This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Home » Obituaries » LaVonne Rohrbach The 2025 State B boys basketball state tournament kicked off with four games on Thursday Sometimes the game of basketball is fairly easy Teams that play solid defense and make shots tend to win Brent Norberg is prepared for his 29th year as a basketball coach and his 20th leading the Aberdeen Central boys…… The formula that worked for Aberdeen Christian in the Region 1B Tournament worked again in the Class B SoDak 16…… at Vancrest of Saint Marys Nursing Home surrounded by her chldren and grandchildren the daughter of Virgil and Victoria (Greve) Rohrbach at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Saint Marys She is survived by her two children: Christopher (Kristy) Weaks of Bellefontaine; Erica (Michael Gibson) Weaks of Saint Marys She is survived by two grandsons; Tyler Weaks and Owen Weaks and by her sisters Andrea (Mike) Eberle of Saint Marys and Cindy Gray of Celina She is survived by her sister-in-law Karen Smith of Sidney and Debra Rohrbach of St She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her siblings Patrick Rohrbach Steven Rohrbach and Neil Rohrbach; by her sister-in-law brother-in-law Richard Gray; by Bob’s parents Byron and Mary Weaks; by her niece Leslie (Rohrbach) Ungerott Deb was a 1967 graduate of Saint Marys Memorial High School She had worked at Avis Car Rental in Dayton for a few years before moving home and marrying Bob She and Bob owned the D & B 76 Station in Saint Marys and she later worked at the Island Dress Shoppe She enjoyed going to flea markets and auctions She had served on the Saint Marys City Council and was a lifetime member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 A.M Burial will follow at Gethsemane Cemetery.  where memorial gifts may be directed to the MS Society of America Memories and condolences may be shared with Deb’s family via Millerfuneralhomes.net Her role as coordinator of her middle school’s Where Everybody Belongs program earns MAT alumna Christa Rohrbach recognition as a 2024-25 Regional Teacher of the Year.  Christa Rohrbach will often get the question – the one that so many in her profession hear when she tells people what she does for a living “Why would you want to teach middle school students?” Rohrbach will offer a smile and speak to the importance of her role – that of being a builder of confidence “I get a lot of people who think I’m crazy for wanting to teach middle school, but there’s something really special about that time in our lives,” says Rohrbach, a December 2023 graduate of George Fox’s Master of Arts in Teaching Program and an English language arts teacher at Jefferson County Middle School in Madras but they also have unique ideas and ways of thinking about the world It’s fun to engage them in thinking through those ideas and see them grow academically so dramatically in such a short amount of time.” It’s her love and commitment to this work that resulted in her nomination as a 2024-25 Regional Teacher of the Year an award that “recognizes and honors teacher excellence” and those who “are exceptionally dedicated knowledgeable and skilled licensed public school educators in grades pre-K-12,” according to the Oregon Department of Education Rohrbach’s selection as one of 18 Regional Teachers of the Year came as no surprise to JCMS Assistant Principal Shannon Richards “Christa is committed to fostering an inclusive safe and enjoyable learning environment for all students,” she says of Rohrbach “Her belief in the philosophy that ‘everybody belongs’ resonates throughout her teaching practices making her the natural selection to be our school Where Everybody Belongs leader dedicated to character education and facilitating positive transitions into and out of middle school “She goes above and beyond to ensure that every student feels valued and celebrated irrespective of academic achievements or behavior.” As coordinator of her school’s Where Everybody Belongs (WEB) initiative – a middle school transition program that helps sixth-graders make the change from elementary school into middle school by using eighth-grade leaders to help show them the school and demonstrate good citizenship – Rohrbach is one of JCMS’s primary teachers tasked with promoting community The program was in need of revitalization after it went on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Rohrbach accepted the challenge with enthusiasm “WEB really embodies all that is important to me as an educator because it is rooted in  ideas of building community and care,” she says “My favorite part about WEB is that it highlights ‘unconventional’ leaders It’s all about representing every part of your school so students coming in know that they are accepted and embraced as community members regardless of their background or what they are interested in “My favorite parts of the year are my WEB leader trainings when I get to see some of those eighth-grade students step into leadership roles they never would have pictured themselves in It’s inspiring to see my leaders take big risks and grow into those leadership positions.” Rohrbach guides students as the yearbook teacher and serves as the English Language Arts Department’s Professional Learning Community (PLC) lead which spearheads discussions on initiatives systems and strategies to improve overall school performance and student success If she had to pick one word to describe why she loves to teach it would most likely be “community.”  “Teaching for me is all about community,” she says “Learning is part of being a human being and being able to share that learning and share experiences is really special “It’s really important to me that I create a culture of community and belonging in my classroom so that students feel comfortable taking risks and engaging in higher learning questions or concepts especially in middle school when students are so worried about what others think about them (their brains are actually hardwired to think that way) Creating community helps students understand that learning is not an individual thing and we all have important ideas and things to contribute to the classroom.” As for her nomination as a Regional Teacher of the Year “I was really honored and surprised to receive the nomination,” she says “I tend to think I always have something to work on or improve so it was really nice to have some positive feedback on my teaching It can be hard to know if you are doing the best thing or making the best decisions for your students because there are so many moving parts to education and so many things to keep on top of so it was really nice to have some people look at what I am doing and give me positive feedback.” Regional Teachers of the Year are nominated by students Regional winners were identified through a local nomination application and selection process facilitated by the 19 Education Service Districts around the state Applicants submitted testimonials and letters of support and were assessed by a diverse panel of regional representatives on the attributes of leadership Rohrbach credits her George Fox experience for helping her further develop and improve her teaching skills “I had some excellent classes while I was at George Fox which helped me understand the developmental age of my middle school students and gave me a lot of tools for engaging students and connecting with them,” says Rohrbach who is continuing her George Fox education through its reading endorsement program “I often consult my course notes to revisit ideas or engagement strategies I learned while I was there.  Sean Patterson serves as the university editor at George Fox Though he graduated from college more than 30 years ago he can still relate to the college temptations of staying up way too late and eating snacks too close to bedtime Thirty-one years after her initial application to George Fox Sara Noelle Goodman walked the stage as a proud graduate of the Master of Arts in Teaching program Sarah Cooley has long felt a strong desire to do right not only by customers e-commerce and corporate responsibility at Orchard & Vineyard Supply – a McMinnville Oregon-based company regarded worldwide as a leader in orchard vineyard and hops supplies – she is getting the opportunity to do just that Joshua Varon is continually creating diverse learning opportunities for his students at Leslie Middle School a former Central Oregon Teacher of the Year shares why – despite the challenges – she continues to pour into the next generation but he couldn’t shake the unmistakable pull of wanting to mentor the next generation It seems no matter what career path he chooses to take all roads eventually lead back to the classroom for Jake Redmond patients face delayed or canceled surgeries due to a lack of anesthesia providers George Fox University is launching a CRNA program in fall 2025 (WHP) — A second victim has come forward in a case where a Lancaster landlord is accused of raping tenants and police announced that he turned himself in on Wednesday He posted bail and is now on house arrest with electronic monitoring according to Lancaster City Bureau of Police Rohrbach initially turned himself into police in late September after the first victim reported in May that she was raped by Rohrbach in 2018 READ MORE | Lancaster landlord charged with rape of pregnant tenant; police looking for more victims a second victim came forward to share her story the victim told police that Rohrbach became her landlord in October of 2018 when she rented an apartment with her young child She told police Rohrbach came to her apartment a few days after she moved in to make repairs and during that time he allegedly made sexual comments toward her and cornered her against the refrigerator the victim told police that Rohrbach entered her apartment using a key grabbed her and pushed her against the wall The victim told police Rohrbach continued to enter her apartment multiple times and touched her numerous times without her consent The victim reportedly said she was concerned Rohrbach would kick her out if she retaliated the victim lost her job during the COVID-19 pandemic and struggled to pay rent towards Rohrbach Despite being granted rental assistance during this time the victim said Rohrbach escalated his actions and threatened to evict her He reportedly told the victim that if she did not perform oral sex on him The victim told police she did so to prevent her and her child from becoming homeless The assistance for the rent would sometimes cause the victim's rent payments to come in last minute which upset Rohrbach and escalated things further Rohrbach told the victim that she would have to have sex with him or she would be evicted which she told police multiple times she did in order to avoid this She said this behavior continued from Rohrbach until her boyfriend moved in Rohrbach is now charged with rape by force Police believe there may be more victims in this case Anyone with additional information is asked to call Detective Jared Snader at (717) 719-4586 or emailSnaderj@lancasterpolice.com A wooden cross and flowers located at the intersection of South Canfield and Dubuque roads east of Raymond in Black Hawk County marks the spot of a fatal accident that took place on the evening of Tuesday LA PORTE CITY – It has been 10 days since Union High School senior Gavin Rohrbach lost his life and two of his friends – senior Evan Hanus and junior Keegan Brooks – were severely injured in a car accident east of the town of Raymond And while much remains unanswered about the moments leading up to the accident which involved the car the students were riding in broadsiding another vehicle after running a stop sign this much is clear – the greater La Porte City/Dysart/Traer communities are determined to wrap the boys and their families in as much prayer On the morning following the crash – which occurred at roughly 9:45 p.m 10 at the intersection of Dubuque and South Canfield roads in east central Black Hawk County – Union Superintendent John Howard sent a letter to families “It is with tremendous sadness that I share this update with you,” Howard began multiple Union students were involved in an auto accident returning from the volleyball game at Oelwein Traveling home from the Oelwein-Union game together that evening in a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder were Brayden Bohnsack While all five were Union High School students had just transferred into the district from neighboring North Tama Howard asked that the public “keep the impacted families in your thoughts during this extraordinarily difficult time.” and Bohnsack experienced minor injuries and were released to their parents following the accident both Hanus and Brooks were transported by ambulance to Waterloo hospitals and later transferred to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics of Hazleton – the driver of the 2005 Buick Rendezvous that Luke hit while crossing the intersection – was lifeflighted by University of Iowa AirCare to Iowa City local online fundraisers were started for both the Hanus and Brooks families to help with medical bills travel expenses and other necessities that may arise due to the accident A Meal Train fundraiser was also started for the family of Rohrbach (https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/97gk96) In an update on her son’s health posted to Facebook on Friday Hanus’ mother Holly Fell wrote: “I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you for the incredible love and support you’ve shown us during these challenging days I’m happy to share that Evan is making wonderful progress – he was happy to be able to eat and drink yesterday We are hopeful that he will be released after his knee surgery this afternoon.” “As we continue down this path of recovery please keep everyone involved in your thoughts and prayers Thank you once again from the bottom of my heart for your love Brooks’ father Cole Johnson also posted an update about his son writing on Facebook: “Keegan got taken out of sedation for a short period to have a quick neurological exam and was able to move his arms and his head and squeeze his hands he was sedated again to regulate his levels with a reduced amount of sedatives While recovering from being sedated he made several motions with his arms He will be getting an MRI to help answer more questions.” “While we are still waiting for results we are taking these as promising signs Please continue with prayers and positive thoughts for everyone The generosity and love are certainly felt.” In addition to the core online fundraisers to support the three families Harper’s Public House in downtown Dysart donated 10% of their total sales over the weekend to the families while also collecting donations including gift cards and gas cards people want to know how to help,” Harper’s owner Jenna Scott wrote on Facebook our Harper’s family includes several teenagers We can BE SOMEWHERE where people can get together … Please help us show that the community is behind these kids loved ones…show them that they are not alone and we will help hold them up when they need the support!” Organizers of the 2024 KWC (Knights Wrestling Club) Dick Ingvall Annual Golf Tournament also elected to earmark proceeds from the Sept “After discussion with our senior leaders Jace and Brayden we are still planning on having our annual wrestling golf tournament fundraiser but now the proceeds will honor their classmate and to help the families with their expenses,” Union head wrestling coach Bart Mehlert wrote on Facebook We are all one big family at the U!” In an effort meant to further wrap those affected by the tragedy in love the Union High School Class of 2025 held a sunset memorial/candlelight vigil on Friday at Union Stadium in La Porte City to honor Rohrbach The Union Booster Club also held a fundraiser for the Rohrbach family by printing ‘The 12th Man’ shirts in honor of Gavin’s Union Knights football jersey number He was so loved and loved us all back!” Rohrbach’s grandmother Mary Monroe wrote on Facebook “We know he is safe in heaven with family who went before him and has probably already found a basketball or football to throw around and a kitty to befriend.” Services for Rohrbach were held at American Lutheran Church in La Porte City this past Wednesday followed by a public Celebration of Life service at the high school funny and loved by all who had the pleasure of knowing him,” Rohrbach’s obituary reads a devoted big brother and a dependable friend everyone would be lucky to have.” According to a report released by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office following the Sept Justice Luke was the driver of the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder in which Rohrbach that evening at the intersection of South Canfield Road and Dubuque Road – a rural area that lies east of the town of Raymond in east central Black Hawk County The intersection is surrounded by agricultural fields Drivers on South Canfield Road – the road on which Luke’s vehicle was traversing south that evening – are required to stop at a stop sign at the Dubuque intersection drivers from the north encounter a set of railroad tracks followed by three sets of rumble strips before arriving at the flashing stop sign Hanus was seated in the front passenger seat Bohnsack was seated in the second row behind the driver Brooks was seated in the second row in the middle and Rohrbach was seated in the second row behind the front passenger seat and Brooks is listed as unknown in the report while Luke and Hanus are both listed as using shoulder and lap belts As Luke traveled southbound on South Canfield Road he arrived at the intersection with Dubuque Road where he failed to stop at the stop sign He continued driving through the intersection and subsequently hit driver Pamela Euans’ 2005 Buick Rendezvous as she was traveling west toward Raymond A diagram included in the report indicates Luke’s front left side broadsided Euans’ front right side Both vehicles then exited the roadway and came to rest in the southwest ditch and nearby field all but Rohrbach were observed outside the Pathfinder Both Luke and Bohnsack displayed minor injuries while Hanus and Brooks were receiving treatment from responding emergency crews First responders that night included the Jesup Police Dept. Rohrbach was not responding and was trapped inside the vehicle; firefighters were eventually able to free him and began CPR deputies were informed Rohrbach had passed away Luke told a deputy ‘he ran the stop sign and that he was worried about his friends and the other driver.’ was pinned in her vehicle and had to be removed by firefighters Luke was involved in a multi-vehicle accident at the intersection of East Reinbeck Road and Highway 218 N just west of La Porte City in front of Dollar General According to the July 3 accident report which was obtained by the newspaper from the La Porte City Police Dept through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request Police Chief Chris Brecher responded to the accident just after 1:30 p.m he found two vehicles blocking the southbound lane of traffic on US 218 and a third vehicle – Luke’s vehicle a 2012 Dodge Avenger – located approximately 100 yards to the north on the shoulder of the highway Both drivers of the vehicles located on the road were injured and were eventually transported by ambulance to local hospitals Chief Brecher noted that Luke had “no pain complaints and was more concerned with how the other drivers were doing.” The report indicates that Luke’s vehicle on the highway as the driver attempted to turn left onto East Reinbeck Road After striking the back right side of the Nissan Rogue which pushed it into the path of an oncoming 2004 Buick Park Avenue Ultra Luke’s vehicle traveled another 80 yards past the collision before making it to the shoulder “I was unable to see skid marks on the ground where the impact took place,” Brecher wrote While Luke told Brecher that he did brake and tried to get onto the shoulder he was ultimately unable to avoid the impact “[Luke] stated that he was not on his phone multiple times and reiterated that he was powering on his radio.” Luke’s vehicle was totaled by the accident Luke was issued two citations stemming from the accident including one for failure to maintain control and another for failure to stop in assured clear distance He pleaded guilty to both counts and was fined a total of $285 continues to be investigated by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office 10 crash was “very complex” and would “take time to put the case together.” Today's breaking news and more in your inbox Copyright © North Tama Telegraph | https://www.northtamatelegraph.com | 625 Second Street, P.O. Box 156, Traer, IA 50675 | Terms of Service MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Oregon Department of Education, in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, announced Friday afternoon at a Jefferson County Middle School surprise all-school assembly that English teacher Christa Rohrbach has been named one of Oregon’s 18 2024-25 Regional Teachers of the Year energy and content mastery in support of students across the state The Oregon Teacher of the Year Program recognizes and honors teacher excellence with the state Teacher of the Year serving as the face and voice of exemplary educators across Oregon Candidates for Oregon Teacher of the Year are exceptionally dedicated knowledgeable and skilled licensed public school educators in grades pre-K-12 As stated in her nomination by a colleague Rohrbach’s greatest strengths is her ability to build strong and she teaches with a social justice and equity lens always in place making sure students have opportunities to explore who they are and make connections with their lives and cultures in the classroom.”  As the “Where Everybody Belongs Coordinator,” Rohrbach revitalized the sixth-grade transition program after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic fostering leadership among eighth-grade students and offering vital support to incoming middle schoolers In addition to guiding students as the yearbook teacher Rohrbach serves as the ELA Department's Professional Learning Community Lead where they spearhead discussions on initiatives "Her unwavering commitment to enhancing the school environment exemplifies her passion for education and student growth," ODE said in its announcement “Christa is committed to fostering an inclusive and enjoyable learning environment for all students,” Jefferson County Middle School Assistant Principal Shannon Richards stated in her nomination of Rohrbach “Her belief in the philosophy that ‘everybody belongs’ resonates throughout her teaching practices… She goes above and beyond to ensure that every student feels valued and celebrated irrespective of academic achievements or behavior.” Debra Sayre, who teaches special education and language arts for the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council in La Pine, was honored Thursday as High Desert Regional Teacher of the Year we need powerful educators like these,” said Director of the Oregon Department of Education Dr “Each Regional Teacher of the Year has earned this recognition because they champion every student and to feel a sense of belonging not only in the classroom Students and families in Oregon are fortunate to have teachers like these whose inspiring contributions create lasting impacts that ripple out into their communities and beyond.” Each Regional Teacher of the Year wins a $1,000 cash prize and is in the running for Oregon’s 2024-25 Oregon Teacher of the Year – to be announced in October when the Oregon Lottery began allocating revenue to public education more than $10 billion has been transferred to school districts across the state more than $1.5 million of Oregon Lottery funding went to the Jefferson County School District and $1.98 million went to Jefferson County “These exceptional teachers inspire and encourage students every day in classrooms across Oregon,” said Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells “We are proud to honor their contributions and vital role in making our communities stronger.”  Now that all 18 regional honorees have been announced ODE issued this news release Friday afternoon Oregon Celebrates 2024-25 Regional Teachers of the Year (Salem, OR) – Today, the Oregon Department of Education, in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, announced Oregon’s 2024-25 Regional Teachers of the Year communities all across the state have held celebrations recognizing these 18 regional winners Classroom teachers in Oregon are essential to creating conditions for students to experience belonging The Oregon Teacher of the Year program recognizes and honors educators who lead with the exceptional dedication and skills that place those values at the center of their practice we need powerful educators like these,” said Dr Director of the Oregon Department of Education Students and families in Oregon are fortunate to have teachers like these whose inspiring contributions create lasting impacts that ripple out into their communities and beyond.”  regional winners are identified through a local nomination application and selection process facilitated by regional Education Service Districts Applicants submit essays and letters of support and are assessed by a diverse panel of regional representatives on the attributes of leadership Thanks to a partnership with Oregon Lottery each Regional Teacher of the Year will receive a $1,000 award and is automatically considered for the honor of 2024-25 Oregon Teacher of the Year which will be announced later this fall “We are proud to honor their contributions and vital role in making our communities stronger.”  Congratulations to Oregon’s 2024-25 Regional Teachers of the Year Photos and news releases from each region are available in the links below Do you know an extraordinary, licensed, preK-12 public school teacher? You can nominate them for 2025-26 Oregon Teacher of the Year by visiting oregonteacheroftheyear.org Thanks to the Oregon Department of Education’s partnership with the Oregon Lottery the 2024-25 Oregon Teacher of the Year will receive a $10,000 cash prize (with an additional $5,000 going to their school) KTVZ NewsChannel 21 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here told his colleagues Thursday on the Committee on Finance that the federal government is considering rolling back Medicaid expansion.  “The (federal) committee has been tasked with reducing $880 billion in costs,” he said West Virginia opted into a federal expansion of Medicaid as the state was only asked to pay 10% of the cost The federal government picked up 90% of the cost allowing a large number of citizens to obtain health care coverage at a low cost.  told delegates the expanded coverage “provides their health care to go to the doctor and dentist.” Also those seeking substance use disorder treatment.” She said it covers people ages 19-64.  Rohrbach said he expects the federal government to recommend lowering the reimbursement rate for those covered by Medicaid expansion from 90% to 73% he says the state would be on the hook for paying the difference A sum of approximately $160 million.  “A number of states have preemptively said if that occurs then we’re gonna have to rethink this entire thing,” Rohrbach shared “That’s a very large number for the state to have to deal with.” Delegates then considered a bill that would end Medicaid coverage for the working poor if the federal government makes any changes to the current program the Committee on Finance took the somewhat unusual step of originating a bill–it was created by the committee on Thursday rather than authored by a delegate–and putting it to a vote.  “Is it possible to have a committee hearing tomorrow This is perhaps the most consequential bill we’ve had maybe all session.”  “Is there no requirement for a hearing?” Williams asked referencing new House Rules passed just this year.  not with an originating bill,” Criss said.  The committee passed the originating bill which could potentially affect 166,000 West Virginians by a voice vote and adjourned.  delegates returned to the Committee on Finance and reconsidered their previous motion to allow for a hearing along with several health care advocates and a doctor were allowed to testify.  asked Beane what would happen to someone who receives health care via Medicaid expansion if the originating bill passed and the federal government changed the match?  “The trigger would happen at the federal change and we would start the disenrollment,” she said Hornbuckle asked what those citizens could do as an alternative to receive health care?  “They could purchase insurance from the private marketplace.” She added that it would also have a larger economic impact as the Medicaid expansion funds don’t go to enrollees; they go to hospitals and doctors She noted that states who did not expand Medicaid have seen hospital closures while West Virginia has not.  Ellen Allen from West Virginians for Affordable Health Care testified that the expansion “covers 166,000 people who make around $20K per year They make too much for Medicaid but not enough for Affordable Care Act It’s particularly helped people with disability and young adults in the workforce.” a resident at CAMC in Obstetrics/Gynocology expressed concerns particularly for pregnant mothers if Medicaid expansion is rolled back “There are 18 hospitals that provide OB care inpatient The vast majority of our patients receive Medicaid There’s a decent chance we’d only see six OB units remain open if this happens.” She said they would simply lose too much money to operate without Medicaid expansion dollars.   “We see some of the highest infant morbidity and mortality rates,” she testified That means increased health care needs throughout the child’s life span An infant stay in NICU can cost $1 million Medicaid expansion provides for those costs.”  She shared that hospitals are already struggling to hire OB/GYNs for maternal care citing CAMC Greenbrier Valley as an example She said they only have one provider who is about to retire delegates voted to suspend Rule 83b pertaining to the normal committee hearing process and vote upon the bill.  Our speaker gave a heckuva floor speech yesterday He said government can’t always fix problems government has given 166,000 people health insurance This is one of the examples where government can help people Now their legislature is kicking ‘em in the shin It takes all these people immediately off their health care Maybe we could pressure some of our friends in the federal government to not cut our people.” “The passage of this bill does not make anything immediate happen It doesn’t cause anyone to lose anything it does cause people to make other arrangements…There’s got to be a reckoning for what the federal government spends People that are working hard aren’t living on minimum wage.” Rohrbach closed debate by pointing to statistics about the Affordable Care Act which he said show the average monthly premium for a West Virginian is $88 per month “To think we don’t have another option available through the marketplace this data would refute that,” he said.  The committee then passed the bill on a party line vote sending the originating bill to the full House for a vote on the floor.  RealWV As you cross the border into West Virginia towering above the trees in Morgan County on Winchester Grade Road – West Virginia now has over 200 new laws following the end of the recent legislative session – Concerts have always held a special place in society Concerts are a way for like-minded individuals to Get stories thatempower and uplift weekly Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" The American Folk Art Museum (AFAM) announced the election of entrepreneur investor and artist James Rohrbach to its national Board of Trustees He is the 30th member to be welcomed onto the Board On top of his resume in the entrepreneurial and real estate fields Rohrbach is an artist and a passionate advocate for the arts and artists alike Antiques and The Arts Weekly caught up with him after his election and got the scoop on his goals as a Board member What initially drew you to AFAM’s Board of Trustees I have loved and collected folk and self-taught art almost my entire adult life and thus have frequented the museum for many years I connected with some members of the staff which led me to learn more about the organization Once I met director Jason Busch and heard his exciting vision for the future I was keen to get involved and do my part to support the museum in realizing its goals How do you believe your extensive background in the real estate world will benefit you in your new position on the Board I started my career as a management consultant and then spent more than a decade as an entrepreneur at the intersection of education culture and technology before transitioning into real estate in 2019 I’m particularly interested in questions such as “How does the museum grow its audience and impact materially but sustainably How should its strategic plan evolve over the next decade processes and organizational structures do we need to support that plan?” I hope over time I’ll be able to bring to bear the skills and expertise I’ve acquired across the full breadth of my career on questions such as those Can you explain what your creative process is like My fundamental interest is in exploring what Allen Ginsburg called “the mysterious river of tears under the streets.” I interpret that line through a Jungian lens Our society is built on these profound self-delusions regarding what guides our decisions and actions (rationality when really we all carry within us these vast expanses of psychic pain and subconscious feeling that actually drive so much of our lives and yet which we rarely attempt to understand I create egalitarian and participatory performance pieces as pathways to access that world in one piece you are invited to participate via the prompt: Sit down in front of a mirror The work can then manifest as videos and photos of the experience constantly evolving and continuously available — anyone interested in participating in one should just contact me “Mean Little Toto” by Jimmy Lee Sudduth (Alabama From the folk art collection of James Rohrbach especially when it comes to the arts and fellow artists How has that passion shaped your career path and what about your advocacy work do you hope to bring to the Board at AFAM I have two longstanding preoccupations in this area: cultural accessibility and opportunity My first startup was a platform that helped undergraduates study abroad and another was an adult language school — so both helped people have a broader set of cultural experiences which is such a powerful positive force for K-12 arts education with an intended tone of “serious but accessible” — as a small rebuttal against artspeak and in the hope that perhaps it will inspire appreciation for and curiosity about art in new hearts I believe artists are done a gross disservice in that they are generally not taught the business side of an artistic career (for example: marketing or indeed even encouraged to think of themselves as capable in those areas So I try to share my business knowledge to help artists thrive specifically as a mentor at NEW INC and as an advisor to Paddy Johnson’s VVrkshop AFAM is a very natural place for me to continue this work Folk and self-taught art is definitionally accessible — in who makes it and for whom it is intended these artists are also a priori unsupported — outside of the commercial art system two core missions for the museum are to put this approachable art in front of as large and diverse an audience as possible through both that amplification and through intentional programs to provide support to the artists themselves I think AFAM has a special opportunity to expand its impact in these areas in the decades ahead The lines between folk and self-taught art and the traditional fine art world are rapidly blurring Look at how many major museums have held shows of self-taught work in the past few years; at how many blue chip artists are explicitly inspired by and responding to self-taught work; at how our entire society is reflecting profoundly on questions of inclusion and exclusion And then add AI (artificial intelligence) art into that heady mix Isn’t AI art the next frontier of self-taught art opening up radical new opportunities and posing thorny questions What are you most looking forward to in your tenure on the AFAM’s Board of Trustees I very much hope to have a positive impact and specifically to help the museum grow its reach and influence I’m really looking forward to getting to know my fellow trustees and the staff and to deepening my knowledge of folk and self-taught art through focused study and attention Q&A: Beth Pook Q&A: Sam Barsky Q&A: Jennifer Carlquist the SI Swimsuit magazine features a number of models from runway stars to women making a difference through their content creation platforms But the brand’s purpose is always to highlight a range of women who are trailblazers in their industry and actively working to empower future generations Athletes, musicians, fashion designers and movie stars are also among the women who have starred in the iconic magazine. In 2015, Hollywood actress Kelly Rohrbach made her SI Swimsuit debut 1990 in New York City and grew up in Greenwich She attended college at Georgetown University on a golf scholarship She graduated with a theater degree in 2012 and then enrolled at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art Kelly Rohrbach / Presley Ann/Patrick McMullan/Getty ImagesKelly Rohrbach family lifeThe former Victoria’s Secret model who grew up with two sisters and twin brothers married businessman Steuart Walton in 2019 in the Bahamas after about two years of dating The two welcomed a son named Lawrence in 2021 Kelly Rohrbach / Tommaso Boddi/Getty ImagesKelly Rohrbach acting careerThe actress joined the stacked 2017 Baywatch reboot cast including Dwayne Johnson and Alexandra Daddario and reincarnated Pamela Anderson’s iconic C.J Parker character from the original TV show Rohrbach wanted to do justice to the fan-favorite role “What I really liked about this version of the character was that she’s not a delicate flower. She’s a professional and she’s there to do her job at the highest level possible. She’s super athletic. You know, she can play with the boys and keep up by all means,” she shared And I was drawn to that as a woman who myself is athletic and tough.” This breakout role was especially exciting because Rohrbach grew up glued to the screen watching the 1989 to 2001 series Rohrbach starred alongside Selena Gomez and Timothée Chalamet in 2019’s A Rainy Day in New York and had a four-episode stint on Yellowstone the same year. She also acted in the 2013 to 2015 TV series The PET Squad Files. USE OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OUR TERMS OF USE AND PRIVACY POLICY Powered by Minute Media proving again that she’s a natural in front of the camera Her beautiful smile and sun-kissed toned figure took center stage against the stunning Mediterranean backdrop graduated from Georgetown University and has appeared in a long list of TV shows and movies Angie Tribeca and most recently Yellowstone We’re feeling especially nostalgic today and just had to flip back to the 34-year-old’s second brand feature Here are some of our favorite shots from her shoot in Malta a classic black suit with a twist and more she married businessman Steuart Walton in 2019 and welcomed her first child While on set for her 2016 feature, Rorbach, who went to college on a golf scholarship but got a degree in theater, recalled her enthusiasm over the gorgeous location. “When I found out I was going to Malta I was really excited,” she said I could see how special the shoot was going to be.” And “special” doesn’t even begin to cover how amazing the images came out Rohrbach has remained out of the spotlight over the past few years but we never stop thinking about her beautiful features with SI Swimsuit Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training COST: Reduced or free options can be available because of FailSafe For Life’s fundraising and grants Per person for training and materials typically is $295 MORE INFO: www.failsafeforlife.org Bert Rohrbach two years ago found the right tools to help a coworker struggling with mental health Rohrbach finds it difficult to talk about three close coworkers who died by suicide since 2014: an electrician a lowboy truck driver and a young welder who was a “very dear friend.” The losses happened either when he wasn’t around them or before he knew to notice signs ask direct questions and use intervention tools I’ve been impacted by suicide,” said Rohrbach The Inland Northwest Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America has heightened suicide prevention and mental health supports since 2021 alongside a national effort against the industry’s high suicide rate Rohrbach is a chapter apprenticeships education director for the organization For every 100,000 male construction workers in the U.S. the rate was about 56 suicides annually in 2021 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention That compares with 32 suicides per 100,000 men in the general population there were six construction site fatalities such as from falls or accidents compared with 130 suicides among construction workers in the state AGC chapter marketing and communications director Rohrbach and six others with AGC completed Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training It’s available to any person or group through FailSafe for Life The AGC members now wear the ASIST logo sticker on safety helmets Rohrbach earlier this summer coached an intervention that ended safely for a construction worker who had planned his suicide He said that while a majority of construction workers do well over long careers “The construction industry appeals to people who like to work hard It has great attraction to people who don’t like repetition There are also some challenges in that you make really good money Finances and learning to manage finances add to the stresses Rohrbach said the 35-year-old welder he knew who died had worked for him they were co-teaching at an Idaho high school technical skills site “He had some injuries in the past,” Rohrbach said he went from prescription pain control to off-the-street pain control Other factors include isolation in long hours or at remote sites away from family The industry also has large populations of middle-aged men and veterans along with younger adults in apprenticeships a man died by suicide soon after his local apprenticeship graduation Rohrbach said it took days before he and others learned their electrician coworker took his life The lowboy truck driver who died by suicide in 2023 was 60 so in terms of battles personally fought and service to country – you think – this guy is tough,” Rohrbach said “Then there’s having some bumps with a relationship Rohrbach said he’s starting to see a shift away from that tough we work 12 to 14 hours a day with these guys We can see when the behaviors are changing but we’re starting to create an understanding that this isn’t somebody else’s problem “I live with the guilt of not recognizing that before The welder – I call him a kid but he was 35 – was right across the classroom from me Rohrbach said the two-day 2022 session changed that easier to apply than his training as a former flight medic The first step is knowledge and noticing behavior changes “I learned that this is a transitional or temporary state of the mind and like any organ that’s not doing well or struggling the brain has that similar characteristic.” Next steps include “I care” actions and direct questions including to ask whether the person has thought about suicide we’re going to get you to a supervisor who is trained,’ ” he said “The third step is we get them to a place that’s safe whether with a counselor or an intervention person.” The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has expanded as a tool he and others can text or call for someone More contractors are posting 988 information at job sites five of the seven AGC members reported they’d led or supported successful interventions in suicide prevention The chapter also created mental health resources through its Construction, Culture, Committee The AGC is a trade association for commercial contractors Talbot said the local chapter has about 400 companies employing thousands of people from the Tri-Cities up to Spokane and into North Idaho Talbot joined an AGC of America mental health national task force in 2022 the organization is doing more “to make mental health and suicide prevention a fundamental aspect of every safety program of the companies that work with us,” she said “What I have learned after asking tough questions and changing how to approach it is that one of two things happens,” he said ‘Yeah I’ve got a plan,’ and then we go to step two that’s the delivery we want to see in construction Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens © Copyright 2025, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy and one we look back on fondly 10 years later See one of our favorite pics from the shoot below and scroll for more Kelly Rohrbach was photographed by Yu Tsai in Big Sur who rose to fame playing the iconic role of C.J Parker (made famous by Pamela Anderson) in the 2017 Baywatch movie was undeniably incredible in her SI Swimsuit debut Posing during golden hour in one of the most beautiful locations in the country she was picture-perfect as she flaunted her gorgeous looks and infectious personality on set with the team Kelly Rohrbach was photographed by Yu Tsai in Big Sur, Calif. / Yu Tsai/Sports IllustratedIt’s truly hard to believe her debut was already 10 years ago. Rohrbach followed it up with another appearance in the magazine a year later, that time in the gorgeous Malta with photographer Ben Watts she dazzled with her stunning green eyes and toned and tanned figure / Yu Tsai/Sports IllustratedWith bright colors and various styles Rohrbach proved she was a natural in front of the camera—no matter what she was wearing “I started modeling, actually, through acting. I’ve been acting for the past two years in Los Angeles, and I decided, well maybe I’ll start modeling to complement the acting,” Rohrbach shared of her career while on set in 2015 I find that modeling is just like acting but without words and I think this was actually a really good transition for me.” / Yu Tsai/Sports IllustratedRohrbach began acting in the 2010s also appearing in shows like Two and a Half Men as well as movies such as Ocean’s 8 and A Rainy Day in New York She previously played golf at Georgetown University but walked away from the sport to pursue acting “Sports Illustrated [Swimsuit] is a dream come true,” she also stated on set for her rookie shoot It’s such a magical thing to happen to me.” she is married to businessman and heir Steuart Walton and they have one child together Needless to say, Rohrbach proved that blue was her color during her first-ever shoot. “It’s really exciting,” she shared about her Rookie of the Year title in 2015 “Sports Illustrated [Swimsuit] was sort of my intro to modeling / Yu Tsai/Sports IllustratedWhether she was in a string bikini a moderate-coverage two-piece or nothing at all we’re still so in awe of her debut with the magazine Go behind the scenes at her rookie shoot from one decade ago in the video below: Home » Sports » Matt Rohrbach returns to sidelines for Aberdeen Christian Aberdeen Christian School has announced that Matt Rohrbach will be taking over head coaching duties for the boys basketball team... Timber Lake native Tucker Kraft has been named the state’s 2024 sports celebrity by the South Dakota Sportswriters Association