes, and all the trimmings. A kid’s gotta eat, right? We didn’t have money for it every day, but it was really great on the days I was really busy. 

Later, it was exercise time, for me and the cattle. I walked a 900-pound steer as if I were strolling through a park with a poodle. Showing an animal at the fair meant a great deal of training – for them and me. So, my calves behaved more like someone’s pet than a half-ton farm animal.

I showed in the dairy beef class and on show days, I had to wear white. I know, right, white clothes in all that muck and dirt? But we weren’t allowed to be dirty and neither were the animals. After a bath came a good brushing and a polish of the hooves. Finally, I had to “bob” their tails. It was a weird practice of teasing the hair at the end of the calf’s tail until it fluffed out like a ball, then folding the ends under and rubber-banding it, upside down, to the tail. Believe me, even if there was a picture, it wouldn’t make sense. 

Along with all the work, there was plenty of play. Many of the kids stayed on the grounds without their parents and no one ever seemed to worry about us. In between chores, we were normal kids, playing games, eating cotton candy, and riding on those rickety carnival rides. Once there was even a woman in a cage who turned into a gorilla! How did we survive all that? For one week every summer, I was in my element, one place I didn’t feel like a misfit.

Amidst all the fun, however, I had responsibilities. So, every kid had to keep one ear tuned to the dreaded public address system because, in the middle of a ride on the Scrambler, a garbled announcement would echo across the entire fairground sounding something like this. “Gery Deer, meet your mother at the FFA tent, immediately. Gery Deer, go to the FFA tent.” You see, before mobile phones, if parents needed the kids to somewhere during the fair, we got paged – very publicly. Talk about embarrassing, I can still hear the other kids. “Ha ha, Gery, your mommy wants you!” Oh, the humiliation.

I still miss those days and even then, I had some appreciation for the role the experience played in my young life. One night, just as the fair was closing, I shut my eyes and just listened for a moment as if storing the sounds for later, maybe when I couldn’t go back there again. I remember every moment of my time there. It’ll always be a part who i am, and I will always be grateful.

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Jamestown Wild West performer and teacher, Gery Deer, honored.

In Dayton Ohio News, Entertainment, history, Local News, Sports News, Technology, Uncategorized on July 31, 2023 at 2:04 pm

Jamestown, Ohio – August 1, 2023 – Jamestown resident, writer, speaker, and performer, Gery L. Deer, was honored on July 29th during the 20th Annual American Western Arts Showcase at the Annie Oakley Festival in Greenville, Ohio. Deer received the Alex Green Memorial Award for excellence in promoting, perpetuating, and teaching the Western arts over the last two decades. The award was presented by the co-producer of the show, Kirk Bass, of Xenia, supported by the rest of the cast and crew of the long-running Wild West show.

Gery Deer is presented with the Alex Green Memorial Award by American Western Arts Showcase co-producers Melodee and Kirk Bass.

Deer’s primary Western arts work has been teaching the whip as a sport and performance art. He’s instructed hundreds of actors, stunt performers, and hobbyists over 30 years and founded The Whip Artistry Studio, the only permanent facility in the U.S. dedicated to the non-combative study of the whip.

His award was named for the late Australian stuntman, Alex Green, who was a 40-year veteran of television and film stunt work, particularly with the whip. Green was one of the founders of the Wild West Arts Club (WWAC), where Deer earned early recognition as a national bullwhip speed and accuracy champion. The two became good friends and Deer has tried to continue the spirit of those early events by showing the whip in a positive light of sport and performing art.

“My goal has always been to teach and expose young people to these uniquely American skills,” Deer said. “I’m beyond humbled by the award my friends, no, my family have presented to me. It means more than I have words to convey and I’m forever grateful.” In addition to the honorarium, earlier the same day, Deer also won first place in the two-handed bullwhip speed and accuracy competition, called the “Speed Switch.”

Deer started the American Western Arts Showcase started in 2002 with a whip-cracking workshop and exhibition presentations and has produced the event ever since. In 2003, the program moved to the Annie Oakley Festival in Greenville, Ohio, and was retooled to become the Ohio Regional Convention of the Wild West Arts Club and offered whip, knife throwing, and trick roping contests, stunt demonstrations, stage performances, and more.

When the WWAC closed in 2007, Deer and company continued the showcase portion and kept the whip contests, which were even more popular with crowds than the performances. After 20 years, and hundreds of performances, the 2023 season marks the final production of the show at the Annie Oakley Festival.

For more information about Western arts performances and training, visit www.thewhipartistrystudio.com.

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