DaytonDailyNews.com

KETTERING — Kettering Medical Center received $1.08 million from the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation Friday to continue some tobacco-cessation programs for the next three years.

Kettering will put the grant toward screening, education, behavior modification, nicotine-replacement drugs and group or individual counseling.

U.S. Navy's 2007 Sailor of the Year is a Middletown man

There are more then 340,000 men and women serving in the U.S. Navy — and the 2007 Sailor of the Year is from Middletown.

Navy First Class Diver (diving salvage specialist/free-fall parachutist) Tim Alexander, a 1991 graduate of Middletown High School, enlisted in the Navy following graduation. He is stationed at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City, Fla.

During his time at the center, he volunteered to deploy to Iraq to support counter-landmine operations for the Marine Corps. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for outstanding performance as the Naval Surface Warfare Center PC Diving Supervisor.

"First Class Diver Tim Alexander is a testament to the great commitment and courage of our all-volunteer military," U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner said Friday.

"I am sure that his parents, Ted and Sonja Alexander, and his sons, 13-year-old Kai and 9-year-old Liam, are very proud of him," the West Chester Twp. Republican said.

The Sailor of the Year program began 29 years ago to recognize the Navy's top enlisted sailors.

The program provides recognition to outstanding sailors through numerous presentations, awards and meritorious advancement to the next pay grade.