New Middie Coach Jason Krause says: We are going to surprise some folks!

Middletown’s new football coach Jason Krause sounds ready for the season. Jason Krause was signed up as Middletown"s new football coach back in April. Coach Krause left the Monroe Hornet Head Football Coach position to take up the new job.

Krause brings with him a record of 33 wins and 7 losses with him from Monroe’s Division 3 Hornets.

Coach Krause was asked if he was optimistic about the team. He said, "The team looks great, we are going to surprise some folks."

Krause went on to say that the "Strengths are team speed and aggressiveness on Defense." Also that "patience is improving on offense."

Defensively, Krause said the team will "run a 3-3 stack on Defense."

The new football season looks like it will be a great one with the help of Middletown’s new coach, Jason Krause.

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Middletown Democratic Headquarters Opens

On Monday July 21st nearly 200 people showed up for the opening of the regional campaign office of presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in Middletown, Ohio. The office is located in the Sorg Room of the Commercial Building (the Sorg Opera House) at 55 S. Main Street. In a poll from Public Policy Polling of Raleigh, N.C. shows that Obama is leading McCain 48-42 percent among all likely voters.

Many Middletown residents believe Barack Obama is the right man for the job. Jean Bussel from Preble County said that Obama is “the right man at the right time.” The general feeling locally is that people are tired of being "stuck in disappointment". They look at Obama and are encouraged in his belief that the United States can achieve more.

Ohio pooling results are closely tracked with Quinnipiac University which was released on July 15th. Polls show Obama in line to be the first major party black presidential nominee with a genuine potential to be elected president and in Ohio Obama leads 50-41 percent overall but 94-1 percent among blacks. Among whites in Ohio, McCain led 49-42 percent.

Veterans groups are also spit over their choice for the candidates. On July 21st veterans groups held two separate press conferences in Dayton and Columbus to make their case for the candidates.

To read more see our story on the Opening of the Middletown Democratic Headquarters.

The Ancient Mongolian Art of Felting

On August 1st and 2nd, 2008 Middfest International is presenting Mongolian Artists Tuul Sanjdorj and Naraa Sambun to demonstrate the ancient art of felting. This ancient art form has been handed down from generation to generation from before the reign of Ghengis Khan to present day and is a major part of the Mongolian Culture.

Today the ancient tradition of felting is growing in popularity in the United States and Middfest International, which is holding a year long focus on Mongolian culture, will host two native artisans to demonstrate the ancient craft at several Middletown venues. Felt is commonly used in making clothing, rugs, and creating building material and was a very important aspect to the Mongolians nomadic way of life.

Tuul Sanjdorj and Naraa Sambun will travel from Mongolia to demonstrate the ancient felting technique:

· Friday, August 1, from 10 am to 12 noon at the Middletown Arts Center, 130 N. Verity Parkway, Middletown
· Friday, August 1, from 6 pm to 9pm at bd's Mongolian Grill, 8655 Mason-Montgomery Road in Mason
· Saturday, August 2 at 7pm at the Middfest Volunteers Summer Party in Middletown

Read More About Felting at Middfest International.

Middletown, Ohio Aeronca Facility awarded $12 million contract

Magellan Aerospace Corp, a Canadian Manufacturer of aerospace technology, has signed a $12 million contract with NASA to develop and produce heat shields for NASA’s new spacecraft called Orion. The shields will be produced in Middletown, Ohio Aeronca facility that is located adjacent to the Middletown Municipal Airport.

The Middletown, Ohio Aeronca facility has been in Middletown since 1940 and was used mainly during WW II to produce over 17,000 airplanes. Aeronca also worked on building most of the entire outer surface of the spacecraft used in the Apollo Missions. Now their next new job will help build the Orion Spacecraft. The Orion spacecraft is expected to make its debut launch sometime after the 2011. The Orion project is aimed at returning human exploration to the Moon and in later years to Mars.

Read more on our Aeronca Heat Shield Story

Middletown Atrium Medical Center Performs First Open-Heart Surgery

Earlier in the month of June, the first ever open-heart surgery was performed at the Atrium Medical Center to a 69-year-old patient. Cardiac Specialist, John M. Miller, MD, medical director for the open-heart surgery program performed the procedure. John M. Miller performed a three bypass graft procedure to treat the patients coronary artery disease. This successful procedure has given this patient hope of improved health and quality of life, something all doctors hope for in any patient they treat.

In the United States more than 80 million people experience one or more forms of cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death American and claiming more lives than cancer. Experts and doctors agree that the key to surviving any type of cardiovascular illness is to receive a timely intervention, something that the Atrium Medical Center is now capable of handling effectively.

Douglas W. McNeill, Atrium president and CEO had this to say about the procedure. "This landmark procedure marks a new era for local families. With the expertise of our comprehensive Heart Center now here, heart patients can remain close to home, surrounded and supported by those they love while they receive the highest level cardiac care.”