XENIA — We interrupt your thanksgiving feast for an important message of thanks from the City of Xenia.
Well, it’s not really an interruption. Continue carving the turkey and mashing the yams. Some of Xenia’s elected and appointed officials wanted to spread their message of thanks, as its the en vogue thing to do.
From faith and family, to careers and city council, Xenia’s leaders have a lot for which they are thankful.
Here’s what they had to say.
Council president Mike Engle
“I’m thankful for family, friends, and the blessing of freedom that we have as United States citizens. I’m grateful to all of Xenia’s public servants for all they do to make our city a great place to live.”
Mayor Marsha Bayless
“Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year because it ushers in a quieter ambiance and we reflect more on the spirit of giving thanks. Communities come together to feed those in need or to provide a time for individuals without families to commune with others. I am very thankful for the time citizens have allowed me to serve as the mayor of this great community. I didn’t quite know what to expect initially, but I found a warm reception in Xenia, and when representing our city beyond our boundaries.
I’ve worked in two of the most caring careers — education and the city and am so thankful for the experience. Both function as a family. I wish everyone could witness the care, planning, consideration, and great fiscal management of the city administration and staff and the long hours they work to make our city better, as well as the time and energy school administrators, teachers, and employees put into our schools. For those things, I am, and we should all be, thankful. Finally, I’m thankful to the Gazette and Scott Halasz for unbiased journalism and years of service to the Xenia area. Happy Thanksgiving.”
Police Chief Donald “Randy” Person
“Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to everyone. As to what I am thankful for, I am thankful for my faith and my family who sustain me everyday. I am thankful for and proud of the men, my two sons have become. I am thankful for the dedicated men and women of the Xenia Police Division who serve this community everyday and make my job as chief of police a pleasure. I am thankful for a community and it’s leadership that has supported me and allowed me to succeed as chief of police and build a department of compassionate servant leaders. May God bless everyone this holiday season.”
Councilmember Wes Smith
“I am thankful for being able to serve the citizens of Xenia as their councilmember for the last eight years and look forward to working hard the next four years with another term.”
Municipal Court Judge Michael Murry
“On a personal level, at Thanksgiving time I am mindful of, and thankful for, the wonderful and supportive family I have. On a professional level, at Thanksgiving time I am reminded of how blessed I am to have the honor of serving as the judge of Xenia Municipal Court. The court staff and I are thankful to work in Greene County — a great place to live and raise a family.”
Councilmember Dale Louderback
“I am most thankful for God, family and country, in that order.”
Assistant City Manager Jared Holloway
“This Thanksgiving I am so grateful to be able to serve the City of Xenia in my new role. Alongside my family, I am so appreciative for Xenia, and all the blessings this community has presented us. God has blessed our city, and we have so much to be thankful for. I look forward to spending Thanksgiving in Xenia, with friends and family and wish everyone a holiday season filled with reflection and gratitude.”
Councilmember Jeanne Mills
“I am thankful for my faith in God who provides all. I am thankful for many things in my life; family, friends, warm home and food, clothing, employment and so much more. I am also thankful for the country I live in and the personnel who are in office and those who protect it. I am thankful to have a thankful heart.”
Finance Director Ryan Duke
“This Thanksgiving holiday I have so much to be thankful for. I’m thankful for my beautiful wife, Erika, and our four little boys who greet me with smiles and love every time I walk through the front door. They make home my favorite place to be. I’m so very thankful for my parents, Will and Karen, who have loved each other faithfully and led our family with wisdom, patience, and kindness. They have continually invested in me more than I could ever repay.
I’m thankful for the City of Xenia that has been so good to my family at every turn. I get to work with a lot of great people who make serving the public an immense privilege. Xenia is a great community where my wife and I are blessed to raise our family. I’m also thankful for my church Faith Family where we have great friendships and tremendous support. There I am humbled by the opportunity to see people’s lives changed as they are introduced to God’s grace and goodness.”
Mayor-elect Sarah Mays
“In our home, my children have been working to memorize Psalm 106:1 during the Thanksgiving season: ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.’ We want to remind ourselves that ‘Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.’ (James 1:17.)
As I reflect on these verses, I can’t help but be filled with thanksgiving for so many things: Thank you to the Xenia community for allowing me the privilege of being your mayor and ambassador. Thank you to our city staff who diligently work to provide quality resources to this community. Thank you to my church family and pastors who faithfully serve others and desire to love them toward Christ.
Thank you to my friends and family who graciously share life together. Thank you to my husband and children who generously love and pray for me and so many others. And thank you to Jesus, who sacrificially gave His life for each of us so we might have hope and a relationship with Him. I pray this Thanksgiving season that we all will take time to thank the Creator of all things, Jesus Christ.”
City Manager Brent Merriman
“This year I am thankful for the blessings of health and happiness for my family and loved ones and that we have not known the pains of hunger or loss. I am thankful to live in a nation that still enjoys the freedoms our Creator intended, and thankful for the ones who serve and sacrifice to protect these liberties.“
