Janine With Child Care Choices Part 2 - Newsmakers, Ep.44

Janine With Child Care Choices Part 2 - Newsmakers, Ep.44

Real-Life Child Care Challenges Facing Miami County Families By Abbi Heckel The conversation surrounding childcare affordability and accessibility continued in Part 2 of the Newsmakers Podcast, sponsored by the Tippecanoe Gazette and hosted by Greg Enslen. Representatives from Child Care Choices of Miami County returned to the studio alongside local parent advocates to share personal stories highlighting the growing challenges families face when searching for quality childcare. Joining Executive Director Janine Rigg were Sarah Laughlin and Sierra Westcott, two Miami County mothers who recently traveled to Washington, D.C., as part of a Child Care Aware of America advocacy initiative. Their mission was simple but powerful: put real faces and real stories behind the statistics lawmakers often see when discussing childcare policy. The trip brought together childcare advocates from across the nation to meet with congressional representatives and their staff members. Child Care Choices was unique among participating organizations, serving a single county rather than an entire state or region. Despite its smaller footprint, the organization's impact resonated strongly throughout the discussions. Laughlin shared her family's journey navigating the childcare system after losing a trusted babysitter when a family member returned to work. As a self-employed massage therapist and mother of three boys with another child on the way, she described the difficulties of finding affordable childcare options while balancing work responsibilities. Her search led her to Head Start, where she experienced firsthand both the benefits and frustrations of waiting lists and limited availability. Although her children eventually secured placements, uncertainty surrounding funding and available classroom slots created months of stress and anxiety. "There were moments when we didn't know if our children would be able to remain enrolled," Laughlin explained during the podcast. "Without childcare, I couldn't work. It affects every part of a family's life." The conversation highlighted a reality many Miami County parents understand all too well: even when childcare programs exist, demand often exceeds capacity. According to Child Care Choices, many local families rely on unlicensed in-home providers simply because licensed centers and programs do not have enough openings to meet community needs. Westcott's story echoed many of those same concerns. As a single mother, she recalled placing her daughter on multiple waiting lists before eventually finding an opening. When she later lost her job, childcare expenses continued despite the loss of income, creating an incredibly difficult financial situation. Eventually, Westcott found employment at the childcare center her daughter attended. However, after leaving that position, the search for reliable care began all over again. Today, she relies on the generosity of a friend who watches her daughter while she works. While grateful for the support, she acknowledged that temporary arrangements create ongoing uncertainty. Both women said the opportunity to speak directly with congressional staff members was empowering. Sharing their experiences allowed policymakers to hear firsthand how childcare shortages affect working families, employment opportunities, and economic stability. Rigg emphasized that these personal stories are often far more impactful than statistics alone. "When lawmakers hear directly from parents who are living these challenges every day, it helps them understand the real-world consequences of funding decisions," she said. The episode also served as a reminder that Child Care Choices operates largely through grants, donations, and fundraising efforts. The organization provides resources ranging from childcare referrals and kindergarten readiness programs to professional training and advocacy initiatives throughout Miami County. For families, providers, and community members alike, Part 2 of the podcast reinforced an important message: access to affordable, quality childcare is not simply a family issue, it is a community issue that affects workforce participation, economic growth, and the future success of local children. The full episode of the Newsmakers Podcast is available now through Clock Tower Media and the Tippecanoe Gazette.

Janine With Child Care Choices Part 1. - Newsmakers, Ep. 43

Child Care Challenges and Community Solutions By Abbi Heckel The latest episode of the Newsmakers Podcast, sponsored by the Tippecanoe Gazette and hosted by Greg Enslen, featured an insightful discussion with representatives from Child Care Choices of Miami County, shedding light on the challenges facing families, childcare providers, and advocates across the region. Joining Enslen were newly appointed Executive Director Janine Rigg and young parent advocate Bethany Henry, who shared both the mission of Child Care Choices and the real-life impact quality childcare has on local families. Child Care Choices has served Miami County for nearly four decades as a child care resource and referral agency. The organization helps families locate childcare, provides training opportunities for childcare professionals, supports early childhood education initiatives, and promotes kindergarten readiness throughout the county. Rigg, who recently stepped into the executive director role after previously serving as the organization's training coordinator, explained that Child Care Choices continues to expand its resources for parents and educators. One of the organization's newest initiatives is a comprehensive kindergarten readiness webpage that provides families with direct links and contacts for each school district in Miami County. The conversation also highlighted one of Child Care Choices' longest-running programs: the Story Ladies. For more than 25 years, trained volunteers have visited preschool classrooms to read books and provide every child with a copy to take home. Teachers also receive activity guides designed to reinforce important early learning concepts. The program has become a cherished tradition for many local families. A significant portion of the episode focused on advocacy efforts at the national level. Earlier this year, Child Care Choices received a grant through Child Care Aware of America that allowed several family advocates to travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress and discuss childcare accessibility and affordability. Henry, an 18-year-old mother and childcare worker, was among those selected for the trip. During the podcast, she shared her personal story of becoming a mother at age 15 while continuing her education and working toward her future goals. Henry spoke candidly about the challenges young parents face when seeking assistance programs. She explained that many support programs consider a teen parent's household income, including their parents' earnings, making it difficult to qualify for assistance while still living at home. "It's a sticky situation," Henry said, describing how young parents can find themselves caught between needing support and being unable to access it because of eligibility requirements. The advocacy trip gave participants an opportunity to share these real-world experiences directly with lawmakers and their staff. Rigg emphasized that putting a face to the statistics helps policymakers better understand the challenges families encounter every day. The discussion also touched on workforce issues within childcare, including the need for competitive wages to reduce staff turnover and provide stability for children. Rigg shared her own experiences as a parent of a child with autism, noting how consistency among caregivers can dramatically affect a child's success in a childcare setting. Despite the challenges, both guests expressed optimism about the future. Henry has since become involved with additional advocacy efforts and plans to continue speaking up for families and childcare providers. For those interested in supporting Child Care Choices, the organization relies heavily on grants, private donations, and fundraising efforts. More information can be found through Child Care Choices of Miami County's website and social media channels. The full episode of the Newsmakers Podcast is available now.

Cailey and Kaylee go to Ireland - Newsmakers, Episode 42

Kaylee and Cailey Go to Galloway Ireland By: Abbi Heckel The newest episode of the Newsmakers Podcast brings listeners back into the travel diaries of guests Kaylee Forest and Cailey Petsch for the third and final installment of their European adventure. This time, the focus shifts to Ireland, specifically their journey toward Galloway, after departing from Paris. What should have been a straightforward travel day quickly unraveled into a stressful airport experience filled with delays and TSA hurdles. Despite the chaos, the trio pushed through an hour-long delay before finally boarding their flight and landing in Dublin. Their arrival, however, came with a setback as Kaylee began feeling ill, forcing them to balance exhaustion and uncertainty while settling into a modest triple-bed hostel for the night. Determined to experience a different side of Europe, they chose Ireland for its countryside charm after spending much of their trip in bustling cities. Their first taste of Ireland included seafood chowder, setting the tone for a slower, more grounded leg of the journey. After two nights in the hostel, they upgraded to a nearby Airbnb, which became their home base for exploring. The episode highlights their visits to a quaint café, attending a local mass, and making the unforgettable trip to the Cliffs of Insanity, famously featured in The Princess Bride. The storytelling captures both the scenic beauty and the unpredictable nature of travel, blending humor with moments of fatigue and resilience. As Kaylee took time to recover, Cailey embraced her independent streak and ventured out alone, catching a bus to Doolin where she soaked in the chilly coastal atmosphere and spent time at a local bar before heading back. Eventually, Kaylee regained her energy and was able to enjoy some light shopping and smaller adventures before the group wrapped up their trip and returned to the United States. The episode closes on a hopeful note, with the trio already setting their sights on future travels, potentially to Vietnam or Thailand. While this chapter has ended, their journey is far from over.

Cailey & Kaylee Go To Paris - News Makers, Episode 41

On this episode of News Makers, host Greg Enslen continues his discussion with Cailey Petsch and Kaylee Foster about their trip to Europe. They tell us all about their trip to Paris! The duo took a bus from London onto a ferry that took them across the channel to France. They unfortunately were not allowed to stay on their bus for the journey across, and resorted to sitting in the cafe on the boat. There they watched the passing cliffs and scenery until they both decided to take a nap. Once in France they got to experience many exciting activities. They had dinner at Mon Marte before seeing a live performance of Moulin Rouge. The pair stayed in Paris for a total of four days, including New Years Eve and Day. They mentioned that they outpartied the group of Australians on new years eve. They enjoyed some hot wine and want to have it again. They also visited an Irish pub called O’Sullivans while in the city, and enjoyed it quite a bit. They even ordered in French at a few places and didn’t encounter any of the stereotypes of people being rude or unkind to the tourists.  They both enjoyed the food the most while in Paris. Stating that it was all incredible, and that the bread is quite different over there but that it is way better. Overall they enjoyed their time in Paris immensely and would go back. Tune in for the third and final installment of their trip where they talk about visiting Ireland! The News Makers podcast is a presentation of the Tippecanoe Gazette. For more information about the podcast or to subscribe to the newspaper, visit www.tippgazette.com.

Doug Slagel, Historical Re-enactor - News Makers, Episode 40

Join Greg Enslen and Doug Slagel on the newest episode of New Makers to hear all about war reenactments. Doug Slagel tells us about his personal experiences doing these reenactments, with reenacting the battle of antietam being one of his favorites. He mentions that the civil war reenactments used to be very popular around the 80s and until the early 2000s when WOrld War 2 reenacting started to get popular instead. Doug’s wife was the one to get him interested in war reenacting, and she wholeheartedly supports his hobby. He is currently the president of the Stillwater Civil War round table in Troy, and the Vice Commander of the Sons of Union Vets in the Dayton area. He also happens to own a Jeep from World War 2 as well.  Doug happens to have a lot of reenactment events coming up this year. He will be down in Menassas, Virginia for a reenactment on May 16th. There will be a group of reenactors at the Tipp City Senior Center on May 20th where they will be doing demonstrations with their weapons. The governor has even been invited to this event. The July 4th weekend there will be a World War 2 reenactment up in Sidney at Tawawa Park, and they are currently looking for more people to participate in this event. Doug is also putting together a Civil War reenactment in Sidney at Tawawa park on September 18th of this year. These are all great opportunities to get involved if reenacting sounds fun to you. You can also get involved by visiting usv.com [http://usv.com] to find events that are going on or people to chat with. The News Makers podcast is a presentation of the Tippecanoe Gazette. For more information about the podcast or to subscribe to the newspaper, visit www.tippgazette.com.