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September 25, 2017
Parkway Independent - Celebrating 13 years of bringing news to the Parkway area communities.
 

Rockford Council Members Meet on Tuesday, September 19, 2017
 

 Click here to read the council minutes by Fiscal Agent Lisa Kuhn.

 
September 23-24, 2017
 

RADC Members to Meet
The next RADC next meeting is Monday, September 25th at 7pm in the Rockford Library basement. 

 
September 22, 2017
 

Upcoming Events for Rockford

September 29th -  1st Annual Benefit Dinner for Lots for Soldiers
Held at Howard Johnson - Lima 1920 Roschman Ave, Lima OH  45804
4 pm - Doors open w/cocktail hour
5 pm -  7 pm Dinner and Recognition
4 pm - 7 pm - Silent Auction

Cash bar and DJ all night - pre sale tickets $15 - At door $30
For more information contact - 419-586-5058


*************************

September 30th - 8th Annual Rockford Belle Sock Hop & Cruise in
with Classic Cars -  Shine and Show

Cruise in starts at 2 pm
Live music with Blind Date starts at 4 pm

Rockford Belle - 135 Market St. - Rockford, OH  

Meet and Greet Planned
Meet Susan Manchester.  She is a young lady
from the Waynesfield area that is running in next year's Ohio
Primary election for State representative for the area that includes 
Mercer County.

She will be at the Rockford Carry Out on Tuesday -
September 26th from 6:30 - 8:30 pm.

Please stop by for a meet and greet and share 
any questions or concerns ! 

Grand Lake Marathon is Saturday morning (9/23) and will take place throughout the Celina area. Over 700 runners will be participating.  

 
September 20-21, 2017
 

Calvary Evangelical Church Updates

Parkway Music Boosters Sub Sales Now Until Wednesday, September 27th
The Parkway Music Booster group is currently hosting the annual sub sandwich sales.  The subs have been sold for many years and continue to be a favorite of many.  This year three different subs will be made: “The Original” (bologna, pork loaf, beef stick, American and Swiss cheeses), ham (ham, American and Swiss cheeses), and turkey breast (turkey, American and Swiss cheeses).  Prices are as follows: 1 for $4, 3 for $10, 6 for $18, and 12 for $32.  Students in grades 6-12 who are involved with the band or choir programs at Parkway are selling the subs.  Selling dates are from Friday, September 15th – Wednesday, September 27th.   The subs will be made at the school on Saturday, October 21st and will be ready for the students to deliver at that time.  All profits from the sub sales will go directly to the Parkway Music Boosters and will be used to support the bands and choirs.  The sales are a great way to get a delicious sandwich while providing support to our students.  If you would like to purchase subs or have further questions, please call Kendra Miller at 419.495.2655.

Best County Foods Junior (9-11), Preston Kreischer– Ohio Challengers, Trophy donated by Delphos Young Farm Wives
Runner UP Best Junior Foods, Ella Wilson—Venedocia Lads and Lassies Trophy donated by York Commanders 4-H Club
 

Best County Foods Intermediate (12-15), Abigail Bonifas—Venedocia Lads and Lassies, Trophy donated by P & R Medical Connection
Runner UP Best County Foods Intermediate, Carson Kreischer—Ohio Challengers Trophy donated by York Commanders 4-H Club
 

Best County Senior Foods, Hannah Kraner—Ohio City Blue Ribbon Workers Trophy donated by Warren & Marilyn Reed
Runner UP Best County Senior Foods Senior, Michaela Hoffman—Farmtastic, Trophy donated by York Commanders 4-H Club
 

Best County Leadership Award, Katelyn Wendel—Hoaglin Farmers, Trophy donated In Memory of Roger Short—Tim Short
Runner UP Best County Leadership Award, Isaiah Pugh—4-H Exchange Club, Trophy donated by Jr. Leaders in Memory of Ethan Enyart

Best County Family & Consumer Science Project, Junior: Elyssa Renner—Hoaglin Farmers, Trophy donated by Homemakers Community Education, Senior:Abigail Bonifas Venedocia Lads and Lassies, Cash donated by Homemakers Community Education
Runner UP Best County Family and Consumer Science Project
Junior: David May—Ohio City Blue Ribbon Workers Trophy donated by York Commanders 4-H Club, Senior: Carson Kreischer—Ohio Challengers, Trophy donated by York Commanders –4-H Club
 

Best County Garden & Plant Science, Morgan Anspach—Leaders of the Future, Trophy donated In Memory of Roger Short
Best County Photography Project, Junior: Olivia Lauf– Leaders of the Future, Trophy donated by Seth, Anna & Grayson Baker, Senior: Wyatt Richardson—Ohio Challengers, Trophy donated by Bittner Family
Best Master Photography Project, Abbey Bradford– Bunny Hoppers, Trophy donated by the Bittner Family
 Best County Self Determined, Junior: Luke Heffelfinger—Barnyard Buddies, Trophy donated by Venedocia Lads & Lassies, Senior: Madelyn Lamb—Ohio Challengers, Trophy donated by the Doug and Marcia Germann Family
Best County Cake Decorating, Junior: Rory Youngpeter—Venedocia Lads & Lassies, Trophy—Hempfling Dairy Farm, Senior: Elizabeth Mitchener—Barnyard Buddies, Trophy—Nancy Johnson
Best County Scrapbooking, Junior: Haley Sheets—Ohio Challengers, Scrapbook Kit— Heather Gottke, Senior: Kailey Denmen—Ohio City Blue Ribbon Workers, Scrapbook Kit—Heather Gottke

Best County Small Animal Vet Science, Junior: Grace Spieles—Clever Clovers, Trophy—Greif Brothers, Senior: Alexis Parrish –Barnyard Buddies, Trophy—F & S Floor Covering

Best County Environment and Natural Resource , Junior: Ean Scarlett—Harrison Jolly Boosters, Trophy– John Auld Family
Runner Up Best County Environment and Natural Resource: Junior: Preston Kreischer—Ohio Challengers, Trophy -Ryan Mohr Seed Becks Hybids

Best County Creative & Leisure Arts Award
Junior: Catanna Saum—Ohio Challengers, Trophy—Delphos Young Farm Wives
Senior: Carson Kreischer –Ohio Challengers, Cash—Homemakers Community Education
Best County STEM Award: Junior: Kimberly Sites—Barnyard Buddies, Trophy—Linda Baker, Senior: - Kennedy Sites—Barnyard Buddies, Trophy—Wee Care Learning Center
Runner UP Best County STEM: Junior: Dalton Keysor—Hoaglin Farmers,Trophy– Harrison Jolly Boosters 4-H Club, Senior: Cody Gamble—Shooting Stars, Trophy—Ryan Mohr Seeds Becks Hybrids
Best County Shooting Sports, Junior: Kaleb Denman—Ohio City Blue Ribbon Workers, Trophy—Keister & Baker LLC, Senior: Isaiah Pugh—Venedocia Lads and Lassies, Trophy—Keister & Baker LLC
Best County Woodworking Project
Junior: Luke Heffelfinger—Barnyard Buddies, Trophy- Colin and Halie Harting, Senior: Annie Mendenhall— Hoaglin Farmers, Trophy- Colin and Halie Harting
Runner UP Best County Woodworking Project: Junior: Kaiven Welch—Bunny Hoppers, Trophy-York Commanders 4-H Club, Senior: Andrew Newell—Jackson Lively, Trophy—York Commanders 4-H Club
 
BLACK INC. DEVELOPMENT AWARDS
Sponsored by The Van Wert County Foundation
Mary Shackley Clothing Development
Sponsored by The Van Wert County Foundation
Senior (16-18) 1. Michaela Hoffman—Pathfinders of Delphos Beginner (9-11) 1. Lauren Anspach—Leaders of the Future
(Tie) Melissa Joseph—Ohio Challengers
Black Inc. Livestock Awards
Sponsored by The Van Wert County Foundation
Sheep 1. Austin Sorgen, 2. Emily Greulach, 3. Addie Sorgen Tie—Evan Scarlett
Goats 1. Cody Gamble, 2. Lillian Hempfling, 3. Alexa Gearhart
Poultry 1. Morgan Anspach, 2. Lillian Hempfling, tie 2. Cody Gamble, 3. Katie Gamble
Tie 3. Ethan Greulach, 3. Evan Scarlett
Dairy Feeder 1. Luke Heffelfinger, 2. Betty Vorst
Swine
1. Austin Sorgan
2. Maddy Lamb
2. Betty Vorst
2. Luke Heffelfinger
3. Alana Williams
3. Addie Sorgen
3. Jase Delgado
3. Justin Bowman
Beef
1. Betty Vorst
2. Addie Sorgan
Rabbits
1.Caton Williamson
2. Maddy Lamb
2. Alicia Rist
2. Abbey Bradford
3. Lauren Henderson
3. Cody Gamble
3. Katie Gamble
3. Kyra Welch
3. Carson Kreischer
3. Preston Kreischer
3. Gracie Mull
3. Sam Price
Dairy
1. Lily Hempfling
Horses
1. Alicia Rist
Black Inc. Miscellaneous
Sponsored by The Van Wert County Foundation
Natural Resources/Environment
1. Cody Gamble
2. Morgan Anspach
Creative/Leisure Arts
1. Carson Kreischer
2. Alana Williams
3. Jennifer Haggis
Small Animal/Vet. Science
1. Jordan Rawlins
2. Samantha Klinger
Family Life
1. Madelyn Lamb
2. Carson Kreischer
3. Abigail Bonifas
Science, Tech, Engineering & Math
1. Luke Heffelfinger
2. Evan Scarlett

Doris Limbach Purmort Foods/Nutrition
Sponsored by The Van Wert County Foundation
Senior (16-18)
1. Michael Joseph
2. Michaela Hoffman
Intermediate (12-15)
1. Carson Kreischer
2. Kayla Krites
3. Katie Gamble
3. Abigail Bonifas
Junior (9-11)
1. Preston Kreischer
2. Morgan Anspach
2. Kyra Welch
3. Melissa Joseph

 4-H Table Setting Contest
Sponsored by The Van Wert County Foundation
Senior (15-18)
1. Lauren Henderson
2. Hannah Kraner
Intermediate (12-14)
1. Gracie Mull
2. Samuel Price
3. Cody Gamble
3. Katie Gamble
Junior ( 8-11)
1. Morgan Anspach
2.Kyra Welch
2. Lauren Anspach
3. Lily Burch
 
Black Inc.- Special 4-H Achiever Awards
Sponsored by The Van Wert County Foundation

Barnyard Buddies: Bella Wise, Brett Schumm
Farmtastic: Baylee Miller
Bunny Hoppers: Drew Deitmeyer, Josie Montano
Canines and Critters: Landen Krammer
Clever Clovers: Gracie Spieles
Harrison Jolly Boosters: Savannah Nofer, Jacob Dickman
Hoaglin Farmers: Taylor Post
Jackson Lively: Andrew Newell
Jr. Leaders: Makenzie Kraft
York Commanders: Grace Brickner, Maddie Gerdeman
 
Leaders of the Future: Kyle Hamilton, Noah Wyatt
Ohio Challengers: Ashley Dealey, Danil Lichtensteiger, Melissa Joseph
Ohio City Blue Ribbon Workers: Kole Swander
Phoenix Foundation: Joshua VanWey
Shooting Stars: Whitley Fast
Udder Dairy: Grant Mefferd
Van Wert Exchange Club: Kassidy Klinger
Venedocia Lads and Lassies: Chloe Kroeger, Ava Milligan
Willshire Wide Awake: Katie Hauter
Chicken BBQ Sales Winners
Top Seller: Austin Arnold, 45 tickets
2nd Tie: - Kyra Welch and Luke Heffelfinger, 37 tickets each

Outstanding Livestocker Award
Sponsored by the Van Wert County Foundation
1st Place Abby Bradford
2nd Place Sam Price
3rd Place Cody Gamble
 
4-H Officer Books
Awards provided to the Top 3 Officer Books
Sponsored by the Van Wert County Foundation

President:
Ashley Dealey—Ohio Challengers
Betty Vorst—Venedocia Lads and Lassies
Brett Schumm—Barnyard Buddies
Jordan Rawlins—Canines and Critters
 
Vice President:
Curtis Swick—Canines and Critters
Hannah Kraner—Ohio City Blue Ribbon Workers
Kassidy Klinger—4-H Exchange Club
 
News Reporter:
Maddy Lamb—Ohio Challengers
 
Historian:
Melissa Joseph—Ohio Challengers
Ella Wilson– Venedocia Lads and Lassies
Courtney Mefferd—Udder Dairy
 
Health & Safety:
Allison Bowsher—Venedocia Lads and Lassies
Whitley Fast—Shooting Stars
Grace Brickner—York Commanders
 
Recreation:
Mackenzie Deitering—Jackson Lively
 
Community Service:
Makenzie Kraft—Jr. Leaders
 
Treasurer:
Samantha Klinger—Canines & Critters
Chloe Kroeger—Venedocia Lads and Lassies
Cassidy Deitering –Jackson Lively
Michael Joseph—Ohio Challengers
 
Secretary
Abigail Bonifas—Venedocia Lads and Lassies
McKenna Johnson—Barnyard Buddies
Leigh Benedele –Jr. Leaders
Austin Sheets—Barnyard Buddies
Community Service Award
1. Clever Clovers
2. Barnyard Buddies
3. Canines and Critters
Honorable Mention Community Service Award
Ohio Challengers
Venedocia Lads and Lassies
Jr. Leaders
Jackson Lively
Honor Clubs
Udder Dairy
Jackson Lively
Farmtastic
Venedocia Lads & Lassies
Champion Club
Shooting Stars
York Commanders
Jr. Leaders
Ohio Challengers
Clever Clovers
Barnyard Buddies
Bunny Hoppers
Ohio City Blue Ribbon Workers
Fourth “H” for Health
Barnyard Buddies
Ohio Challengers
 Community Service - Recognizes adults and youth 4-H volunteers whom have collaborated or cooperated with community or 4-H groups, or undertaken them with their own 4-H club or unit, community service projects or activities.
Individual— Mandi Scarlett
Group— Marie Markward—Van Wert Middle School After School Program
 
Friend of 4-H - An individual, family, business or corporation that supports the Ohio 4-H Program, in a charitable manner at the county, state, or national level.
Sue Hempfling
 
Hall of Fame -  Recognizes individuals who have made significant lifetime contributions of service to the 4-H program and who have also made an important positive impact upon clubs, communities, and the state 4-H program.
Rita Adam

 

Van Wert County Junior Fair Turkey Competition Results           

            Winners           Turkey

            Senior Turkey Showman Trophy           Won by:           Colton Lautzenheiser

            Sponsored by:            Delphos Pathfinders

            Intermediate Turkey Showman  Trophy           Won by:           Hannah Barnes

            Sponsored by:            Shooting Stars 4-H Club

            Junior Turkey Showman Trophy           Won by:          Avery Figley

            Sponsored by:          Delphos Pathfinders

            Champion Turkey Showman      Chair   Won by:           Colton Lautzenheiser

            Sponsored by:            Store & Haul Trucking

            Grand Champion Turkey Pen of Two  Trophy           Won by:           Colton Lautzenheiser

            Sponsored by:            Cooper Farms - Cooked Meats

            Grand Champion Turkey Pen Of Two  Banner           Won by:           Colton Lautzenheiser

            Sponsored by:            Cooper Farms - Cooked Meats

            Reserve Champion Turkey Pen of Two          Trophy           Won by:           Lillian Hempfling

            Sponsored by:            Cooper Farms - Cooked Meats

            Reserve Champion Turkey Pen Of Two          Banner           Won by:           Lillian Hempfling

            Sponsored by:            Cooper Farms - Cooked Meats

            Grand Champion Tom Turkey   Trophy           Won by:           Colton Lautzenheiser

            Sponsored by:            Cooper Farms - Cooked Meats

            Grand Champion Tom Turkey   Banner           Won by:           Colton Lautzenheiser

            Sponsored by:            Cooper Farms - Cooked Meats

            Reserve Champion Tom Turkey           Trophy           Won by:          Adelyn Figley

            Sponsored by:          Cooper Farms - Cooked Meats

            Reserve Champion Tom Turkey           Banner           Won by:          Adelyn Figley

            Sponsored by:          Cooper Farms - Cooked Meats

            Tom Trukey Flight 1 1st Place    Medallion       Won by:           Rayana Thatcher

            Sponsored by:            Staley Poultry Production LLC

            Tom Turkey Flight 1 2nd Place  Medallion       Won by:           Lindsey Barnes

            Sponsored by:            Van Wert SWCD

            Tom Turkey Flight 2 1st Place    Medallion       Won by:          Adelyn Figley

            Sponsored by:          Harrison Jolly Boosters

            Tom Turkey Flight 2 2nd Place  Medallion       Won by:           Hannah Barnes

            Sponsored by:            Gibson's Barnyard BBQ

            Tom Turkey Flight 3 1st Place    Medallion       Won by:           Samantha Klinger

            Sponsored by:            Staley Poultry Production LLC

            Tom Turkey Flight 3 2nd Place  Medallion       Won by:           Colt Marbaugh

            Sponsored by:            Staley Poultry Production LLC

            Tom Turkey Flight 4 1st Place    Medallion       Won by:           Colton Lautzenheiser

            Sponsored by:            Harrison Jolly Boosters

            Tom Turkey Flight 4 2nd Place  Medallion       Won by:           Lillian Hempfling

            Sponsored by:            Harrison Jolly Boosters

            Hen Turkey Flight 1 1st Place     Medallion       Won by:           Rayana Thatcher

            Sponsored by:            Staley Poultry Production LLC

            Hen Turkey Flight 1 2nd Place   Medallion       Won by:           Adalynn Longstreth

            Sponsored by:            Van Wert SWCD

            Hen Turkey Flight 2 1st Place     Medallion       Won by:           Hannah Barnes

            Sponsored by:            Harrison Jolly Boosters

            Hen Turkey Flight 2 2nd Place   Medallion       Won by:          Adelyn Figley

            Sponsored by:          Gibson's Barnyard BBQ

            Hen Turkey Flight 3 1st Place     Medallion       Won by:           Colton Lautzenheiser

            Sponsored by:            Staley Poultry Production LLC

            Hen Turkey Flight 3 2nd Place   Medallion       Won by:           Ean Scarlett

            Sponsored by:            Staley Poultry Production LLC

            Hen Turkey Flight 4 1st Place     Medallion       Won by:           Lillian Hempfling

            Sponsored by:            Harrison Jolly Boosters

            Hen Turkey Flight 4 2nd Place   Medallion       Won by:           Evan Scarlett

            Sponsored by:            Harrison Jolly Boosters

Boys golf at Jordan Moeller
by Coach Joe Falk

The Boys Golf team finished 9th out of 19 teams at the Jordan Moeller Invitational at the Mercer County Elks Golf Club on Saturday, September 16, 2017. Mason Baxter led the Panthers with a 90. Clayton Agler and Jack Wehe both shot 95 and Ashton Hamrick shot a 100.

Panther Boys Golf Loses to Ft. Loramie

By Coach Joe Falk

In team match play action on Monday September 18, 2017 the Panthers fell to Ft. Loramie by a score of 4 ½ to 1 ½.

Zach Pleiman (FL) defeated Mason Baxter (P) 3&2.

Mitchell Puthoff (FL) defeated Ashton Hamrick (P) 2&1.

Clayton Agler (P) tied Shea Swick (FL).

Eli Rosengarten (FL) defeated Jack Wehe (P) 2up.

Clay Eilerman (FL) defeated Duncan Morton (P) 3&2.

Seth Stukey (P) defeated Jared Middendorf (FL) 3&2.

Parkway is 10-5-1.

10th Annual Celebrate 4-H Camp Palmer Day-Free event! Camp Open House

Sunday, October 1 - 11 am-4 pm

The general public is invited to a day of celebration and fun geared to the whole family family and for all ages. The event will take place at 4-H Camp Palmer in Fulton County-26450 County Rd. MN, Fayette Ohio 43521. 4-H Camp Palmer owned and operated by 11 counties in northwest Ohio and also is an outreach of Ohio State University Extension. 

Please join us for a fun day!  Activities may include:  carnival games with pumpkin painting, wagon rides, camp store, zip line, rifle, nature center,

climbing tower, archery, gaga ball, canoeing, and flying squirrel ….

Free will offering picnic lunch will be provided on a first come, first serve   basis served from 12 noon-2:30 p.m. Also there will be craft and specialty

 vendors in Woodland lodge.  (more information on www.camppalmer.org)

October 8- 1:00 pm-5:00 pm-4-H Camp Palmer Shoot-open to public youth ages 9-18 years old. 4-H Camp Palmer is very appreciative for a generous

ODNR Grant, Division of Wildlife for Scholastic Steel targets, rifles, pistols

and additional equipment to improve our programs! Registrations are taking place for Shotgun or Scholastic Steel division for this event on first come, first serve basis-contact Chuck Wurth-419-237-2247 or wurth.6@osu.edu

Recently, Sauder Stewardship Foundation made a $6000 grant to rebuild the boys showers at the Sauder Recreation Hall. 4-H Camp Palmer board and staff are very thankful for this donation and others that have also reduced our pool loan to $43,000.  Donations can still be made to camp by calling 419-237-2247 or emailing 4hcamppalmer@gmail.com

 
September 18-19, 2017
 

Shanes Park, Rockford, OH

11:30 AM Blind Date to Entertain and Food Stand Opens

12:45 PM Chamber President Announcements & Free Will Offering

1 PM Parkway Jr/Sr High School Musical Selections from "High School Musical"

1:30 PM Blind Date Band

Bring your Lawn Chairs and Enjoy the Afternoon

Class of 1967 to Celebrate 50 Reunion
Special recognition kicks off the Parkway Class of '67 "Golden" 50th class reunion September 29 at the Friday night Parkway vs Coldwater home football game. Stop by the special Class of '67 hospitality tent.

Saturday September 30 activities begin at 1:00 p.m. with a look back in time at the Rockford Museum located downtown. Evening events will be held in the Rockford Community Building, Shanes Park. Registration begins at 5:00 with Social Hour from 5:00 to 6:00, giving everyone time to greet classmates and look over the pictures and memorabilia around the room. Dinner is at 6:00, followed at 7:00 by recognition of the special teachers who are joining us and taking of the class picture.  At 7:30 a special Veterans Memorial Tribute will be conducted to honor and remember our classmates who have given to the protection of our country and freedom.

If you were ever a part of the class please come and be included in the group picture. If you can't attend all of the events, please attend what you can. Contact Greg Schumm for any additional information 419-733-7596.

 
September 16-17, 2017
 

Parkway wins Golf Match September 14 against Minster
by Coach Joe Falk

Parkway 171 Minster 174 at Celina Lynx Golf Club (par 36)
Medalist was Clayton Agler (P) 39

MAC Scores: Parkway 6-2 MAC Minster 5-3 MAC

Parkway Scores: Clayton Agler 39; Mason Baxter 40; Ashton Hamrick 45; Jack Wehe 47

Minster Scores: Logan Lazier 42; Joseph Magoto 42; Grant Voisard 44; Adam Knapke 46

JV Match: Minster 201; Parkway 239

Parkway Girls Winn Against Minster on September 14, 2017
by Coach Teri Samples
The Parkway Girls Golf team was narrowly defeated by Minster in MAC action 211-216.  Taylor Homan was Medalist for Minster.  Other scorers were:  Hannah Koenig with a 47, Paige Phillips with a 56, and Kaycee Wissman had a 64.

For the Panthers, Mecaylah Hesse was the lowest scorer with a 52, followed by a 53 by Autumn Ellis, Lauren Henderson had a 55, and Haylee Stukey finished with a 56.

OVI Checkpoint Held on State Route 118 in Van Wert 

Van Wert - The Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, in conjunction with the Van Wert Police Department, conducted an OVI checkpoint on State Route 118, south of Fox Road in Van Wert.

The OVI checkpoint, funded by federal grant funds, was designed to deter and intercept impaired drivers.  The checkpoint included nearby saturation patrols that aggressively targeted alcohol and drug related violations.

A total of 330 vehicles passed through the checkpoint and no drivers were found to be impaired.

 
September 15, 2017
 

Parkway Schools are on a 2 hour delay due to fog for Friday, September 15, 2017

Thank you to Henkle Insurance for sponsoring the PWI Weather Link! 

Men’s Prostate Cancer Group to Review Cyberknife Treatment

Man to Man is a group to support men who have been diagnosed with or have been treated for prostate cancer or who would like more information about prostate cancer.  At the next meeting there will be a presentation on the relatively new treatment for prostate cancer called Cyberknife.  The presentation will explain the treatment and discuss the pros and cons. The meeting will be held at 7:00PM on Tuesday, September 19th at the Joint Township District Memorial Hospital. The atmosphere is casual and all interested men are invited to attend.  For more information contact Dick Falkner, facilitator, at 419-629-9950 or mantoman@nktelco.net.

Rockford Bicentennial Committee Seeking Auction Donations

Donations are now being accepted by the Rockford Bicentennial Committee for the Bicentennial Auction slated for Saturday, April 21, 2018 at the Rockford Community Building.  The proceeds will fund the year-long celebration activities for the Rockford Bicentennial during 2020.

The committee is accepting preferably new items of collectibles, hand-crafted items, sports memorabilia, fishing equipment, hunting accessories, athletic equipment, home decorating items, art pieces, outdoor living items, or other auction-appropriate pieces.  Very gently used items will be accepted only if those items are in excellent condition.  Clothing items will not be accepted.  We would also appreciate gift certificates to be used at area retailers.

Items can be dropped off at the Rockford Village Office during regular business hours, or if items are too large to drop off, please contact the office for pick-up arrangements at 419-363-3032.

It’s never too early to start considering donation to the Bicentennial Auction next Spring, so please consider what you can do to help out this worthy cause.  We hope to see you participating in the many activities being scheduled for the 2020 Rockford Bicentennial celebration, and thank you for doing your part to make this celebration a grand success!

 
September 13-14, 2017
 

Baltzell Attends Stem Leadership Conference in Massachusetts

Joseph Baltzell, a junior at Celina High School, attended the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders held at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell Massachusetts June 29, 30 and July 1, 2017.

Baltzell was invited to attend along with 1500 other teens from around the country.

The Congress is an honors-only program for high school students who are passionate about science, technology, engineering or mathematics. The purpose of this event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country who aspire to be scientists and technologists, to stay true to their dream and, after the event, to provide a path, plan and resources to help them reach their goal.

Baltzell was nominated by Dr. John C. Mather, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics, and Science Director of the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists to represent Celina High School based on his academic achievement, leadership potential and passion for science and technology.

During the three-day Congress, Joe Baltzell joined students from across the country and heard Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science recipients talk about leading scientific research; was given advice from deans of the world’s top tech universities; was inspired by fellow teen science prodigies; and learned about and actually saw demonstrations of cutting-edge advances and the future of science and technology.

Among the leaders he heard were Nobel Prize winners: David Wineland, Ph.D. and Sheldon Glasgow, Ph.D.; and John C. Mather, PhD. He also met the  Master of Ceremonies and  founder of the Congress, Richard Rossi. (See Photo).

Joe Baltzell was sponsored by several organizations in Celina, family members, and friends in order to travel to and attend the Congress. An Honor Student at Celina High School, he is active in National Honor Society and the TEAMS (Test of Engineering Aptitude in Mathematics and Science). He is a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and a brown belt in Karate.

Joe Baltzell is the son of Chris and Leslie Baltzell of Celina.

Chili Cook-off
Parkway Wrestling will be hosting a chili cook off on October 14th in the High School cafeteria. Those that are interested in joining may fill out and return the entry form from the Parkway website www.parkwayschools.org

There will be chili bowls for sale for $10 at the next home football game. The bowls have the custom Parkway log on them. These bowls will be free entry into the cookoff, cost of entry without the bowl is $7. We look forward to seeing everyone there to help us crown the Champion Chili Recipe.

 
September 12, 2017
 

Parkway High School/Middle School Yearbooks have Arrived

The 2016-2017 Parkway High School/Middle School Yearbooks have arrived. Graduated seniors who purchased books may pick them up in the high school office. A limited supply of extra yearbooks are available for sale on a first come, first serve basis for $60. There is also a limited supply of extra books from previous years available for only $25 each. If you are not sure if you purchased a book, or are interested in purchasing a yearbook, please contact Curtis Hamrick at hamricc@parkwayschools.org or by calling the high school office at 419-363-3045.

Preschool to Start at Rockford Library

P.L.A.Y. group, Rockford Carnegie Library's preschool program, will be starting next Tuesday, September 19th at 10:30.  This program is held every Tuesday morning for an hour.  The children play, make a craft and listen to stories.  All preschoolers are welcome and the program is free.

Please call (419-363-2630) or stop by the library to register so we can be better prepared. 

The Parkway Chapter - National Honor Society Induction Ceremony will be held on Sunday, September 24 at 2:30 in the High School Auditorium. This event in open to the public.

 
September 9-11, 2017
 

Observe Patriot Day

On the direction of the President, the flag of the United States of America should be displayed on the homes of Americans, the White House and all United States government buildings in the whole world. The flag should be flown at half-staff as a mark of respect to those who died on September 11, 2001. Many people observe a moment of silence at 8:46 AM (Eastern Daylight Time). This marks the time that the first plane flew into the World Trade Center. Some communities, particularly in the areas directly affected by the attacks, hold special church services or prayer meetings. People who personally experienced the events in 2001 or lost loved ones in them, may lay flowers or visit memorials.

Lake Area Arts Group to Meet at 6 PM

September 11, 2017 at the Mercer County District Library.

1.    Showing a creation of art and welcomes including three creations
       by Todd Buschur who will be in attendance.
2.    Reactions to the LAAG Fair Booth
3.    September 27 Spectrum with Peggy Green
4.    Brochures and school year program with Carol Hone
5.    Pep talk with Mayor Jeff Hazel of Celina and the arts
6.    Showing of a YouTube involving Ray Feltz
7.    Informal sharing time

Parkway Board of Education to Meet on September 12, 2017 - Click here to see Agenda by Sally Cox

 
September 8, 2017
 

Parkway FFA will be collecting water and cleaning supplies
for hurricane victims at the Football Game Friday (9-8-2017).
Drop off at South Ticket Gate.
 

Big Brothers Big Sisters Needs Volunteers for Lunch Club Program

Big Brothers Big Sisters need volunteers to be a Big for its Lunch Club.  This program is about to begin its third year in Parkway Elementary and Middle School.  In this program, volunteers would meet with a child from Parkway for lunch and activities twice a month.  Each visit the volunteers would spend time with their Little during the child’s lunch.  Matches would then have some free time together.  During the free time, the activities could talking, making a craft, playing a board game, building a model, or playing on the playground.  The program will begin in September and run through the school year.

Volunteers must be able to meet with a child twice a month for about 45 min during the students’ lunch periods.  Volunteers will be able to decide which day they would like to attend.  Volunteers will bring their own lunch or eat at another time. Big Brothers Big Sisters will supply a box of items to use during the free time activities.

The Littles are 1st-6th grade students from Parkway Elementary & Middle School who it is thought could use a special friend and someone to spend time with them, YOU!  They are looking forward to spending time with a special friend on a regular basis.  We do not want to turn any students away because of a lack of volunteers.

To participate in this program or for more information, please contact Big Brothers Big Sisters at 419-584-2447, 1-866-670-BBBS, or e-mail:  neberle@bbbsma.com. 

It doesn’t take a lot to make a BIG difference in a life of a Parkway Elementary or Middle School Student. 

Fall Fest Coming to Otterbein

Otterbein St. Marys is planning their annual FALL Fest for Saturday, October 14^th from 11 am to 2 pm in the Meyer Community Room.

Everyone is invited to this event with the following activities, food and entertainment:

OPEN HOUSES                                                                                                        

DOOR PRIZES

FACE PAINTING                

ARTS & CRAFTS

HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES                            

APPLE PRESS DEMONSTRATIONS

LUNCH along with other FALL TREATS

ENTERTAINMENT BY “THE MULESKINNER BAND”

The Parkway Class of 1992 To Celebrate With Reunion

The Parkway Class of 1992 is celebrating their 25 year class reunion on the weekend of October 6 and 7. It all begins Friday night, October 6 at the Parkway Homecoming Football game vs. Versailles. The Homecoming festivities at Panther Stadium begin at 7:00 PM with the game following at 7:30 PM. The first 6 rows of the South Section of the Home bleachers will be reserved for the Class of 1992. 

Then on Saturday October 7 at 7:00 PM, classmates can reunite at Brew Nation on Main Street in Celina for appetizers and cocktails. There will be space reserved for the reception and a live band. No RSVP is necessary and all food orders and beverages will be at cost to attendees. Dinner can be ordered until 8:00 PM and fire baked pizza until 10:00 PM. 

Class Motto: In our hearts we hold today. In our dreams we hold tomorrow. In our memories we hold forever.

Organizer Needed for Shanes Park Christmas Decorating

Shanes Park Board is looking for someone to take leadership of 
decorating Shanes Park for the Christmas Season.  Decorating supplies
and lights from previous years are available to use. 

Anyone or organization that is interested is asked to contact the 
Rockford Village office at 419-363-3032 ext 1.    

 
September 6-7, 2017
 

PLC Health Clinic’s Walk for Life and Grand Opening

The PLC Health Clinic’s Walk for Life and Grand Opening will take place on Sunday September 10th at 2pm at the PLC (215 N. Market St. Van Wert).  Everyone is invited to attend this special event and help raise the $45,000 needed.  Walk forms can  be found at Van Wert area churches and on the PLC website www.plchealthclinic.org.  Pictured are representatives of area businesses and churches that sponsored the walk at the gold level.  From the left: Sam Scott, First United Brethren in Christ Church, Jan Keipper, Catholic Ladies of Columbia, Robin Farris, P&R Medical Connection and P&R Home IV Service, Beth Cook, John C. Cook, DDS, Marcia German, Century Trading Company, Kevin Laing, Kevin Laing, DDS, Pastor David Ray, Jennings Road Church of Christ, and Trina Langdon, PLC Executive Director.

Girls Parkway Golf Defeats Ft. Recovery on August 31, 2017

By Coach Teri Samples

In MAC play at the Mercer County Elks, Parkway Girls Golf defeated Fort Recovery 215-243.  Haylee Stukey shot a 50 to earn Medalist.  Other scorers for the Lady Panthers were:  Mecaylah Hesse and Lauren Henderson both carded 54's, and Madison Kroeger and Autumn Ellis added 57's.  Emma Gause had a 68 on the night.

Kristen Keller led the way for Fort Recovery with a 53.  Becca Wood added a 61, Eryn Litner carded a 63, and Alli Vaugn finished with a 66.

Parkway Girls Golf defeated by Versailles in MAC action on August 29, 2017
The Parkway Girls Golf team suffered their first MAC loss of the season, falling to Versailles, 195-227.  Jorja Pothast, of Versailles, was Medalist shooting a 44.  Other scorers for Versailles were Lauren Durham with a 46, Morgan Heitkamp with a 52, closely followed by Anna Groff's 53.

Leading Parkway was Haylee Stukey who shot a 49.  Lauren Henderson followed with a 54, Mecaylah Hesse had a 56, and Madison Kroeger finished the scoring with a 68.  Non-scoring Panthers were:  Autumn Ellis 69 and Emma Gause 77.

Property Value Estimates for 2017 Revaluation Available

CELINA - Mercer County Auditor Randy Grapner has announced that property value estimates for the 2017 Revaluation are now available for review. The new property values can be found on the auditor’s website at: http://www2.mercercountyohio.org/auditor/ParcelSearch/ or by calling the auditor’s office at (419) 586-6402 from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm Monday – Friday. Auditor Grapner is offering both an online and in-person Informal Value Review to provide taxpayers the opportunity to review and have questions answered regarding their new property valuation. The online Informal Value Review will be available September 1, 2017 – September 30, 2017 and can be found at http://mercercounty.propertyrevaluations.com. This site will provide frequently asked questions and a response form to ask questions or share concerns about a property’s valuation. Appraisal staff will be available for Informal Value Review in the Mercer County Auditor’s office, 101 N. Main Street, Celina, on Wednesday, September 20 from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm and Thursday, September 21 from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm.

Limberlost to host ‘Twilight Adventure’

State Historic Site to offer twilight hike through the Loblolly Marsh

GENEVA, Ind. – The public is invited to the Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. to enjoy the beauty of fall wildflowers and learn about the creatures that roam Limberlost as the sun goes down. The Twilight Adventure will begin at the Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve parking lot, located at 8323 N. 250W, which is a half mile north of Highway 18 on county road 250W, 3.5 miles west of Bryant, Ind.

Limberlost State Historic Site naturalists will lead the twilight hike and when the sun sets, participants will gather at the Loblolly Pavilion. Families are encouraged to attend to watch a wildlife program, reach into “mystery boxes” to see if they can guess what’s inside, try out bionic ears, test night vision equipment, make crafts and roast marshmallows. 

The program is $4 per adult, $3 per child.

Twilight Adventure is sponsored by Berne Ready Mix and Bixler Insurance of Berne, Ind. 

Parkway Boys Golf on September 5, 2017

By Coach Joe Falk

In a non-league dual match, the Lincolnview Lancers beat the Parkway Panthers 179-191 at the Celina Lynx Golf Club (par 36) Medalist was Lincolnview's Ryan Moody with a 40 while low man for the Panthers was Mason Baxter with a 41. Parkway is now 5-3-1 on the season.

Parkway Scores

Lincolnview Scores

Parkway Boys Golf at Versailles Invitational

By Coach Joe Falk

The Parkway Boys Golf team finished the Versailles Invitational at Stillwater Valley Golf Club (par 72) with a score of 364, which was good for 9th place out of 20 teams, Scoring leader for the Panthers was Clayton Agler with an 86. Mason Baxter was next lowest for Parkway with a score of 91, followed closely by Jack Wehe with a 93 and Ashton Hamrick who carded a 94. Duncan Morton shot a 96 and Seth Stukey a 111 for the Panthers as well.

Tournament Medalist was Kyle Naumann of St. Henry who shot a 75.

1st. St Henry 341 won on 5th man score.

2nd Anna 341

3rd Minster 342

4th Delphos St. Johns 344

5th Sidney Lehman 348

6th Graham 349

7th Franklin Monroe 353

8th Versailles A 359

9th PARKWAY 364

10th Milton Union 367

11th Miami East 371

12th Russia 375

13th Coldwater 377

14th New Bremen 408

15th Marion Local 410

16th National Trail 414

17th Covington 418

18th Miami East B 451

19th Bradford 490

20th Versailles B 497

Parkway Boys Golf vs. Ft. Recovery on August 31, 2017
By Coach Joe Falk

At the Celina Lynx Golf Club (par 36) the Parkway Boys Golf team defeated the Ft. Recovery Indians by a score of 189-204, in very windy conditions. Match medalist was the Panthers' Mason Baxter with a 43. Jack Wehe was next for the Panthers with a 48 and Ashton Hamrick and Duncan Morton both shot a 49 to finish the scoring for the Panthers. Clayton Agler shot a 50 and Jared Gibson a 58. Parkway is now 4-1 in the MAC and 5-2-1 overall.

Ft. Recovery

Parkway Boys Golf vs St. Henry and Ottoville on August 30, 2017

By Coach Joe Falk

In a tri-match at Delphos Country Club (par 35) the Parkway Boys Golf team came in second, St. Henry shot a 156, Parkway, a 174 and Ottoville a 188. Co-medalist were Kyle Naumann (SH) and Jack Romer (SH), with a pair of 37s. Low man for Parkway was Mason Baxter with a 40 and leading the way for Ottoville was Andy Schimmoller with a 38. Parkway is now 3-2-1 on the season, St. Henry is 6-0 and Ottoville is 6-6.

Parkway Scores

St. Henry Scores

Ottoville Scores

BECOME AN OSU EXTENSION MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER THIS FALL!

The Master Gardener Volunteer (MGV) Program is a national and international organization designed to provide opportunities for gardening enthusiasts of all types and levels to acquire training in numerous aspects of gardening and landscaping, to develop long-lasting friendships with other MGVs, to learn from other MGVs, and to provide an outlet for those who wish to serve their communities through a unique form of volunteering.  Ohio State University MGVs work together with The Ohio State University Extension to provide such services to their communities as answering gardening questions, beautifying the community, developing community or demonstration gardens, and other horticultural activities.

Applications are being accepted for the MGV Training Class of 2017. OSU MGVs are initially given 50 hours of training on information pertaining to gardens, landscapes, plants, diseases, insects and more!  But the training does not stop after the initial training programs.  Opportunities for many types of continuing education are provided through multiple training programs offered through OSU Extension both locally and statewide.  After the training class is completed, new MGV interns are to provide 50 hours of volunteer service to the community as volunteer educators. Even though this sounds like a lot of time, it is not difficult to fulfill this requirement.  In fact most quickly exceed this number long before the end of their first year of service.

Van Wert County MGVs have developed The Children’s Garden, located in Smiley Park on Old Tile Factory Road in Van Wert to provide an outdoor learning lab for children of all ages.  Additional projects include: a Garden of the Senses in downtown Van Wert, a garden bus tour, and more.

The 2017 MGV Training class will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 9:30 beginning October 3rd and ending November 21st. Classes will be held in The Van Wert County Extension Meeting Room.

Classes will cover a multitude of topics including: Basic Botany, Soil Science, Fruits and Vegetables, Diagnostics, Herbs, Annuals and Perennials, Trees and Shrubs, Entomology, Houseplants, Landscape Maintenance, Plant Pathology, and Pesticide Safety and Use. 

For more information on cost and how to obtain an application for the MGV program in Van Wert County contact Rachel Hoverman at 419-238-1214 or email at hoverman.22@osu.edu.

Christmas Classic On Sale at Niswonger

(Van Wert, OH) - As we inch closer to the premier of season ELEVEN at The Niswonger, the excitement continues to build for all of the electrifying events to come. The second Christmas event of the 17-18 season is on sale now! Join your favorite reindeer for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer The Musical, Friday, December 1 at 7:30 PM presented by Jeffery-Mohr Family Dentistry.

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer soars off the screen and onto the stage this holiday season. Come see all of your favorite characters from the special including Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and, of course, Rudolph, as they come to life in this classic Christmas tale.

It's an adventure that teaches us that what makes you different can be what makes you special. Adapted for the stage by Robert Penola, the show faithfully follows Romeo Muller's teleplay: Reindeer couple Donner and Mrs. Donner beget Rudolph, a spunky young reindeer with a curious birth defect: Instead of coal-black, his nose glows bright red like a lightbulb (the original TV airing was sponsored by General Electric). Donner tries to help his son fit in by masking his nose in a black sock during the reindeer games, an annual event during which Santa scouts young reindeer for their flying ability. Unfortunately, Rudolph's sock falls off, leading all of the Reindeer to laugh and call him names. With no prospect of making Santa's sleigh team, Rudolph and dentist wannabe elf Hermey flee Christmas town, eventually meeting prospector Yukon Cornelius and a whole island of misfit toys. But with a massive winter storm about to hit the North Pole, Santa might just find a use for Rudolph after all.

Along with Presenting Sponsor Jeffery-Mohr Dentistry, Supporting Sponsors for this event include Westwood Behavioral Health Center, Mercer In-Sight Family Eye Care and Van Wert Family Eye Care. This event is yet another in the NPAC KIDS Series sponsored by The Robideau Family. Sponsorship is made complete by our 17-18 Season Sponsors Chuck & Karen Koch, StateWide Ford Lincoln, and Van Wert Federal Savings Bank.

Tickets to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer The Musical can be purchased through the Box Office Monday - Friday, Noon - 4 PM at 419-238-6722 and online at NPACVW.ORG

The Niswonger Performing Arts Center is located at 10700 SR 118 South, Van Wert, Ohio.

 
September 5, 2017
 

Parkway September 2017 Breakfast and Lunch Menus by Pam Smith

Athletic Booster Club Meeting in Community Room at 6:30 on September 5, 2017

Rockford Bicentennial Fund Raiser

Mercer County Genealogical Society to Meet

The Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society will meet Sunday September 10  at 2:00pm at the Richardson Bretz Building for a short business meeting.  After the quick meeting the group will walk over to the Mercer County Library.  The rest of the meeting will be a chance to use the facilities for research. This is a good opportunity for people unfamiliar with the library’s genealogy resources.  The meeting is free and the public is welcome.

Van Wert, OH Off Stage Productions Inc to Present Play

“The Queen of Bingo” will be presented at the American Legion Post 178, located at 631 W. Main St. in Van Wert.  Show dates are as follows:  Sunday Brunch Matinees – October 15th & 22nd, (doors open at 12:30 pm, meal at 1:00 pm), “Popcorn Performance” – Sunday, Oct 15 (doors open at 6:30 pm, show at 7:00pm), and Friday & Saturday Dinner Shows – October 20th & 21st and October 27th & 28th (doors open at 6:30 pm, dinner at 7:00 pm).  All shows, with the exception of the “Popcorn Performance”, include a delicious and elegant buffet dinner provided by Romer’s Catering of Celina, Ohio.  The ticket price is $28 per person, and tables of eight are available.  Ticket price for the "Popcorn Night" on October 15th is $12 and includes fresh popcorn, lemonade and water. Reservations can be made beginning September 25th for OSP members and September 27th for the General Public by calling (419) 605-6708. Box office hours are 10:00 am till 6:00 pm daily starting on those dates.

Van Wert Fair Horse Results

Winners         Horse

            Cloverleaf Barrels 14-19     Plaque           Won by:         Reagan Priest

            Sponsored by:          Bill and Mary Fallis

            Cones and Barrels 14-19   Plaque           Won by:         Paige Motycka

            Sponsored by:          Riverside Acres Tack Shop, St. Marys, OH

            Cones and Barrels 9-13     Trophy            Won by:         Paige Smith

            Sponsored by:          Senior Fair Board

            Keyhole 14-19          Trophy            Won by:         Cassie Priest

            Sponsored by:          Wrenco Trophy and Sportswear

            Keyhole 9-13            Trophy            Won by:         Paige Smith

            Sponsored by:          Greif

            Poles 14-19   Plaque           Won by:         Cassie Priest

            Sponsored by:          Bill and Mary Fallis

            Flags 14-19   Trophy            Won by:         Adalynn Longstreth

            Sponsored by:          Allie and Bill Kuhlman

            Western Showmanship 9-11         Plaque           Won by:         Tazmin Archer

            Sponsored by:          Vancrest of Convoy

            Champion Horse Showman          Chair  Won by:         Cassie Priest

            Sponsored by:          Bill and Mary Fallis

            Novice Horsemanship 9-19           Trophy            Won by:         Breck Evans

            Sponsored by:          Dick and Margaret Miller

            Western Horsemanship 9-13         Trophy            Won by:         Tazmin Archer

            Sponsored by:          Ayers Mechanical Group

            Trail 9-13       Trophy            Won by:         Adalynn Longstreth

            Sponsored by:          Senior Fair Board

            Single Hith Draft Driving Pony/Horse      Trophy            Won by:         Paige Smith

            Sponsored by:          Horse in Harness

            Sunday, September 03, 2017        Page 1 of 1

Van Wert Fair Rabbit Results

Winners         Rabbits

            Champion Junior Showman         Trophy            Won by:         Holden Thornell

            Sponsored by:          Nancy Dixon

            Champion Intermediate Showman          Trophy            Won by:         Allison Hauter

            Sponsored by:          Farm Credit Mid-America

            Champion Senior Showman         Trophy            Won by:         Caton Williamson

            Sponsored by:          Shooting Stars 4-H Club

            Champion Rabbit Showman         Chair  Won by:         Hunter Gillespie

            Sponsored by:          Triple L Farms

            Champion Junior Skill-a-thon       Trophy            Won by:         Austin Bockrath

            Sponsored by:          Rick McCoy

            Champion Intermediate Skill-a-thon        Trophy            Won by:         Holden Thornell

            Sponsored by:          Triple L Farms

            Champion Senior Skill-a-thon      Trophy            Won by:         Alicia Rist

            Sponsored by:          Mercer Landmark, Middle Point

            Champion Single Fryer      Trophy            Won by:         Kiersten Druckemiller

            Sponsored by:          The Klinger Family

            Grand Champion Single Fryer      Banner           Won by:         Kiersten Druckemiller

            Sponsored by:          The Don  and Susan Mosier Family

            Reserve Champion Single Fryer  Trophy            Won by:         Jacob Druckemiller

            Sponsored by:          The Klinger Family

            Reserve Champion Single Fryer  Banner           Won by:         Jacob Druckemiller

            Sponsored by:          Mike & Diane Owens

            Champion Meat Pen           Trophy            Won by:         Madelyn Lamb

            Sponsored by:          Convoy Tastee Freeze

            Grand Champion Meat Pen           Banner           Won by:         Madelyn Lamb

            Sponsored by:          The Finishing Touch

            Reserve Champion Meat Pen       Trophy            Won by:         Hunter Gillespie

            Sponsored by:          Ned Young Family

            Reserve Champion Meat Pen       Banner           Won by:         Hunter Gillespie

            Sponsored by:          The Finishing Touch

            Champion Doe and Litter   Trophy            Won by:         Hunter Gillespie

            Sponsored by:          Sponsored by: Aaron and Ashley Knittle

            Reserve Doe & Litter           Trophy            Won by:         Allison Hauter

            Sponsored by:          Greif

            Best of Breed-Rex   Trophy            Won by:         Hunter Gillespie

            Sponsored by:          Westwood Family Dental

            Best of Breed-Californian  Trophy            Won by:         Hunter Gillespie

            Sponsored by:          Ag Credit

            Best of Breed-Dutch            Trophy            Won by:         Dakotah Nihiser

            Sponsored by:          Liberty Acres Rabbitry

            Best of Breed-Dwarf Hotot Trophy            Won by:         Melissa Hauter

            Sponsored by:          Farmers Grain & AG LLC

            Best of Breed-Champange D'Argent       Trophy            Won by:         Hunter Gillespie

            Sponsored by:          Flat Lands Supply

            Best Of Breed-Flemish Giant         Trophy            Won by:         sidney jenkins

            Sponsored by:          Van Wert Co. Township Association

            Best of Breed-Florida White           Trophy            Won by:         Austin Bockrath

            Sponsored by:          Vaeda , Gretchen & Ahnika Heizman

            Best of Breed-Crème D'Argent      Trophy            Won by:         Lauren Henderson

            Sponsored by:          Leaders of the Future 4-H Club

            Best of Breed-Tan    Trophy            Won by:         Austin Bockrath

            Sponsored by:          Westwood Family Dental

            Best of Breed-Havana        Trophy            Won by:         Kaiven Welch

            Sponsored by:          Canine and Criters 4-H Club

            Best of Breed-Himalayan   Trophy            Won by:         Tori Swick

            Sponsored by:          Klinger's Rabbitry

            Best of Breed-Holland Lop Trophy            Won by:         Kyra Welch

            Sponsored by:          Rob, Jacque, Katelyn, Kyra, Kaiven,Keiley and Keaten

            Best of Breed-Mini Lop       Trophy            Won by:         Allison Hauter

            Sponsored by:          Greg Rickard & Family

            Best of Breed-Jersey Wooley        Trophy            Won by:         Josie Williamson

            Sponsored by:          Venedocia Lads & Lassies

            Best of Breed-Mini Rex       Trophy            Won by:         Curtis Swick

            Sponsored by:          Candy Osborn

            Best of Breed-Mini Satin    Trophy            Won by:         Ethan Lugabihl

            Sponsored by:          Venedocia Lads & Lassies

            Best of Breed-Mixed Breed            Trophy            Won by:         Lana Carey

            Sponsored by:          Alan & Shayna DeLong Family

            Best of Breed-Netherland Dwarf   Trophy            Won by:         Madelyn Lamb

            Sponsored by:          The Robert McClure  Family

            Best of Breed-New Zealand          Trophy            Won by:         Allison Hauter

            Sponsored by:          Kyle & Christie Wendel

            Best of Breed-Polish           Trophy            Won by:         Madelyn Lamb

            Sponsored by:          Westwood Family Dental

            Best of Breed-Rex   Trophy            Won by:         Holden Thornell

            Sponsored by:          Hoover's Garage

            Best of Breed-Satin Trophy            Won by:         Allison Hauter

            Sponsored by:          Rick McCoy

            Best of Breed-Sliver Fox     Trophy            Won by:         Austin Bockrath

            Sponsored by:          Greif

            Best of Breed-Silver Marten           Trophy            Won by:         Taylor Post

            Sponsored by:          Thomas Edison Workshop

            Best of Breed-Harlequin     Trophy            Won by:         Dakotah Nihiser

            Sponsored by:          The Steve Holden Family

            Best In Show            Trophy            Won by:         Hunter Gillespie

            Sponsored by:          Raabe Ford Lincoln

            Second Best In Show         Trophy            Won by:         Austin Bockrath

            Sponsored by:          In Memory of Carl Lape

            Runner-up Best 4 Class     Trophy            Won by:         Curtis Swick

            Sponsored by:          Pond Seed Company

            Runner-up Best 6 Class     Trophy            Won by:         Allison Hauter

            Sponsored by:          Pond Seed Company

            Best of Breed-Thrianta        Trophy            Won by:         Dakota Thornell

            Sponsored by:          Thomas Edison Workshop

Health Department Warns of Phone Call Scam Seeking Personal Information

Callers use caller ID spoofing technology to appear to call from credible sources

COLUMBUS – The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is warning of a phone scam where callers posing as health department staff are asking for personal information that the department would never seek over the phone. The callers use caller ID spoofing technology to make it appear that they are calling from a credible phone number, including from ODH and at least one Ohio local health department. In addition to posing as ODH staff, some callers have said that they are calling on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or a hospital or other healthcare provider. The callers often have some personal information about the individuals they are calling, such as name, date of birth, address and the name of the person’s physician. Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim of a phone scam: ▪ If you get an inquiry from someone who says they represent a company or a government agency seeking personal information, hang up and find a phone number on the company's or government agency's website to call to verify the authenticity of the request. ▪ Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mother's maiden name, passwords or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or if you are at all suspicious. ▪ Use caution if you are being pressured for information immediately. • You can block the caller’s phone number to try to prevent follow up calls – although the caller may call back from a different phone number. • File a complaint online with the Federal Trade Commission at www.FTC.gov/complaint. Since this scam includes caller ID spoofing of a state agency, the Ohio Highway Patrol is investigating these calls.

 
September 1-4, 2017
 

Happy Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day comes around at summer’s end to celebrate to workers in the United States.

Celebrated on the first Monday in September, Labor Day is one of just 10 federal holidays in the United States and pays tribute to the American workers movement.

But while it is celebrated in modern times with BBQs, holidays and sales shopping, the holiday came out of a long battle for workers’ rights in the country.

 
August 30-31, 2017
 

Parkway School Sports Cancellations

All Junior High games and practices are cancelled for Wednesday, August 30, 2017

High School Volleyball Practice at 3:00, Cross Country at 3:30 and Football practice at 4
are cancelled for Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Panther Volleyball Camp is cancelled for Wednesday, August 30, 2017

High School Boys golf match for Wednesday, August 30, 2017 is on

High School Girls golf practice is at the Lynx at noon for Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Rockford Chamber of Commerce Minutes by Lisa Kuhn

http://www.rockfordalive.com/category/news/minutes/rcoc-minutes/

Parkway Schools are now closed for Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Parkway Schools are on a 2 hour delay due to fog for Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Widespread fog affecting many schools.

Thank you to Henkle Insurance for sponsoring the PWI Weather Link!

Parkway Class of 1992 to Celebrate 25^th with Reunion

The Parkway Class of 1992 is celebrating their 25 year class reunion on the weekend of October 6 and 7. It all begins Friday night, October 6 at the Parkway Homecoming Football game vs. Versailles. The Homecoming festivities at Panther Stadium begin at 7:00 PM with the game following at 7:30 PM. The first 6 rows of the South Section of the Home bleachers will be reserved for the Class of 1992. Then on Saturday October 7 at 7:00 PM, classmates can reunite at Brew Nation on Main Street in Celina for appetizers and cocktails. There will be space reserved for the reception and a live band. No RSVP is necessary and all food orders and beverages will be at cost to attendees. Dinner can be ordered until 8:00 PM and fire baked pizza until 10:00 AM. Bring your memories and laughter. No official invitation is being mailed. Please do share this message with any Class Member that you know of 1992.
Class Motto: In our hearts we hold today. In our dreams we hold tomorrow. In our memories we hold forever.

New Welcome Sign Completed

The Village of Rockford would like to thank the Rockford Chamber and the area
organizations for helping raise funds and construct the 4th  "Welcome to Rockford"
sign located at 118 North.   The Village also thanks Barb Rogers and Al Brandt for letting
us locate the sign on their property.   

ROCKFORD VILLAGE RESIDENTS –


DID YOU KNOW~~~    YOU CAN PURCHASE LARGE ITEM TRASH TICKETS AT THE VILLAGE OFFICE?    

MOST TICKET ITEMS ARE $5.00.   

THE TICKET IS THEN PUT ON THE LARGE TRASH ITEM AND PUT OUT WITH YOUR TRASH ON THURSDAYS.

IT’S A GREAT WAY TO CLEAN UP AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE. !

Calvary K’Motion (Kids In Motion)

Calvary K’Motion (Kids In Motion) is gearing up for another season of mid-week programming for preschoolers and elementary kids. From September 6 through May 16, 6:30-7:45PM weekly, kids from the community are invited to be a part of Calvary’s K’Motion where each month a new theme challenges kids to apply Bible lessons to their everyday lives.

Every week, boys and girls will hear a Bible story through interactive teaching; will experience worship through high energy music and movement; will take the lesson to a new level through a creative, fun activity; will connect to their peers and small group leaders through conversation and prayer.

Parents are asked to walk their children into the church and check them in to ensure safety. Calvary is located at 10686 Van Wert Decatur Rd. in Van Wert. For more information, contact Children’s Ministry Director Carrie Pauquette at carrie@calvaryelife.org or visit www.calvaryelife.org.

Colonial Nursing Center Joins Celina/Mercer County Chamber of Commerce

Colonial Nursing Center strives to provide the highest level of care with compassion and respect. Going above and beyond to meet the unique needs of residents and their families. They pride themselves in maintaining a professional and reputable nursing facility, with a home like environment. Colonial Nursing Center's nursing staff is highly trained and dedicated to care for all your loved one's needs. They offer 24-hour nursing care for long-term residents who can no longer live safely at home. Colonial Nursing Center offers a full schedule of social and recreational activities, making your loved one feel right at home. Colonial Nursing Center's therapy staff will help your loved one create an individualized plan of care to meet their goals and achieve their highest level of independence. Their staff is dedicated to helping the patient improve their overall quality of life. Colonial Nursing Center is located at 201 Buckeye Street Rockford, OH, 45882 and can be reached at (419) 363-2193.

Memorial Books Donated to Mercer County Library

Sonnie Bernardi (left), University Women’s Club President, recently presented two memorial books in the name of the club’s late president, Rebecca Lytle. The club memorializes their members in this way and truly appreciated Becky’s leadership. The titles chosen are: Breaking Through Bias: Communication Techniques for Women to Succeed at Work and She Means Business: Turn Your Ideas into Reality and Become a Wildly Successful Entrepreneur. These books have Memorial Book Plates in each in Becky’s name and are ready for check-out at the Celina Mercer County Library. Center, Elizabeth Muether, library director, accepts the books, as club member Sheila Baltzell looks on.

The Rockford Bicentennial Committee will be meeting on Monday, September 11th at
the Village Hall and Museum at 7 pm.

Public invited to attend ~~ Come share ideas and/or memories !

Upcoming Events for Rockford

September 29th -  1st Annual Benefit Dinner for Lots for Soldiers
Held at Howard Johnson - Lima 1920 Roschman Ave, Lima OH  45804
4 pm - Doors open w/cocktail hour
5 pm -  7 pm Dinner and Recognition
4 pm - 7 pm - Silent Auction

Cash bar and DJ all night - pre sale tickets $15 - At door $30
For more information contact - 419-586-5058


*************************

September 30th - 8th Annual Rockford Belle Sock Hop & Cruise in
with Classic Cars -  Shine and Show

Cruise in starts at 2 pm
Live music with Blind Date starts at 4 pm

Rockford Belle - 135 Market St. - Rockford, OH  

OUR OLD BOOK CASE

By  Joyce L. Alig, President, Mercer County Historical Society

Photo caption:  An Image of the Corona, the circle of light surrounding the Sun, during the June 8, 1937 Total Solar Eclipse of Canton Island [Kanton Island] located Southwest of Hawaii.

The first Total Solar Eclipse to cross continental United States in 99 years was on August 21, 2017 and  followed a path across the United States.

A Total Solar Eclipse touched the United States on July 20, 1963, when it began in the North Pacific, with the path of totality crossing Alaska and heading across Eastern Canada and northern New England to cease midway across the Atlantic.  The New York City photographers captured spectacular images of the 1963 Eclipse. 

A Total Solar Eclipse on October 2, 1959 crossed the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean.  During that Eclipse, a Partial Solar Eclipse crossed Ohio and I watched it.  The one image in my mind from that event is that the partial eclipse made a reflection of crescent shadows on the leaves of the trees at our home at Fort Recovery.

I downloaded several historical Astronomy books on my NOOK Reader to study the astrological phenomena of Solar and Lunar Eclipses recorded in history.  A Solar or Lunar Eclipse can be viewed from various sites and times around the world. 

For there to be a Solar Eclipse, the moon must be near enough to the plane of the ecliptic at the time of a new moon so that some part of its shadow will fall on the earth’s surface.  The moon must be between the earth and the sun, in order for the sun’s light to be cut off from shining on the earth, whether it is a full or partial eclipse. 

For there to be a Lunar Eclipse, the full moon must occur near enough to the plane of the ecliptic for the moon to pass through some part of the earth’s shadow.  The earth must be between the sun and the moon, in order for the sun’s light to be cut off from shining on the moon.

In the photograph above, during the June 3, 1938 Total Solar Eclipse, photographers were taking photographs at Canton Island, and captured detailed images of the Corona during the eclipse.  Photographers captured images of the Sun’s Corona during the May 26, 1916 Total Eclipse at Srinagar, Kashmir, India.  Photographers also captured images of earlier Total Solar Eclipses in 1854, 1860, 1900 and 1905 around the world.

There is a legend relating to our history here in Midwestern Ohio, about Tecumseh, the Shawnee Indian, during the Indian Wars of the 1790’s through the War of 1812, whereby Tecumseh and/or his brother, the Prophet, predicted the June 16, 1806 Solar Eclipse.  Several historians and astronomers have written about documenting the validity and/or the invalidity of that story. 

I look forward to watching this Total Solar Eclipse on August 21, over our television.  Following the Eclipse, the news media will be repeating the views.   National Geographic Magazine has always been known for its quality photographs.  I will look forward to seeing this magazine’s images of the Total Solar Eclipse.  This Solar Eclipse will become a part of Mercer County’s history, to be preserved by the Mercer County Historical Society.  We will be able to watch this Eclipse on television, and see it become a part of our history.  I wonder how many readers are going to ignore the warning “to not look directly at the sun” during this Eclipse!

[Mercer County Historical Society President Joyce Alig, may be contacted at 3054 Burk-St. Henry Road, Saint Henry, OH 45883,  or histalig@bright.net or 419-678-2614]

OUR OLD BOOK CASE

By  Joyce L. Alig, President, Mercer County Historical Society

Photo caption:  Is this a photograph of the former path of Lake Shore Drive?

Our Old Bookcase, August 24, 2017,  Is this the former path of Lake Shore Drive?

This Post card photograph presents a puzzle to me.  Do you Celina Citizens remember seeing these sites along the lake?

The photograph is identified as   “Public Boat Landing, Grand Reservoir, 17,500 acres, Celina, Ohio.” 

The postmark is dated July 23, 1923.  A lady named Jessie wrote to Mrs. W. O. Bently, at Newton, Mass.  Her message reads:  “Here is where we spent the day.  Great sport!  I think I prefer Indiana traveling in a Ford.  Beats Pierces all to pieces.  Love, Jessie.” 

Apparently, Jessie was referring to the Pierce Automobile, introduced by George N. Pierce, who was known for his Pierce automobile, at the George N. Pierce Company.  Prior to World War I, the Pierce automobile became the expensive automobile known as the Pierce-Arrow, respected for it quality.  During the War, the Pierce-Arrow, in an effort to help the U.S. Military, sent hundreds of trucks to France and England.  After World War I, during the “Roaring Twenties,” the Pierce-Arrow became the elegant traveling vehicle for the wealthy.  The story of the Pierce Arrow Motor Car Company is a fascinating study of American success.   It presents an alternative individual story on this post card, because “Jessie preferred a Ford to a Pierce!”

Back to the photograph on the post card above.  The building on the east side, appears to be the Stearic Acid Plant, formerly on South Ash Street, south of Logan Street, adjacent to Grand Lake. 

I am trying to determine exactly where the Public Boat Landing was located, in comparison with Lake Shore Drive today. 

Do you readers have photographs or post card photographs of this part of Celina, south of Logan Street, east of Main Street, and west of Ash Street? 

The Annual Post Card and Post Mark Exhibit at the Mercer County Historical Society will be held on Sunday afternoon, November 12.  That would be a great time to bring your post card photographs to the Museum.  Or, on Sunday afternoon, October 22, the Annual Military and Antique Gun Exhibit will be on display at the Museum.  You can bring your lake photographs and post cards to the Museum, that day and show them to me. 

This story about the “routes” of Lake Shore Drive is a mystery to me.  I look forward to hearing what history you readers will share with me.  The history of Grand Lake becomes more interesting as time goes by.

Parkway Boys Golf Versus Crestview
By Coach Joe Falk

Using the team match play format, Parkway and Crestview tied 3 matches to 3, in non-league action.

(Parkway) Mason Baxter over (Crestview) Caden Hurless 5 and 4

(Parkway) Clayton Agler over (Crestview) Colton Lautenheiser 2 and 1

(Crestview) Brett Schumm over (Parkway) Ashton Hamrick 3 and 2

(Crestview) Jacob Bowman over (Parkway) Jack Wehe 2 and 1

(Parkway) Duncan Morton over (Crestview) Derek Stout 1 Up

(Crestview) Olivia Skelton over (Parkway) Hunter Gibson 3 and 2

Human Bones Found near Grand Lake in 2016  Are Further Investigated

Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey releases that their office is still actively investigating the human remains case and has received the results from IsoForensics for the follow-up testing done on the human remains.  This testing measured the strontium stable isotope ratios of bone and is in correlation with the previous oxygen isotope testing done by IsoForensics.  The interpretation of the isotope testing is that the overlapping of the oxygen and strontium isotopes analysis may help narrow down the prediction area of where our victim spent the last 10 years of his life.

The origin predictions provided by IsoForensics using oxygen isotopes and strontium isotopes are based off testing with tap water in the USA.  So the analysis is based off of tap water consumption over a period of time.  According to our contact at IsoForensics, roughly 10% of the human skeleton remodels per year so they estimate the bone isotope “signal” represents an average of approximately 10 years prior to death.   See the attached map for the updated prediction areas.

Sheriff Grey states, “Although this case will be nearly impossible to solve if we cannot identify the victim, we will continue to actively investigate it because there is a family out there who deserves closure and answers.”  Anyone who thinks they may have information on this case can send us an anonymous email through our website at www.mercercountysheriff.org, can leave a message on our tip line 567-890-TIPS (8477) or call the detectives at 419-586-1450.

 
August 29, 2017
 

Parkway Boys Golf Team Loses Tough Match

By Coach Joe Falk

Despite posting four scores in the 40s, the Parkway Boys Golf team lost a tough match to the Delphos St. Johns Blue Jays at the Delphos Country Club (par 35) Low man for the Panthers was Clayton Agler with a 40, Mason Baxter shot a 42, Jack Wehe a 46 and Ashton Hamrick a 48 for the low four scores. Duncan Morton shot a 50 and Seth Stukey shot a 53. Parkway is now 3-1 in MAC. Parkway 176. Delphos 169.

Parkway Girls Golf Cancelled Due to Lightning – Match Rescheduled for September 5.

Spend your next spring visiting Budapest, Krakow, Auschwitz, Prague and Vienna

CELINA, OH - OPEN TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WSU-Lake Campus is sponsoring a trip to Budapest, Krakow, Auschwitz, Prague and Vienna. This will be a pleasant and unforgettable experience, taking you to a plethora of historical and breath-taking sites. There will be informational meetings on Tuesday, September 12th from 5:30-6:00pm and Wednesday, October 11thfrom 6:00-6:30. Both meetings will be held in room 150 Dwyer Hall at Wright State University – lake Campus. 

TOUR DATES: May 8, 2018 to May 19, 2018

TOUR COST: $3,197 for travelers under the age of 30 and $3,554 for travelers over the age of 30. 
 
CONTACT:
Tour Director: Dr. Dane Daniel
dane.daniel@wright.edu
Phone: (419) 586-0390

 
August 28, 2017
 

Rockford Receives Tree City Award for 28th Year in a Row
The Village of Rockford was recognized as a Tree City USA on September 22nd at the Rockford Village Hall and Museum.  Stephanie Miller, representative of the
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, attended the Rockford Tree Commission meeting to present the award.  This is the 28th year in a row that Rockford has been honored with this nationally recognized award.

The Title of Tree City USA was bestowed upon our Community for its ongoing efforts
to maintain and improve the quality of life through a comprehensive tree 
management program.  The program is guided by the Rockford Tree Commission -
President - Steve Gehle, Vice President - Bob Ransbottom, Secretary - Karen Long,
along with members Bob Bollenbacher and Ed Long.

The Community must meet 4 standards to achieve the title and the honors:

* A Tree Ordinance

* an Active Tree Commission or forestry department

* A comprehensive urban forestry program support by a minimum of $2 per capita

* An Annual Arbor Day proclamation and public observance.

Ohio boasts the greatest number of Tree Cities in the country with a grand total
of 243.  This marks Ohio's 40th consecutive year as the top Tree City USA state, according
to the Ohio Division of Forestry.  For more information about the Tree City USA program or the
Arbor Day Foundation, visit www.arborday.org

Parkway Class of 1972 Holds 45th Class Reunion

The Parkway Class of 1972 held their 45th Class Reunion in Rockford on Saturday evening, August 26, 2017 at the Community Building in Shanes Park. The gathering of 33 members of the class and their spouses/guests was a delightful evening. A 1-1/2 hour social time was spent reminiscing, catching-up, looking at old yearbooks, pictures and memorabilia. Dinner by Manley’s Catering,  planned and served by the committee was especially delicious, and homemade cupcakes were later provided by classmate Peggy Snider Severt’s daughter. Prayer was offered by Phillip Miller, husband of classmate Jane Luginbill Miller. Gary Hensley and Bill Hamrick organized the event and were MC’s for the evening, keeping everyone in stitches on a trip down Memory Lane. Jim Kuhn provided the sound system and Becky Bollenbacher Shope prepared a lovely memorial table for the 7 classmates who are deceased. Susie Springer Dickson from California was a special guest for the evening as she was a former classmate until the 8th grade. A committee was formed for planning the 50th Reunion in 2022. Photo by Mark Linn. A Facebook Page for Parkway Class of 1972 is available by invitation where many photos by Elaine and Jim Geyer are available as well as the Class Booklet in PDF by Peggy Severt.

Front row Left to Right Elaine Mihm Geyer, Jane Schmid Poling, Tracy Dellinger Ulrich, Kathy Reichard Pontsler, Barbara Lloyd Painter, Peg Bollenbacher, Jane Luginbill Miller, Marcia Eichenauer Hoffines, Michelle Wallick Mills, 
 Row 2 Jim Kuhn, Keith Canary, Rick Black, Becky Bollenbacher Shope, June Cully Bollenbacher, Peggy Snider Severt, Susie Springer Dickson, Cindy Stover Canary, Sheila Wood Baltzell, Susan Sipe Roehm, Pam Fisher Krugh 
 Row 3 Mike Warthman, Gary Pontsler, Gary Hensley, Daryl Strickler, Todd Granger, Philip Thompson, Bill Hamrick, Duane Roehm, Steve Gamble, Dave Hoffhines, Gene Bollenbacher, Ralph Beeks and Ted Krugh. List provided by Elaine Mihm Geyer.

Niswonger Performing Arts Center Joins Celina/Mercer County Chamber of Commerce

The beautiful Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio opened its doors on March 15, 2007. Since then, it has been the host to hundreds of professional performers, Broadway productions, national and international speakers, dance recitals, school concerts and productions, and numerous rentals. The dream of a professional performing arts center began in 2001 and Six years later, a facility opened thanks to The Van Wert County Foundation, Mr. Niswonger, many businesses, corporations, and hundreds of individuals and organizations. The Niswonger Center continues to host incredible performances all year long and have entertained guests from all over the United States. The Niswonger Performing Arts Center is located at 10700 SR 188 South in Van Wert, OH. To find out more information on upcoming performances visit their website at www.npacvw.org or contact their box office at 419-238-6722. You will so happy you did!!

Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce Accepting Nominations
The Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that we are now accepting nominations for our 22nd Annual Leadership Van Wert County Class. See nomination form - register online HERE.

Lead. Connect. Be the Change… in your company and your community. Please consider nominating one of your employees or yourself to join other area leaders who have experienced the best of the best leadership development in the greater Van Wert area.

The nomination form is due to the Chamber by Friday, September 15 (first class is Friday, September 22) or you may submit your nomination online here. An application will be emailed to the nominee once we receive the nomination form. Please contact the Chamber with further questions.

Together we build success,

Susan L. Munroe, President/CEO

Calvary Evangelical Church Updates

Parkway Girls Golf Team Moves Up in the MAC

By Coach Teri Samples 8-24-2017

The Parkway Girls Golf team moves to 2-0, in MAC action, with the 212-246 win over Marion Local.  Haylee Stukey was Medalist win a round of 52.  Mecaylah Hesse and Autumn Ellis both had 53's, and Lauren Henderson finished with a 54 for the Panthers.

Marah Moeller was the low score for Marion Local with a 56, Maddie Smith and Macy Spieth both had 63's, and Sarah Fleck added a 64 for the team score.

Parkway Boys Golf Team Moves Up in MAC

By Coach Joe Falk

The Parkway Boys Golf team moved to 3-0 in the Midwest Athletic Conference with a 176-205 victory over the Marion Local Flyers at the Celina Lynx Golf Club (par 36). Match medalist for the Panthers was Mason Baxter with a 3 over par 39. Clayton Agler and Jack Wehe contributed a pair of 45s and Ashton Hamrick shot a 47 to finish up the low four for Parkway. Duncan Morton shot a 59 and Andy Metz a 66 in the varsity contest, as well.

Marion Local Varsity

In the JV match, Hunter Gibson led the scoring for the Panthers with a 50. Jared Gibson shot a 56, Adam Stephenson a 61, Kaden Boroff a 62, Alex Altenbach a 64 and Breyden Bruns a 73.

Market Street Inn Joins Celina/Mercer County Chamber

Market Street Inn The Market Street Inn. Located at 605 E. Market Street, Owner, Stacy Brunswick promotes the comfort of home which is perfect for a quick get away, small family vacation, or a comfortable place to stay while coming to town on business. This two bedroom home has been completely renovated by Brunswick and Todd Bader. It has a fully equipped kitchen, Wide-screen TV, Internet access, and many other amenities while also being Pet Friendly. To view this property, go to www.marketstreetinn.info or call them at 567-890-2300. Welcome Stacy Brunswick and the Market Street Inn.

Bridge to Close

The Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart, is planning to close Wabash Road between Siegrist Jutte Road and Philothea Road in Recovery Township for a bridge replacement.  This road will be closed tentatively on August 28, 2017 and is scheduled to reopen in approximately 3 months, depending on the weather conditions.

Any additional questions, contact the Mercer County Engineer's Office at 419-586-7759.

 
August 22-27, 2017
Parkway Independent - Celebrating 13 years of bringing news to the Parkway area communities.

 

Fall Sports Team Pictures by Nikki Fox - Thank you for sharing Nikki!

Click here for Varsity and JV Football, Marching Band and Varsity Cheerleader Pictures

Click here for Varsity and JV Volleyball Pictures

Click here for Varsity Boys and Girls Golf Pictures

Click here for Varsity Co-Ed Cross Country Pictures

Click Here for Fall Sports Junior high Team Pictures

Prayers needed for Mike Fox - Motorcycle Accident

Schools Start on Tuesday, August 22, 2017  
(Including Parkway)

It is the time of the year for all of the local schools to go back into session.  With that comes  renewed concerns for our children’s safety and the safety of the motoring public.  Flashing yellow and red lights are a sure signal to drivers that school buses are making you aware that children will soon be boarding or departing the bus.  Drivers need to be attentive in school zones and when school buses are stopped.  While stopping and waiting for buses may be a slight inconvenience, it is a small price to pay for the safety of the children.

The Sheriff’s Office will be stepping up patrols during schools hours.  In an effort to enhance school bus safety, Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey is reinstating the School Bus Riding Program for all six schools districts in Mercer County.  A deputy will randomly be assigned to a school bus in Mercer County each week to look for school bus passing violations.  Last year’s program consisted of placing deputies on school buses (33) times.  The deputies spent over (47) hours on school buses last school year.

Sheriff Grey, stated that, “now is the time of the year that we need take a little bit of extra time and care to ensure that our children get to school safely.”   

It is also important for our children to understand the need for proper behavior while riding the bus to school.  While school bus drivers concentrate on the roadways and other drivers, the students must do their part as well. “Respect, Responsibility and Restraint are the new 3 R’s to be learned” said Sheriff Grey.

Motorists will also have to make adjustments while driving. They need to “slow down” and stop while students board and depart from the buses.  They also have to be aware of children walking and riding their bicycles to and from school.  It is the goal of the Sheriff’s Office to have a safe beginning to this school year.

Jeff Grey

Sheriff
Mercer County Sheriff’s Office

PLC HEALTH CLINIC ANNOUNCES GRAND OPENING & WALK FOR LIFE

PLC Health Clinic (AKA Pregnancy Life Center) will be having a combined Grand Opening and Walk for Life on Sunday, September 10th at 2:00 pm.  The clinic is located at 215 N. Market St. in Van Wert.  The ribbon cutting will take place promptly at 2:00 followed by a few remarks from Executive Director, Trina Langdon and then the two mile Walk for Life will begin.  City and County officials as well as area businesses and individuals are invited to take part in the ribbon cutting ceremony.  Afterwards, everyone who comes for the ribbon cutting is more than welcome to stay for the Clinic’s walk.  Following the walk, guided tours of the new facility will take place.  As a health clinic, the PLC has added pregnancy and STD testing and limited obstetric ultrasound as part of their free services.  The PLC is 100% locally funded with part of that funding coming from area churches and businesses that sponsor the Walk for Life.  Pictured are some of the Gold Level Sponsors.  In the front row: Carla Custis, New Life Fellowship Church, Michele and John A. Baker, Baker Built Products, Dena Strickland, Pentecostal Way Church, Trina Langdon, PLC Executive Director, James C. Brickner, Brickner Funeral Home, and Dan Custis, Advanced Biological Marketing.  In the back row: Kurt Tomlinson, Trinity United Methodist Church, Tim McComas, GKN Freight Services, Ron Lumm, Pleasant Chapel United Methodist Church, Tisha Fast, State Farm Insurance, Todd Fox, Advanced Grain Systems, LLC, Teresa Shaffer, First United Methodist Church Youth Group, and Randy Carey, Carey Insurance.

 
August 16-21, 2017
 

Parkway Boys Golf Defeats Coldwater
by Coach Joe Falk

Parkway's Boys Golf team moved to 2-0 early in the MAC season with a 182-192 win over Coldwater at  Celina Lynx (par 36) Match medalist was Parkway's Mason Baxter with a 40. Clayton Agler shot a 45, Jack Wehe a 47 and Seth Stukey completed the scoring with a 50. Ashton Hamrick shot a 55 and Breyden Bruns, a 79.

Coldwater Scores

Coldwater took the JV match by a score of 205-228. Leading the JV Panthers was Duncan Morton with a 52.  Kaden Boroff scored a 57, Andy Metz contributed a 59, and Alex Altenbach a 60. Jared Gibson and Adam Stephenson both shot 63s for Parkway

Coldwater JV

Parkway Girls Golf Defeats Coldwater

By Coach Teri Samples

Parkway girls golf starts MAC action with a 219-250 win over Coldwater.  Haylee Stukey, of Parkway, took Medalist with a 52.  Autumn Ellis shot a 53, Mecaylah Hesse added a 54, and Lauren Henderson finished with a 59 for Parkway.

Coldwater was led by Payton Kunk's 55, Emma Eckstein had a 58, Lexi Wright added a 65, and Abby Ashbaugh rounded out the team with a 72.

Salem Presbyerian Church to Hold 102nd annual “Gymanfa Ganu”

WHAT: 102nd Annual Welsh Songfest event

WHEN:  7 PM, Sunday, September 3; Meal is at 4 PM.

WHERE: Salem Presbyterian Church, Venedocia, Ohio

Cost: Free and open to the public

Salem Presbyerian Church is holding its 102nd annual ‘Welsh song festival event “Gymanfa Ganu” Sunday, Sptember 3 at 7 PM. A light meal is available at 4 PM for social time.

Gymanfas are American Welsh gatherings to sing hymns from Welsh origins known for their four-part harmony.

This year’s Director is Ben Williams; he is from Louisville, Kentucky, where he developed a love for music at a very early age. Ben grew up in a musical family with both his parents and brother playing musical instruments. Ben began singing at the age of three, and soon after learned to play piano, handbells, saxophone, and oboe.

After attending the DuPont Manual High School’s Youth Performing Arts School, Ben would go on to earn his Bachelor of Music Education from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and his Master of Music Education from The University of Louisville.

Significant performance venues include Carnegie Hall in New York City, Severance Hall in Cleveland, as well as New Orleans, Boston, Montreal, San Antonio, Los Angeles, Detroit, Louisville, Austin, Dayton, Nashville, and Chicago.

Ben’s grandparents are David and Sue (Dustman) Williams, who are both native to the area of Venedocia and Van Wert. In fact, they first met at a Gymanfa Ganu! Ben’s family members, Tom Dustman and Christopher Uhl, have conducted prior Gymanfas. 

Man Arrested in Celina on Felony Theft Charges
On August 2nd the Celina Police Department arrested 49 year old Fredrick Hale Jr., of New Carlisle, formerly of Karafit Rd., Celina.  He is currently incarcerated in the Mercer Co. Jail on charges of felony Theft, filed by the Celina Police Department. 

The Celina Police Department was investigating a theft from WalMart which occurred on July 24th.  Through that investigation detectives were able to develop suspects in the case.  The Celina Police detectives were able to connect the suspects to other thefts throughout the region. 

After many hours of investigation and surveillance, Celina Police officers, on August 2nd, were able to conduct a traffic stop on Fredrick Hale and make an arrest.  The traffic stop, which was conducted on Havemann Rd., also revealed a theft which had just occurred at the Celina Menard’s.  He was also found to be in possession of criminal tools used in thefts around the area as well as stolen goods.

Celina Police detectives brought Fredrick Hale Jr. to the Celina Police Department where he and an un-named witness were interviewed for a lengthy period of time.  During the Celina P.D. interview, detectives were able to gather information regarding thefts throughout the region.  The information was passed on to Minster P.D., Miami County and the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office.

The information provided to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office was used by them to obtain search warrants and recover thousands of dollars of stolen property.  Including property from the recent TSC and Dollar General thefts.

Fredrick Hale Jr. is being held for $100,000 bond on charges filed by Celina P.D.  Additional charges from Celina and other jurisdictions are pending review of the Mercer County Prosecutor.

This is a case of law enforcement agencies working together for the good of the community as a whole.  This investigation is still pending, anyone with information is urged to contact the Celina Police Department at 419-586-2345.

 
August 14-15, 2017
 

Parkway August 2017 Breakfast and Lunch Menus by Pam Smith

Writers Club to Meet
The Stateline Writers Club is scheduled to meet on Saturday, August 19, at 10 a.m for the annual club picnic for members.  The location has been changed to the shelter house at Pullman Bay Park in Celina.

Members are asked to bring a covered dish and a short composition on the topic of "favorites."   

Parkway Girls Golf Defeats Celina

By Coach Teri Samples

Parkway Girls Golf defeated Celina at the Celina Lynx, 208-231.  Mecaylah Hesse, of Parkway, took Medalist honors.  Other scorers for Parkway were Haylee Stukey with a 51, Lauren Henderson had a 53, and Autumn Ellis added a 56.

Parkway Girls Golf Defeats Antwerp

By Coach Teri Samples

Parkway Girls Golf defeated Antwerp at Pond-A-River Golf Club 194-235. Taking Medalist was Parkway's Haylee Stukey carding a 43.  The other scorers for Parkway were:  Mecaylah Hesse with a 47, Autumn Ellis with a 49, and Lauren Henderson with a 55.

Leading Antwerp was Kendyl Miller with a 53, Carlie Hanes added a 58, Shayla Wieland had a 60, and Amanda Roberts rounded out the team with a 64.

Van Wert Area Community Concert Band - Concert In The Park
By  Richard Sherrick

On Friday August 18th, the Van Wert Area Community Concert Band will present their final park concert for the season in the band shell of Fountain Park in Van Wert, Ohio. The performance will begin at 7:00 p.m. and is free to the public.  An all-new program of music has been prepared to perform at this concert.  Music to be featured will include pre-1917 Classics, one of witch will feature our lead trumpeter, Mark Schaberg, A 1930’s hit by Ray Charles-Georgia On My Mind, Hits from the 60 and 70’s, and yes, even songs by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. The VWACCB goes contemporary.

A food stand will be available prior to the concert provided by the District Eastern Star starting at 5:00PM.  Please join the band directed by Richard Sherrick and featuring members from, Van Wert, Elgin, Delphos, Convoy, Chat, Middle Point, Spencerville, New Bremen and Rockford. In the event of inclement weather, the program will be moved to an announced location or cancelled. Please listen to the local radio station for this information. The band will also perform at the Van Wert Fair Music Pavilion September 2nd at 4:00 P.M.

Scott Turner rehearses the VWACCB on two numbers he arranged, and will hopefully direct for this performance. The band’s thoughts and prayers are with Scott and his family as they grieve the loss of Scott’s father Glenn Turner.

Be Prepared for Back-to-School; Get Your Children Vaccinated National Immunization

Britt C. Menchhofer, R.S.

Environmental Health Director

Van Wert County General Health District

 Awareness Month (NIAM) Celebrates Importance of Vaccines COLUMBUS –

Summer is almost over and that means it’s time for parents to begin thinking about backto-school season. Along with the back-to-school necessities such as folders and backpacks, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) wants to remind parents to make sure their kids are up-to-date on their vaccines against serious diseases. To emphasize the importance of vaccinations, and to make sure that children are protected with all the immunizations they need, ODH is partnering with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in recognizing August as National Immunization Awareness Month. “When parents are thinking about their back to school checklists, vaccines should be at the top of the list,” said ODH State Epidemiologist and Bureau Chief of Infectious Diseases Sietske de Fijter. “Getting children all of the vaccines recommended by CDC’s immunization schedule is one of the most important things parents can do to protect their children’s health as well as the health of classmates and the community.” Unvaccinated children are at an increased risk for contracting vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, mumps and rubella. They also may spread diseases, like pertussis, which are serious or potentially lifethreatening for high-risk individuals such as infants who are too young to be fully vaccinated and others who have weakened immune systems due to health conditions. “If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to check with your doctor to find out what vaccines your child needs, and when,” said de Fijter. This fall will be the second school year that the new meningococcal vaccine requirement is in effect under Ohio Revised Code. All incoming seventh graders must have one dose of the meningococcal vaccine, and all incoming twelfth graders must have a second dose of the vaccine. ODH is currently running a back-to-school public awareness campaign that features radio and television ads that you can hear and see across the state. Parents should check with their child’s doctor, school or local health department to learn more about specific requirements. For more information on the meningococcal vaccine and other vaccination requirements, visit http://www.odh.ohio.gov/immunization.

Calvary Evangelical Church Updates

A Dose of “Magic” On Sale at The Niswonger

(Van Wert, OH) - With a career spanning more than five decades, Olivia Newton-John brings her star power and dazzling stage presence to The Niswonger! Presented by US Bank, tickets for Olivia Newton-John's concert on Sunday, November 19 at 7:30 PM are on sale now.

Olivia Newton-John's appeal seems to be timeless. With a 50+ year career she is still a vibrant, creative individual adored by fans around the globe. She is a four-time GRAMMY award winner who has amassed five number-one and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles, and two number-one Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles (including two platinum) and fourteen of her albums (including two platinum and four double platinum) have been certified gold by the RIAA. She has sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling artists of all time. She starred in Grease, which featured one of the most successful soundtracks in Hollywood history.

Olivia Newton-John has been a long-time activist for environmental and animal rights issues. Since surviving breast cancer in 1992, she has been an advocate for health awareness becoming involved with various charities, health products and fundraising efforts.

Top Ten Hit List

“Physical”

“Magic”

“You’re the One That I Want”

“A Little More Love”

“Please Mr. Please”

“Have You Never Been Mellow”

“I Honestly Love You”

“Let Me Be There”

“Hopelessly Devoted To You”

“Heart Attack”

Along with Presenting Sponsor US Bank, Supporting Sponsors include Ciao! MedSpa, Kitchens Inc., and Lee Kinstle GM Sales & Service. This event is made complete with our 17-18 Season Sponsors Chuck & Karen Koch, StateWide Ford Lincoln, and Van Wert Federal Savings Bank.

Tickets for Olivia Newton-John can be purchased through the Box Office Tuesday - Friday, Noon - 4 PM at 419-238-6722 or anytime at NPACVW.ORG.

The Niswonger Performing Arts Center is located at 10700 SR 118 South, Van Wert, OH.

 
August 11-13, 2017
 

Click here for the Parkway High School Page and more pictures from graduation and the year by Nikki.

Rockford Chamber Awards Parkway Graduate with Scholarship
The Rockford Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate Coleton Lautzenheiser as the 2017 Chamber Scholarship Award winner.  Colteton plans to attend Bowling Green this fall and study Sports Management.  Congratulations Coleton - Good Luck from the Rockford Chamber.

2017 Graduates - Parkway Scholarship Winners - Open PDF and Rotate Clockwise

Parkway Athletic Department Updates
The track will be closed for renovation from 12:00 p.m. today through 8:00 a.m. August 14. Future closure is possible as well.

Senior Night for Fall athletes has been moved to Friday, October 20.

Regional Urban Forester Coming to Rockford

Stephanie Miller, Regional Urban Forester for this area, will be at the 
Rockford Tree Commission meeting at 6 pm on Tuesday, August 22, to
make a presentation and answer any questions about trees in the
Mercer County Area.  The meeting will be held at the Rockford
Village Hall located at 151 E Columbia St.  We would like
for all interested people to join us for this meeting.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Needs Volunteers for Lunch Club Programs

Big Brothers Big Sisters is about to kick off the Fifth year of its Lunch Club program.  Volunteers are needed to be a Big for the program.  In this program, volunteers would meet with a child from area elementary and middle schools for lunch and activities twice a month.  This year we will have programs at Celina Primary, Delphos Middle School, Ft. Recovery Elementary and Middle School, Parkway Elementary and Middle School, Van Wert Middle School, Wapakoneta Middle School, and Waynesfield Schools.  This is the first year to have the program in Delphos and Waynesfield.

Each visit the volunteers spend time with their Little during the child’s lunch.  They spend time talking and getting to know each other and have some free time together.  During the free time, the activities could include making a craft, playing a board game, building a model, or playing on the playground.  The program will begin in mid-September and run through the school year.

Volunteers must be able to meet with a child twice a month for 30-45 min (depending on school) during the students’ lunch.  Volunteers will be able to decide which day they would like to attend and the grade level of their Little.  Volunteers will bring their own lunch or eat at another time. Big Brothers Big Sisters will supply a box of items to use during the free time activities.

The Littles are students from Celina Primary (grades 1-2); Delphos Middle School (grades 6-8), Ft. Recovery Elementary & Middle School (grades K-5); Parkway Elementary & Middle School (grades 1-6); Van Wert Middle School (grades 6-8); Wapakoneta Middle School (grades 5-7), and Waynesfield Schools (grades 1-6).  These are students that could use a special friend and someone to spend time with them, YOU!  They are looking forward to spending time with a special friend on a consistent basis.  We do not want to turn any students away because of a lack of volunteers.

Littles in the program in previous years have said that they liked having a Big spend time with them and that their Big made them happy.  The Bigs said that they looked forward to seeing their Littles’ smiles and liked knowing their Littles looked forward to their coming.  Teachers of Littles said their students couldn’t wait for Lunch Club days and that they saw positive changes in their students.

To participate in this program or for more information, please contact Big Brothers Big Sisters at 419-584-2447, 1-866-670-BBBS, or e-mail:  neberle@bbbsma.com.  It doesn’t take a lot to make a BIG difference in a life of a student in your community.  Contact BBBS to become a Big today!

 
August 10, 2017
 

Story by Steve Fisher and photos by Mike Roth

The 13th Annual Shane’s Crossing 5K was held, Saturday morning July 15, 2015, with over 170 runners/walkers competing.  The race is part of the Mercer Health Countywide 5-K Challenge and is sponsored by the Parkway Athletic Boosters.  The men’s winner was Roman Michell Schulze with a time of 16.52, and the women’s winner was Ashley Lefeld with a time of 18.48.  Complete race results can be found at:  http://www.mercerhealth5kchallenge.com

Parkway student athletes also fared well.  Kyle Roth finished 5^th overall, followed by Ben Schlemmer 6^th, and Aaron Bruns 9^th.  They were also the top 3 finishers in the Men’s 15-19 age group.  Also Blake Strickler and Gage Hamrick finished 1^st and 2^nd respectively in the Men’s 14 and under age group, Rachel Barrett was 1^st in the Women’s 15-19 age group, and Treya Conn was 3^rd in the Women’s 14 and under.

Also this year we added a half mile Fun Run for ages 12 and under.  These young runners met once a week this summer, under the direction of Jennifer Barrett, who with assistance from members of the Parkway Cross Country Team, taught these future runners the fundamentals off running and different training techniques.  Fun Run Results coming soon from Jennifer.

The Parkway Athletic Boosters would like to thank the following businesses and organizations for their donations and support of the Shane’s Crossing 5K and Parkway Athletic Boosters.

Rockford Fire Department

Shane’s Park Board

Boy Scout Troup 98

Barry's Market

Laurels of Shane Hill

Rockford Carryout

First Financial Bank

Subway - Rockford

Dannon Yogurt

Grand Lake Health

Pepsi

Domino's

Pizza Hut

Mercer Health

Wabash Communications

Innergy Fitness

Independent Capital Management

Cooper Farms

Grand Lake Marathon

People’s Bank

Parkway Boys 2017 Golf Team Opens Season
by Coach Joe Falk

The Parkway Boys Golf team opened the 2017 campaign at the Rob Contini Invitational at Colonial Golfers Club (par 71) in Harrod, Ohio. The Panthers finished in 6th place out of 8 teams. Leading the scoring for Parkway was junior Mason Baxter with a score of 84. Jack Wehe shot a 97, while Clayton Agler and Seth Stukey finish the 4 man scoring with a pair of 99s. Ashton Hamrick shot an even 100 and Duncan Morton scored a 103 for Parkway. Lima Bath won the invitational with a score of 319.

The Panthers Varsity and JV teams were in action at the Celina Lynx Golf Club in the Mercer County Invitational on Tuesday. The Panthers Varsity team was led by a 93 shot by Mason Baxter. Ashton Hamrick shot 100 and Jack Wehe shot a 104 for Parkway as well. Clayton Agler finished the scoring for Parkway with a 107. Seth Stukey shot a 109 and Breyden Bruns a 113 for the Panthers as well. The Panthers golfers finished 3rd out of 5 teams behind St. Henry and Coldwater.

 

The JV team finished in 3rd place out of 4 teams. Leading the way for Parkway in the JV division was Duncan Morton with a 106, Jared Gibson was next for Parkway with a 112, Andy Metz shot a 119 and Adam Stephenson scored a 122 to finish the scoring for Parkway. Alex Altenbach shot a 128 and Hunter Gibson a 131. Kaden Boroff played as a marker for the invitational and shot a 126.

Kids Club Begins September 6 at Rockford United Methodist Church

Kids Club begins Wednesday, September 6 at Rockford United Methodist Church. An after school program on Wednesdays, it runs from 3:30 to 5 PM. A free community meal is served afterwards. This program is FREE, but a form must be filled out. Children are transported from Parkway Schools to the church. Ages K-5th grade are welcome. Snacks, games, crafts and a Bible lesson are included. Contact the church at 110 S. Franklin Street for the form or at parkway Elementary School Office. Call 419-363-3230 for information.

School Prayer Walk Planned Saturday, August 19th

The Rockford United Methodist Church will sponsor the annual School Prayer Walk on Saturday, August 19th at 8:30 a.m. This is open to anyone who would like to lift up the 2017-2018 school year in prayer.  Participants will meet outside of the Parkway High School entrance and prayer will be offered there.  The group will walk around the outside of the school, stopping at various locations to pray.  Specific groups and programs will be lifted up.  Participants may either offer a prayer out loud as led, or pray silently as others lead prayer.  The School Prayer Walk will last approximately one hour.

 
August 8-9, 2017
 

Nikki Fox Plans Athletic Pictures this Week

Nikki is taking pictures this Wednesday with golf pictures on Thursday.

         Wednesday, August 9

            8:00     Senior Fall Athletes (at football field)

            9:00     HS & JH Cheerleaders (at football field)

          10:00     HS & JH Cross Country (at football field)

          10:30     HS Volleyball (HS gym)

            1:00     Band

            3:30     HS Football (at football field)

            4:30     JH Football (at football field)

            5:00     JH Volleyball (JH gym)

          Thursday, August 10

            8:15     Boys & Girls Golf (meet at HS entrance)

Parkway Middle School Fall Sports Schedules Posted by  Lisa Miller
Click Here to see the Junior High schedules in printable format!

Parkway High School Fall Sports Schedules Posted by Lisa Miller
Click Here to see the Football Schedules - printable!

Click Here for the Volleyball Schedules - printable!

Click Here for the Co-ed Cross Country Schedules - printable!

Click Here for the Boys and Girls Golf Schedules - printable!

Pictures coming soon by Nikki Fox . . . .

Rosters coming soon by Lisa Miller . . . .

Otterbein Plans Annual Fish Fry – Celebrates 30 Years!
Otterbein Retirement in St. Marys is hosting their annual Fish Fry at the lake on august 19, 2017 (Saturday) from 11 AM to 3 PM. Cost is $7 for adults and $4 for children 10 and under. There will be free popcorn, cotton candy and snow cones provided by the Wapakoneta Lions Club. Aftermath, a sixies group, will entertain. Campus Tours Available and Open House. Grand door prize drawings, pontoon rides, craft and bake sale, silent auction, face painting, Caricaturist, Resident Art Show & sale, and photo booth. Otterbein is located at 11230 St. Rt. 364 on the east side of the lake St. Marys, OH.

State Plowing Contest at Maurer Farm in Mendon was a Success

On July 29 at 9 AM the state plowing contest was held near Mendon at the Maurer Farms location on State Route 707. Classes included: Novice, Junior and Senior Classes.

The food stand was operated by the Mercer United Methodist Church.

Pictures here are by Bob Maurer who said, “I believe the contestants had a good time plowing.”

Doug and Don Hays' tractors for the event.

Click on smaller thumbnails below to enlarge them.

Burkett  5K

The 15th annual Burkett 5k will be Saturday August 12, 2017 at 8:30 starting and ending at Burkettsville Park.

The race is the eighth and final one of the Mercer Health 5k Challenge Countywide running Series.  Awards and shirts ceremony after the race for all that qualify.

Race day registration is from 7:00 to 8:15 at $10.00 for under  18 years and $15.00 for over 18 years of age.   Results after the race are on www.mercerhealth5kchallenge.com.  Sponsored by  Burkettsville Community Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary.

For more information contact Tonya Siefring at 419-733-5445 email tonyajan@yahoo.com. Or Josie Snyder at 419-375-4616 email bsnyder37@woh.rr.com.

Man Arrested for Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor
Celina, OH –Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey today reported the arrest of Jerry L. Fisher, 58, 9891 St Rte. 49, Rockford, for Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a minor, a felony of the second degree.  The Sheriff’s Office received information on Saturday that Fisher had been having sexual relations with someone under the age of 16 in the recent past.

The Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation in cooperation with Mercer County Job and Family Services.  The investigation revealed that on multiple occasions, Fisher had sex with the underage victim.

After consultation with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office on Sunday,  Fisher was arrested and incarcerated in the Mercer County Adult Detention Facility.

Fisher has a history as a sexually oriented offender and had been required to register his address with the Sheriff’s Office for 10 years.  That requirement expired in 2015.

His bond was set by Celina Municipal Court Judge James Scheer at $750,000, subject to a 10% provision.  The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing the case to determine if any additional charges should be filed.

4th Annual Concert of Caring to Feature Indianapolis Band

Concert of Caring, the major fundraising event for the Sidney Office of Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley, will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2017, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Versailles.

This year’s featured entertainment is Dave and Rae, a popular four-piece group from the Indianapolis area.  Ticket holders for this dressy casual event are urged to put on their dancing shoes because this high-energy group offers a unique blend of music from all genres guaranteed to have guests singing along, getting up to move, and having fun.

Tickets for the 2017 Concert of Caring are $50 per person which includes table seating, dinner buffet, desserts, two drink coupons, and the chance to bid on a variety of Silent Auction items donated by businesses, individuals, and local artisans.  There will also be distinctive raffle items and other surprises throughout the evening.

Sponsorship opportunities for the event include signage, program recognition, and reserved table seating.  The Headliner Level is $1000 and includes 12 tickets with VIP seating.  The Star Level is $500 and includes six tickets with Premier seating.  The Artist Level is $250 and includes four tickets with Reserved seating. 

Proceeds from the annual Concert of Caring guarantee continued success of CSSMV services in the Northern Miami Valley.  Those programs include counseling, early childhood intervention, parenting and adoption support in Auglaize and Mercer Counties, and all those services plus the RideLink call center and senior visiting in Darke, Miami, and Shelby Counties. 

Liberty Baptist Bible Time

 
August 7, 2017
 

Piano Recital Enjoyed

On Saturday, July 29 the students of Roberta LePage presented their annual Piano Recital for parents and grandparents and friends.  Following this recital, we will observe a break until the week after Labor Day.  If you are interested in taking lessons, call Roberta at 419-363-3614 to set up a time.  The sooner you call, the more chance you have of getting a place in the schedule.

Students for this year's recital were (back row) Brooke Stephenson, Caiden Berry, Hutch Ridenour, Rylan Lyons, (front row) Oliver Haines, Maggie Rich, and Gwyneth Ridenour. 

Parkway will host a fall sports meet the team night on August 7, at 6:30 p.m. in the HS Auditorium. Our fall teams will be introduced at this meeting. Sports passes will also be available for sale on the meeting.

Girls Golf Team
by Coach Teri Samples
The Parkway Girls Golf Team placed  1^st at Willow Bend Country Club in a Tri-Match with host teams Lincolnview and Delphos Jefferson. Marissa Miller of Lincolnview earned Madalist with a 96 and Parkway’s Haley Stukey took 2^nd overall with a score of 99. Other scoring Panthers were Mecaylah Hesse shooting 103, Autumn Ellis with 111, and Maddie Kroeger earning the last scoring spot with a 125.

Team Scores: 1 Parkway 438
2. Lincolnview 470 and 3. Delphos Jefferson 507

 
August 3-6, 2017
 

Rockford, Mendon and Willshire Experience Power Outage
Rockford, Mendon, Willshire, Wren, Van wert, Ohio City and Celina experienced over an hour power outage in the wee hours of Tuesday, August 1, 2017 from a little after midnight to 1 AM. It was a DP & L substation in Celina that had a breaker needing reset. No cause was given.

Couples Cruise a Stretch of the St. Marys River

Bob and Cyn Van Fleet of California visited in the Mercer County area in June and attended the Parkway High School Reunion of the Class of 1964. A Bucket List item for the couple was to take “a float” down the St. Marys River, where Bob and his Grandpa Van Fleet had traveled when Bob was a child. The pair would pitch an old Army tent back at the “fishing hole” off the 127 bridge for a week or more and fish, hunt, gig, and trap. They cleaned their catch and took it up to Rockford to store in the freezer for tasty meals that Grandma Van Fleet would cook in the winter. Bob remembers the wonder of a boy out in nature, learning survival techniques from Grandpa.

The trip was planned by a friend, Aaron Crites, whose family owns the land. He provided the 2 canoes and took the Van Fleets and Sheila Baltzell and Mark Linn on an adventure down the St. Marys River from the U.S. Rt. 127 bridge to Frysinger Road bridge. They encountered and ported around 3 massive log jams, hauling their canoes up onto the bank and carrying them around the blockages.

They also manage to squeeze their canoes under a “hole” in a 4^th log jam. The 4.07 mile long trip took 3-1/2 hours and every bend in the winding river held a surprise. It was quiet and cool on June 7 and the river was high with recent rains, but no longer out of its banks. The current was very slow. The group experienced: a raccoon scrambling up a tree (rare in the daytime); red winged blackbirds; baby ducklings with their mamas; black capped chickadees; and robins. 

Later Aaron took the couples on a walk  back in the woods along the river where they encountered the noisy hammering of pilated woodpeckers in the dead trees that are their food source of bugs. Hiking back to the old fishing hole where Grandpa Van Fleet and Bob camped so long ago, Aaron pointed out in the distance, the huge stick structure of the resident eagle’s nest. There were mosquitoes on land but not on the water cruise. And plenty of poison ivy to avoid.

Click on smaller thumbnails below to enlarge.

Parkway Schools Calendar of Events for August 2017 - Click here for a printable version

 
August 1-2, 2017
 

Feature Story on Dr. Norman Means

Creative Alaskan Photography by Dr. Norman Means

Scroll down past these pictures to read the story about Dr. Means. 

New Doctor in Rockford Comes to the Community by Way of Alaska and Several States In Between

By Sheila Baltzell, editor 8-1-2017

So what brings a doctor to Western Ohio from Alaska? Dr. Norman Means, MD, the new family doctor at Rockford Family Medicine, has the answer to that. “Family and the desire to be closer to home.” Yes, home for the Means’ Family is Eastern Indiana. In fact, Dr. Means actually did a Rural Medical Requirement of Medical School at IU ~ a one month rotation – with Dr. Judge in Berne, IN. When he was recruited to look at Van Wert Hospital and in particular, Rockford, Ohio he was so excited because he already knew the area.

 

Decision to Become a Doctor – Early Family Life

Growing up in Anderson, IN was like living in a town the size of Lima. His high school graduating class was around 400-450. Dr. Means’ father was a veteran of the Army, having served in Vietnam and stationed in Germany. While in Germany, his father met and married a German young lady. They had two sons including Norman.  They lived the military life. When Dr. Means’ father was injured in combat in Vietnam, the entire family relocated briefly to Washington DC to be near him as he recovered at Walter Reed Hospital. Dr. Means remembers his curiosity, even though he was only six, when the staff changed his father’s wound dressings. He was never frightened by the other injured soldiers, and spent time wandering around and visiting with the patients. His father used to tell him that the soldiers were always asking when Norman was coming back to visit. Dr. Means believes all of this had an impact on his desire – when he was still in elementary school – to become a doctor. It was always his career choice. His father recovered from his wounds, took a military medical discharge and went on to work at the U.S. Post Office and the auto-making industry. The family continues to visit family in Germany as they did when he was a child. Dr. Means also is fluent in German.

Where have they been?

From a beginning in Germany with his military family, to growing up in Anderson Indiana, travel and living world-wide has been a way of life.  After graduating from Anderson-Highland High School, he began a life on the move. As he worked to fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor and completing necessary course work, he and his wife, Tammy, and their family have moved around a lot during this career path that took them from Anderson, IN to  the University of Chicago with his undergrad degree where he recently celebrated his 30th reunion. From there he went to medical school at Indiana University. After graduation, he began his internship in General Surgery and his Pathology Residency took them to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. Then they were off to Chapel Hill, North Carolina at the University of North Carolina for his Fellowship in Transfusion Medicine and Bloodbanking. His 2^nd residency took the family to Duke University into their Family Medicine Residency program in Fayetteville, North Carolina. From all that warm weather, they then moved to Cordova, Alaska on Prince William Sound. Click here to take a look at a Google map of Prince William Sound and Cordova to the far right. Dr. Means was the only doctor in town!

The Means Family

Tammy, his wife of 25 years, is a registered nurse, and they met in college at Indiana University. She was from nearby Noblesville, IN. Later on, Tammy completed a Master in Business Administration. She worked as an RN and was also her husband’s office manager in Anchorage. They have 4 children.

Cordova, Alaska and Anchorage, Alaska

A fishing village of 3000, accessible only by boat or airplane, Cordova (on the Copper River) swells to 6000 people when the salmon canning season begins.  There is a Coast Guard Base in Cordova  an artist colony, an artisan bakery, and it is near the Exxon-Valdez pipeline. After one year, they moved on to Anchorage, a city the size of Ft. Wayne, IN. where the summer days are 20 hours long at the summer solstice. From 4:15 AM to 11:43 PM, there is daylight.

Anchorage is a modern city where their children attended school. Alaska ranks 48^th (of the states) in population but has 20% of the land surface of the entire country.  Click here for a look at all kinds of info on Alaska as well as a map of how Alaska compares in size to the rest of the US. The Means Family members have traveled to Kodiak, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Mt. McKinley/Danali. They enjoyed white water rafting, golfing and lots of photography.

Adventures in the Tundra

Dr. Means and his family learned much while living in Alaska.  Law requires people to store their garbage properly. Once he looked out the window from the office to see a bear wandering around. That is the reason for garbage laws; the bears are always close by.

Another time, he was asked by a Reality Show producer to fly to a little village to give physicals to the cast members as part of the show’s contract. He flew in on a 3000 foot gravel airstrip in a 9 seat plane.

Specialties and Joining Van Wert Hospital Services

Dr. Means became Board Certified in Family Medicine, Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology  (the later AP and CP are specialties). He brings many years of experience to Family Medicaine Associates and the patients of Dr. Jerry Sell and Nurse Practitioner Rona Dellinger. He works for Van Wert Hospital Services for Family Medicine Associates. Van Wert Hospital manages everything for him so he can do his job as a doctor. He still practices in the Clinical Pathology area, which is blood and genetics. Dr. Means does this for his patients and through regulatory work. He manages several labs in Alaska. He is looking forward to meeting his new patients in Rockford. And, he chuckles as he says, “I try not to live up to my name “Means” . 

 
July 28-31, 2017

 

Robert Maurer Attends Rolling Thunder in Washington DC Over Memorial Day

Rolling Thunder Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the search of American soldiers who are prisoners of war or missing in action. Rolling Thunder was established in 1987. On May 29, 2017 approximately 900,000 motorcycle riders paraded through the streets of Washington, DC. where they honored our fallen heroes. Among those attending was Robert Maurer of Mendon who placed 2 wreaths at the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Bob is a veteran of the Vietnam War. Above picture: Parkway Class of 1967 Wreath for fallen hero Benny Sapp.

Sapp Family Memorial Wreath carried and placed by Bob Maurer for their fallen brother Benny Sapp.

Above Elida, OH Class attending Memorial Day Services in DC.

Bob said, “When I walked up the wall to place the 2 wreaths, I asked someone from a group of young students if one of them would take a couple of pictures. One boy graciously volunteered. I asked them where they were from and they said Elida.  I then saw one of them had an Elida t-shirt on.  I said I live only 30 miles from Elida. The person in the front row of the picture I took was the chaperone.  I think the kids were excited that they were in Washington DC and ran into someone who knew where Elida Ohio was located.”

Legacy Run 2017 – 12^th Annual

Bob Maurer Preparing for his 9th Ride in the American Legion Riders Legacy Run on a West Coast Run Following Route 50

Bob Maurer, a Viet Nam Veteran, is still serving his fellow military comrades. On August 12, 2017, he will be heading out on his motorcycle for his personal 9th ride in the American Legion Riders Legacy Run to raise Scholarship Funds for the children of men and women who have lost their lives in military service to the USA. In its 12th year, the riders have raised over $7 million. Bob said, “We will travel from Ft. Dodge, Kansas westward over 1400 miles in 5 days heading through Kansas, Colorado, Utah and finally arriving in Fallon, Nevada.

The Kansas City soldiers’ Home is sponsoring a kick-off night Hog Roast for the riders. And, traveling a quieter stretch of the United States requires the men to have scheduled fuel stops! There will be special dinner stops at two American Legion Posts in Pueblo, CO and Fallon, NV. Wreath-laying ceremonies, along the route, are always touching events.

The riders will congregate before heading on to Reno, Nevada for the 99th American Legion National Convention. Bob said, “It is always a great time and can get emotional for those who have been helped by our fund raising efforts and share their stories.

Bob is a member of the Celina American Legion Riders Post 210. He is also a Veteran of the conflict in Viet Nam. August 12 has a special meaning for Bob. Sharing his memory, he said, “It is also special for me in that August 12th, the day of our start (kick stands up) will mark the 49th anniversary of another type of kick stands up sort of.  That day was wheels up as I boarded a plane in New Jersey and headed for Vietnam. I will have on my mind just how many of those on that plane never made it home alive to have the wonderful life I have had.”

Donations to the cause can be given directly to Bob before he leaves or on the secure website at www.legion.org or www.legion.org/riders. bob’s number is 419-238-6863

More information and pictures of past years’ events and the latest course planned for August 12-16, 2017 can be found also be found at those links.

Donations to the scholarship fund are still accepted.

The next Rockford Bicentennial Committee meeting will be held on
Monday, August 7th at 7 pm at the Rockford Village Hall and Museum.

ALL ARE WELCOME !!

Parkway High School Student Schedules
by Sandee Bollenbacher

Parkway High School student schedules for the upcoming 2017-2018 school year will be mailed out to students Monday, August 7.  All school fees will need to be paid by the first day of school, Tuesday, August 22.  The High School “Back to School” night will be Tuesday, August 15, beginning at 6:00pm and will last until 8:00pm.  Students wishing to do a walkthrough of their schedule or try their locker combination can do so at this time.  The high school secretary will also be available that evening to accept book fee payments and any completed forms from students or parents.

Parking permits this year will be issued on a first come-first served basis to students with a valid driver’s license and students will be able to pick their numbered spot.  We will be following this schedule to issue parking permits:  Seniors (August 11), Juniors (August 14), Sophomores (August 15) and any 10, 11, or 12 grader on August 16 between the hours of 9:00am to 3:00pm.  Parking permits WILL NOT BE available on Back to School night.  Any registration forms that are not completely filled out and signed by both the parent and student will not be accepted until they are complete.  Any students that will be attending Vantage this year will also need to purchase a permit if they plan to leave their vehicle at the high school parking lot area during the school day.  Extra parking forms are available in the high school office.

Mrs. Pam Smith, Cafeteria Supervisor will also be available in the cafeteria on “Back to School” night for students and parents to deposit money into their child(ren)’s lunch account(s).  All students must have funds available on their account the first day of school in order to buy breakfast, lunch or ala-carte items.  Free and Reduced Lunch Application forms will be available for you to complete that evening.  Applications need to be received before the start of school and can be dropped off at any of the principal’s offices.

If you are interested in receiving Text Alerts from the school, you can sign up for them on the Parkway Webpage under the “Parent Links” tab on the main webpage.  Just select the link: Parkway Text/Email Alerts, then select Ohio Alerts Subscribe/Unsubscribe.  After the page refreshes, select: “Subscribe to Alerts” and follow the online registration.  On this page, you can select only the alerts that you wish to be subscribed to by email or text message.  If you are already receiving text or email alerts, and want to change how you are receiving alerts, you will need to go and check what you are currently subscribed to and then make any necessary changes.

Parkway Schools weight room and all locker rooms are closed for cleaning, until further notice, effective immediately. Contact the school if you have questions.

Clifton and Tribolet Families Announce Engagement and Wedding Plans

Cameron and Lachelle Clifton, Wren, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Mekale Clifton, to Jeremy Tribolet, son of Scott and Michelle Tribolet, Rockford.

The bride-elect is a 2013 graduate of Crestview High School and a 2016 graduate of Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, with a Bachelor of Science in speech and language pathology.  She is currently a graduate student at Ball State University.

The prospective groom is a 2013 graduate of Parkway High School and will graduate in July from Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, with a Bachelor of Science in accounting.

The couple is planning an August 5, 2017, wedding at The Lodge in Yorktown, IN.  

Fatal Traffic Crash at St Rte. 29 and St Rte. 118 North Claims Life

Mercer County Sheriff, Jeff Grey reports that his office is investigating a fatal traffic crash that occurred today (July 18th, 2017) at 8:17 AM.   Grey reports that his office received numerous 911 calls at this time, reporting that there was a multi vehicle accident at the intersection of St Rte. 29 and St Rte. 118 North. 

The investigation found that a 2008 Kia being driven by 27 year old Lisa Rinderle of St. Henry, Ohio was North bound on Burkettsville – St. Henry Road.   Rinderle stopped for the stop sign at St Rte. 29.  Rinderle failed to yield the right of way and proceeded into the intersection and collided with a West bound 2001 Freightliner being driven by 57 year old Charles W Ward of St. Mary’s, Ohio.   Ward’s semi overturned and slid broad side down the roadway, where he was struck again by an East bound 2018 Volvo being driven by 37 year old Terry A Green II of Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

Grey reported that both Rinderle and Ward were transported to Mercer Health in Coldwater, where Ward was pronounced deceased from his injuries.  Rinderle is currently being treated at Mercer Health at the time of this release.   Green was treated and released at the scene. 

Grey stated that his office was assisted at the scene by members of the Celina Fire and EMS, Mercer County EMS, Mercer County Emergency Response Volunteers (MCERV), Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), Mercer County Emergency Management (EMA) and the State Motor Vehicle Inspector.

Grey called the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office Reconstruction Team to the scene for the investigation.    

At this time this crash remains under investigation.  Grey stated that once the crash is completed, his office will have this case reviewed by the Mercer County Prosecutors Office for possible charges. 

Grey stated that this marks the third fatal crash in Mercer County this year. 

Calvary Evangelical Church Updates

Lima Area Concert Band Coming to Parkway High School

The Larry Seibert Memorial Concert featuring the Lima Area Concert band will be held on August 27th at 3 pm in the auditorium at Parkway High School located at 400 W Buckeye St. in Rockford.

Adult tickets - $7 and Children 10-17 - $5

All proceeds will benefit the Parkway High School band.

The Lima Area Concert Band has been performing since 1971.  The band is
comprised of seventy volunteer musicians who all share the love of music.  The
members of the LACB are a living testimony that music truly is a lifetime activity.
It is a means of expression that encourages personal challenge, camaraderie, well spent
leisure time, and just plain fun.  It is a shining example of the value of music 
education in our schools.  

Larry Seibert, a Mendon native and more recently a citizen of Rockford, had played with the Lima Area Concert Band for more than 10 years.  One of Larry's dreams was to offer the caliper of music that the Lima Area concert Band plays to his Rockford family and friends and to show to the local band students that playing music shouldn't end after high school.  

Please join us as we celebrate Larry's life and enjoy the wonderful music as performed by the extremely talented musicians of the Lima Area Concert Band. 

Please Avoid Mud Pike Road As Resurfacing Begins
Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart, strongly recommends that, as much as possible, the traveling public avoid the Mud Pike road corridor west of Celina, and the intersecting Fleetfoot and Hellwarth roads.  “Over the course of approximately the next 7-10 days (weather permitting) intensive asphalt concrete resurfacing operations will be conducted by the contractor.  Through traffic should not utilize those 3 roads (Mud Pike, Fleetfoot, and Hellwarth).  Those needing to get to and from specific drive locations within this footprint of these roads should travel with the utmost caution and care in the construction area.”

Mercer Health’s West Wing Expansion Nears Completion of Steel Placement;

Topping Out Signing and Ceremony Planned

The construction of the West Wing Expansion at Mercer Health’s Mercer County Community Hospital is progressing as planned and has reached an important milestone – its topping out ceremony.  “We are pleased with the progress and are very excited to invite the community and our staff members to participate in some special events to celebrate the progress of the project.” shares Mindy Kremer, Senior Director of Development, Marketing and Community Relations at Mercer Health.

Beam Signing

The last structural beam to be placed in the building will be available for staff and community members to sign.  The beam will be available in the east lawn of Mercer Health West Campus (former Briarwood Manor), 830 W. Main St., Coldwater, on the following dates and times.

         Thursday, August 3rd – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 4 to 6 p.m.

         Friday, August 4th – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

         Saturday, August 5th – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

         Sunday, August 6th – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

         Monday, August 7th – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 4 to 6 p.m.

         Tuesday, August 8th – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 6 to 8 p.m.

         Wednesday, August 9th – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Topping Out Ceremony

A topping out ceremony, an exciting construction tradition, will take place on Wednesday, August 9th at 12 noon.  Refreshments will be served.  The ceremony will take place on the east lawn of Mercer Health West Campus (former Briarwood Manor), 830 W. Main St., Coldwater.

The West Wing Expansion is expected to be completed in Fall 2018.

VANTAGE ANNOUNCES ORIENTATION MEETINGS AND

SCHEDULE PICKUP DATES

It’s time to get ready for the new school year @ Vantage! There will be two orientation meetings to welcome new students and their parents to the school.  The first orientation meeting will be held on MONDAY, AUGUST 7 at 7:00 p.m.  This is for students who are enrolled in Ag & Industrial Power Tech, Auto Body, Auto Technology, Construction Equipment Technology, Carpentry, Electricity, Industrial Mechanics, Precision Machining, and Welding. 

The second orientation meeting is set for TUESDAY, AUGUST 8 at 7:00 p.m. and is for students in the following Business and Human Services programs: Network Systems, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Interactive Media, Early Childhood Education, Health Technology, and Medical Office Management.

Both meetings will be held in the Commons Area at Vantage.  The evening will include a brief general session as well as an opportunity for students and their parents to re-acquaint themselves with the Vantage building, talk to the teachers, complete electronic forms, pay program fees, put money on lunch accounts, pick up class schedules, and get measured for uniforms.  ALL STUDENTS NEW TO VANTAGE AND THEIR PARENTS SHOULD ATTEND THIS MEETING.  

Students who attended Vantage last year can pick up their schedule and pay program fees from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, August 7 and 8.  Parents should have received a letter in the mail with instructions on how to fill out the required “beginning of the year” forms using the Oneview parent portal. 

Returning students who are unable to pick up their schedule on the above dates should call Vantage Student Services at 419-238-5411 or 1-800-686-3944 ext. 2126 to make arrangements to get your schedule before school starts.

The first day of school for new students is Monday, August 21, starting at
8:23 a.m. The first day of school for returning students is Tuesday, August 22.  The school day runs until 2:40 p.m.

If you have any additional questions, please call Vantage Student Services at the number above for more information.

Our Old Bookcase, July 20, 2017, Cassella Post Office History

OUR OLD BOOK CASE

 By  Joyce L. Alig, President, Mercer County Historical Society

Photo caption:   The Village of Cassella, known as Marysville on this 1888 Atlas of Mercer County, Ohio Plat Map, identified the U.S. Post Office in the building on the southwest corner of Marion Street [St. Rt. 119] and Convent Street [Cassella-Montezuma Road].

An old Post Card of a Cassella building was the topic of the July 6, 2017 “Our Old Bookcase.”  Dale Poeppelman sent me a copy of another old Post Card of Cassella, with that same building, and across the street from that building, stood the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church.   That photograph confirmed the site of the building across the street, in the July 6, 2017 column.  I also received calls about the old Cassella Post Office being located in that building.

The Village of Cassella was platted with the name of “Marysville” in 1860.  The 1888 Plat Map of Marysville above was included in the “1888 Mercer County Atlas.”  Beneath the name of “Marysville,” is written “Cassella P.O., [Post Office], Marion Township.” 

The microfilm of the U.S. Post Office of Cassella, Marion Township, Mercer County, Ohio, confirms that an application for Capella, [Cassella] Post Office was made to the Post Office Department, at Washington, on April 20, 1878.  On May 28, 1878, The Topographer’s Office of the Post Office Department, at Washington, wrote the Postmaster at Cassella, Mercer Co., Ohio, and requested information.  On June 5, 1878, John Cron Postmaster at Cassella responded,  “The Post Office Department name of my Office is ‘Cassella.’  The local name is ‘Marysville’.  The nearest Office on route No. 21427 is Cranberry Prairie, two miles southwest.  The name of the nearest office on the same route on the other side is Maria Stein, four miles east.  The name of the nearest office ‘off the route,’ is Carthagena, 2.5 miles northwest.”

That same microfilm of the U.S. Post Office stated the Cassella Post Office was established April 22, 1878, and was discontinued June 15, 1905.  The Cassella Postmaster appointments were:  John Cron, April 22, 1878; John Houck, August 4, 1879; Philipp Staugler, October 22, 1880; Joseph Wily, January 20, 1886; Henry Cron, February 3, 1886; John Cron, March 13, 1889.  As of May 22, 1905, the Post office was discontinued and the mail was sent to Saint Henry.  The closing of the Cassella Post Office was effective as of June 15, 1905.

I looked at the history of the building at the southwest corner of St. Rt. 119 and Cassella-Montezuma Road.  I ask you readers, when was the road widened on St. Rt. 119?  Was the Cassella Tavern open until that time?  The Village of Marysville (Cassella) was not incorporated and I do not know the date as to when the Village became known as Cassella, in place of Marysville.

The 1989 Directory listed the Cassella Tavern at 6490 St. Rt. 119.  The October 16, 1980 “Mercer County Chronicle,” newspaper addressed the story of the recent fire in the store room of the Cassella Tavern, owned by Dennis and Tommy Kessen.  I checked previous Mercer County Directories, to learn the names of the owners of the Cassella Tavern, at 6490 St. Rt. 119.   The 1979 owners of the Cassella Tavern were Dennis and Thomas Kessen.  The 1977 owner of the “Cassella Store & Tavern” was Lari A. Robinson.  The 1970 Directory listed the Cassella Store and Tavern, but not the owner, just before the Cassella-Montezuma Road Intersection at St. Rt. 119.  The owners of this property would be listed at the Mercer County Recorder’s Office at the Mercer County Courthouse.  The 1980 story in the Chronicle suggested that this building dated back to the Civil War, in the 1860’s.  The Village of Marysville, later known as Cassella, was platted in 1860; this old tavern building may very well have dated back to the 1860’s. Apparently, the old Tavern building was the Cassella Post Office, between 1878 and 1905.

 
July 27, 2017
 

Reminder Parkway Youth Football Camp K-6

inside the Track 6-8pm Thurs and Fri.  Bring water.  Cleats preferred.  Athletic Dress.

Limberlost to present ‘Swift Night Out’

State Historic Site to host an educational event on chimney swift birds

GENEVA, Ind. – The public is invited to the Limberlost State Historic Site Visitor Center on Saturday, Aug. 5 at 7:30 p.m. for Swift Night Out, a free, family-friendly event, all about the chimney swift bird. These small birds are known for their aerial acrobatics and distinctive “chippering” sound.

“Chimney swifts are fascinating birds that are important for the number of insects they eat,” said Nicky Ball, Limberlost State Historic Site manager. “They are definitely unknown and underappreciated by most people.”

A program will be presented in the Limberlost Visitor Center classroom at 7:30 p.m., followed by a “swift sit” in downtown Geneva to watch the birds in flight. As the sun goes down, visitors will watch the swifts take shelter for the night in the chimneys of Geneva residents. Unlike other birds, chimney swifts are unable to perch upright and can only cling to vertical surfaces.

Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs for this free nature program. Donations are encouraged.

This event is sponsored by Geneva Dental Clinic and Berne Ready Mix.

For more information on Swift Night Out, please contact Curt Burnette, Limberlost State Historic Site program developer, at 260.368.7428 or cburnette@indianamuseum.org.

Limberlost State Historic Site in Adams County and the Loblolly Marsh Wetland Preserve in Jay County are located near Geneva in northeastern Indiana. Part of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Limberlost admission is free for Indiana State Museum & Historic Site members. General admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $3 for children. The Historic Site is located at 200 E. 6th St. in Geneva, Ind., just off U.S. Highway 27.

Our Old Bookcase, August 3, 2017 Antique Farm Equipment Exhibit at Coldwater Picnic August 5-6, 2017

By  Joyce L. Alig, President, Mercer County Historical Society

Photo caption:  New Idea Farm Equipment and Antique Tractors will be on exhibit at the Coldwater Community Park Picnic, Saturday and Sunday, August 5-6, 2017.

Saturday and Sunday, August 5 and 6, 2017 the Antique Tractors and New Idea Farm Equipment Exhibit will be hosted by the Members of the New Idea Historic Preservation Committee of the Mercer County Historical Society, at the north side of the Park, at the Coldwater Community Picnic at the Park. 

The New Idea Farm Equipment Exhibit will include New Idea products; for example: Manure Spreaders, Wagons, Hand Corn Shellers, Elevators, Balers, Lime Spreaders,  Hay Harvesting Equipment, Mounted Corn Pickers and Uni-System Corn Pickers, and other Uni-System Equipment..  The white tents will hold smaller collections, for example, New Idea Equipment Manuals, photographs, original wood patters by Orville Ranly and collections of New Idea Memorabilia by the Members of the New Idea Committee.

The Antique Tractors will include early tractors, hosted by the area tractor collectors.  Rare Tractors, as well as Gasoline Engines will be there. 

The New Idea History Book Series #2 about New Idea Company’s Corn Pickers and #3 about New Idea Company’s Uni-System will be on Exhibit.  For those of you who have not yet picked up your copy of these books, the books will be waiting for you at this Picnic.

The New Idea Farm Equipment and Antique Tractors Exhibit has been held by the New Idea Historic Preservation Committee Members and local farmers, since they held their First Exhibit beginning in 2005 at the Coldwater Community Picnic.  The New Idea Historic Committee was established by the Mercer County Historical Society in January 2000, following the December 1999 closing of the AGCO New Idea Company at Coldwater.  The NIHP Members have been meeting monthly, January through October since 2000, with a goal to preserve New Idea’s history by holding New Idea Manual Sales, and by hosting New Idea Farm Equipment and Antique Tractor Exhibits at Coldwater Community Picnic, Van Wert Old Fashioned Farmers Days, Greenville’s Farm Power of the Past, and Sandwich Farm Equipment at Sandwich, Illinois.  They have published a Series of three New Idea History Books. 

The 2017 Members of the New Idea Historic Preservation Committee include Alvin Alig, Richard Bashore, Ken Coffman, Vance Engle, Ron Fischer, Tom Fischer, Lavern Heuing, Jim Jutte, Joe Karafit, Joe Kuhn, Orville Kunk, Leo Lefeld, Linus Lefeld, Frank Mohlman, Don Muhlenkamp, Phil Naumann, Leroy Peters, Gary Rismiller, Bernard “Pete” Schaefer, Bob Stelzer. Jim Weiler, and Ollie Wendel.  Stop by this Exhibit at the Coldwater Community Picnic, and thank the Members for preserving your rural heritage in Coldwater as a part of Mercer County.  If this Committee had not preserved New Idea’s history, too much of that New Idea History would have been filed in history’s dustbin.

Thank the Mercer County Commissioners for creating plans for the Mercer County Historical Society in 1957 by including funds in their County Budget for 1958 to plan and implement the Mercer County Historical Society and Mercer County Historical Museum.  The Mercer County Historical Society has several dedicated committees, each with a separate project designed to preserve the many facets of Mercer County’s history and to educate the public about that history.

[Mercer County Historical Society President Joyce Alig, may be contacted at 3054 Burk-St. Henry Road, Saint Henry, OH 45883,  or histalig@bright.net or 419-678-2614]

A Classic Rock Release at The Niswonger

 
July 22-26, 2017
 

Dr. Tom Baltzell New Onsite Owner of Marysville Animal Care Center

Marysville Animal Care Center, LLC has added a new fulltime veterinarian, Dr. Thomas “Tom” Baltzell, DVM to its team. Dr. Baltzell had been working at the clinic since October 2016, but has recently become the new onsite owner.

Dr. Tad Sullivan, the founder and previous owner, is still seeing clients. Continuing the family-owned style business, Dr. Baltzell will be joined by his wife Dr. Ann Baltzell, DVM, as well as co-owners Dr. Brian Carson and Dr. Eric Ratliff.

“We look forward to continuing Dr. Sullivan’s commitment to the community, their clients, and patients,” said Dr. Tom Baltzell.

Shown left are practicing doctors at the clinic: Dr. TadSullivan, Dr. Ann Baltzell, Dr. Tom Baltzell, and Dr. Bethany Gibson

Upon graduating from Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004, Dr. Tom Baltzell joined a mixed animal practice in Urbana. He later moved to Columbus and became the owner of a clinic in 2005 and was eventually the chief-of-staff of a multi-site practice there. He has particular interest in internal medicine and soft tissue surgeries.

While the Marysville Animal Care Center focuses on companion animal medicine, he and his partners each bring unique areas of focus.

His partner, Dr. Carson has a particular interest in oncology (treatment of cancer) and critical care, while Dr. Ratliff exclusively performs advanced surgery and orthopedics.

Dr. Ann Baltzell is most interested in preventative care and challenging medical cases.

“We are bringing additional services to the area to minimize the need for residents to drive to Columbus for their pet’s more complex needs,” said Dr. Tom Baltzell.

The doctors’ commitments and roots in the community were factors in making the practice a home.

Dr. Ratliff’s wife, Diane Smith Ratliff, was born and raised in Marysville and is a 1979 MHS graduate. Dr. Carson and his family live in Lewis Center.

Dr. Tom Baltzell is originally from Rockford, OH, a graduate of Parkway High School, and is also a graduate of University of Toledo for his undergraduate degree. Dr. Ann Baltzell is originally from Celina, OH, a graduate of Celina High school and is also a graduate of Ohio State University for her undergraduate degree as well as Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine for her graduate degree. Doctors Tom and Ann have four children and a boxer named Vinny. Dr. Tom is a third degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a Cubmaster of Pack 550 in Dublin.

Dr. Tom Baltzell is the son of Sheila (Wood) Baltzell of Celina and the late Larry Baltzell.

Dr. Ann Baltzell is the daughter of Paul and Kathy (Siebert) Bonvillian.

Marysville Animal Care Center is a full service veterinary hospital that also offers boarding to assist its clients. Currently the clinic provides veterinary  services to the Union County Sheriff’s Office’s canine unit.

Joe Baltzell, Dylan Baltzell and Grace Baltzell, along with their parents, Christopher and Leslie (Barker) Baltzell, of Celina joyfully announce the birth of their new brother born to Chris and Leslie on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 1:28 PM.

He weighed 10 lb 4 oz and was 21-1/2 inches long.

Grandparents: Brenda Barker of Rockford; Kevin Barker; Sheila Baltzell of Celina and the late Larry Baltzell. Great- grandmothers: Eileen Davis and Martha Baltzell of Rockford.

Other births - click here

WJAR Night Team brings home the Emmy for Best Evening Newscast

Pictured is NBC10 anchor Patrice Wood and 11PM producer Ben Wilcox with the Emmy Award.

WJAR’s coverage of the Taunton, Massachusetts Galleria Mall stabbings the evening of May 10, 2016 earned NBC-WJAR Channel 10’s  11pm news an Emmy for Best Evening Newscast in New England outside of Boston and Hartford.  

“From the newsroom to the control room to the field, this team achieved something we haven’t done in recent memory, and that is a top honor for a single newscast,” read the news release by the TV station. “Congratulations to our Night Team colleagues who provided excellent coverage for this Emmy win:”

Jessica Botelho, web editor

Jennifer Bray, assignment editor

Brian Crandall, reporter

Kevin Dahlquist, director

Doug Monahan, director

Ryan Pickering, photographer

George Ramos, photographer

Matt Reed, reporter

Michelle San Miguel, reporter

Paul Tierney, photographer

Ben Wilcox, producer

Patrice Wood, anchor

Editor's note: Patrice Wood is Holly Patrice Wood, who grew up in Rockford and graduated from Parkway High School in 1973.

 
July 20-21, 2017
 

The Sportsman Club in Willshire  (East on State Route 81) will be holding their annual Trade Days and Flea Market on August 4th and 5th. there will be hunting and fishing items, flea market items, q vendors auction at 6 PM Saturday.

Free admission; everyone invited; lunch stand with breakfast and sandwiches served. contact info: 419-495-2730.

Praise Point church will offer Vacation Bible School from 6-8 PM at the church in Willshire on Thursday and Friday, July 27-28, 2017.

Camp Out is the theme and is for children Pre-K through 5th grade.

Contact info: 419-495-2074.

127 Yard Sale is coming August 2 through August 5, 2017

Tommy McDonough and Amber Swander of Rockford announce their engagement. He is the son of Larry and Tammy McDonough of Rockford, and she is the daughter of Nikki and (the late) Brad Swander of Willshire. Both are Parkway graduates. Tommy is also a graduate of University of Northwestern Ohio in agriculture and is self employed. Nikki is a graduate of Wright State University Lake Campus in education and employed as a teacher at Parkway Schools.

The wedding is Saturday, July 22 at 3:30 PM.

Rockford Carnegie Library to have Reading Party for The Summer Reading Participants and their Families

The Rockford Carnegie Library will have a summer Reading Party on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 11:30 PM in Shanes Park.

Jerry and Cheri (Clifton) Schaadt Celebrated their 50th Anniversary

Jerry and Cheri (Clifton) Schaadt celebrated their 50th Anniversary on Sunday, July 16, 2017. They were married 50 years ago to the day in 1967 at United Brethren in Christ Church in Wren.

They have one daughter Cheri (Scott) Rolsten of Mendon and two sons: Jerry Jr (Christine) of Union KY, and Neil (Ginny) of Greensboro, NC. They have seven grandchildren, whom they love to visit.

The couple celebrated in their church, St. Paul's United Church of Christ on Sunday, July 16, 2017 with their family present and a private celebration later.

Cheryl Ann Programs Plant Tree in Shanes Park

Thank you to Cheryl Ann Programs and A & A Greenhouse for planting a
Sunset Maple at Shanes Park in Rockford to celebrate the Cheryl Ann Programs
50 year Anniversary.

Pictured top: Dee and Norm VanTilburg, Bob Ransbottom - Rockford Tree Commission Vice President,
Shanes Park Board members Marlene Roebuck and Joyce Emans and 
Sandy Schaffner - Shanes Park Board President

Thank you to Lisa Kuhn, Fiscal Officer, for the pictures and info.

Business Enterprise Center at Wright State University-Lake Campus
August 2017 Class Schedule Line-Up

"STARTING RIGHT” (Pre-Business Seminar Held Monthly)
Each month the BEC hosts the Starting Right class for individuals planning to start a small business. This two-hour class gives you information to help you decide if business ownership is right for you and can assist you in starting your business the “Wright Way.” After attending the Starting Right class, you are entitled to free individualized business counseling. Must Pre-Register For All BEC Classes!

* We recommend all new business owners attend this class. 

QuickBooks for Small/Medium Businesses

Learn the best methods to record, track, and manage your hard-earned dollars. QuickBooks makes it easy to organize all of your financial data so you can manage your money, pay your bills, and track customer’s payments efficiently. Always know your business’s finances or inventory. Join Carla for 12-hours of software training on this highly-rated accounting software to help improve your bottom line! Participants who complete the workshop will receive a certificate.

Peer to Supervisor
A new position of authority means new challenges, new responsibilities, and learning new skills. Carla can teach you to communicate effectively, discover when to be flexible or firm, earn trust and gain respect from past peers, develop your own management style, learn how to motivate your people and understand how to handle difficult situations. You won’t want to miss this informative class!

Handling Conflicts/Interpersonal Relationships

The challenge with conflict lies in how you deal with it. Would you like to improve how you handle sensitive people and situations? Carla will describe how to approach communication, emotions, and behavioral issues and to view conflict as an opportunity. This course can help employees and employers who need to work on understanding others and developing relationships. Harmony is just a class away!

For more information about the BEC and its programs, call Carol Jones at 419-586-0902, email Carol.jones@wright.edu.

The Rockford Chamber welcomes Lots for Soldier home recipients - The Hamptons !
The Blessing of the Home and dedication took place on June 18th.

Lake Festival 5K

Registrations for the Lake Festival 5K run in Celina are being taken now at the Celina-Mercer County   Chamber of Commerce. 

The 5K run, a fundraiser for the Celina-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce, will be held Saturday,  July 29, 2017 at 8 A.M. The 5K begins at Lake Shore Park in Celina with the course traversing along West Bank Road.  This race is part of the Mercer Health 5K Challenge running series. 

The deadline to pre-register is July 28.  Pre-registration is $12.00 without a running tech shirt and $25.00 with a running tech shirt till July 12  

Trophies will be awarded to the top three male and female runners with an award of a $100.00 for a course record.  Medals will be awarded to first, second and third place in each age group with special awards to be given to the runner coming from furthest distance, the youngest and oldest runner.

There will be water on the course, splits at 1 mile and 2 mile marks.  Refreshments will be served at the finish.

Thank you to the following sponsors:  Celina-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce, Celina Insurance Group,  Mercer Savings Bank,  Behms Restaurant and  Landing, Celina Tent,  Dynamic Federal Credit Union, State Farm Brian Stephan, Schwieterman Pharmacy,  McKirman  Brothers, Celina Lions, and Mercer Health.

Registration forms are available online at www.celina-mercer.com or www.mercer-health5kchallenge.com or at the local chamber office at 121 E. Logan St. Celina.

For more information call the chamber at 419-586-2219. 

 
July 18-19, 2017
 

Village Rockford conducting sewer tests this week. If you have questions, please call 363-3032 ext. 1.

State Plowing Contest at Maurer Farm in Mendon

On July 29 at 9 AM the state plowing contest will take place in Mendon at the Maurer Farms location on State Route 707. Novice, Junior and Senior Classes.

Call Don Hays for info at 419-363-3806.

Tree Planting Ceremony

Cheryl Ann Programs have been working in Mercer County for 50 years.  To celebrate this
anniversary, they are planting trees in Mercer County Parks.  A tree planting ceremony will take place
at Shanes Park in Rockford, on Wednesday - July 19th from 1 - 2 pm.    The public is welcome
to attend.  Ice Cream will be served after the planting.

Drug Take-Back Planned in Rockford

The Mercer County Sheriff’s Department will conduct a Drug Take-back Event for getting rid of old and unused medication. It is at the Rockford Fire Station on Main street in Rockford on Saturday, July 29, 2017 from 9-noon. Pills accepted ~ No liquids or needles.

Rockford is Busy with Projects

1.  Columbia Street project - almost done !

2.  Shanes Crossing Subdivision beginnings - lots for sale now !
     Contact Jeff Long at 419-363-3032 ext 4

Ice Cream Social

Sunday, July 30

4:30-6:30

Rockford UM Church Social Room

202 South Franklin St.

Rockford, OH 45882

 
July 14-17, 2017
 

Wabash Telephone Company now has speeds up to 1 gig for your Internet.

Visit them at www.wabash.com or call 419-942-1111 for the details.

2017 Lambert Days Coming – July 21-23

The Ohio City Park Association and the Lambert Days Committee has finalized the 2017 Lambert Days festival.

Lambert Days is always the third “full” weekend in July. This year’s dates are from the 21st-23rd. This is also the 50th anniversary of Ohio City celebrating the life of John W. Lambert and his invention of “America’s First Automobile”. For general information about Lambert Days please contact Jason Parrish (567) 259-9460, Brenda Weaver (419) 965-2000, Scott Bigham (419) 953-9511 or Ralph Riley (419) 965-2443. We will be having a community-wide garage sale for more information contact Laura Morgan (419) 965-2515. We will also be providing food all weekend in our newly renovated Community Building on State Route 118. Our website: lambertdays.com

FRIDAY - Our festivities start off with a Steak Dinner (carry-out is available) on Friday at 4:00. The Ohio City American Legion Harvey Lewis Post 346 will have a flag rising ceremony at 5:00. The kids’ games and inflatables will also open at 5:00. At 6:00 we have our Wiffleball Homerun derby for information contact Lorenzo Frye (419) 771-7037. We will be providing entertainment in the tent a 6:00 featuring Cass Blue. At 7:00 we are having Adult Wiffleball for more information contact Brian Bassett (419) 203-8203. We have a Texas Hold ‘em Tournament that starts at 7:00, along with Monte Carlo Night that starts at 8:00 for more information contact Jeff Agler (419) 513-0580. Our entertainment for Friday night starts at 8:00 and will be the band: Colt & Crew. We will also have our Fireworks Display at 10:15 (Saturday night is the rain date).

SATURDAY – Saturday morning begins with our Softball Tournament at 8:00, for more information contact Brian Bassett (419) 203-8203. We also have our Co-ed Volleyball Tournament that starts at 9:00 for more information you can contact Tim Matthews (419) 203-2976. Our Kids’ Wiffleball Tournament starts at 10:00 for more information contact Lorenzo Frye (419) 771-7037. Kids’ Games and Inflatables continue at 11:00. Cornhole Tournament registration and 3on3 Basketball Tournament registration starts at 12 and both tournament starts at 1:00, for more information on Cornhole contact Josh Agler (567) 259-9941 and for 3on3 basketball contact Scott Bigham (419) 953-9511. Our Hog Roast Dinner starts at 4:00 and carry-out is available. We will also have music under the tent by Jeff Unterbrink at 4:00. We have Bingo at 5:00, and we finish the night with Megan White and Cadillac Ranch.

The Rockford United Methodist Church is planning its annual Ice Cream Social for Sunday, July 30, 2017. It is from 4:30 to 6:30 and features homemade food and homemade ice cream. Soooo delicious!

All proceeds go to support the Mission Projects of the United Methodist Women. Church is located at 202 S. Franklin in Rockford. Everyone is invited!

Open House for Thomas Couple Planned

Rockford United Methodist Church will host an Open House on Sunday, July 23 to honor John and Kay (Kettering) Thomas before their move to Georgia.

John and Kay have been in this area all of their lives and have touched the lives of many along the way. John worked at New Idea in Coldwater for many years.

Kay taught in the Parkway Elementary School for years until her retirement. Her second career presented many opportunities for traveling with Riverside Charter.

The Thomas' two children, Mark and Diane, and their grandchildren, Owen and Caroline, residents of Georgia, are awaiting the reuniting of family.

The Open House will begin at 2pm in the church Social Room. Please plan to stop in to reminisce and wish John and Kay all good things as they begin the next chapter of their lives in Georgia.

 
July 12-13, 2017
 

Parkway Junior High Football Camp is Monday July 17, 2017 at 4:30 PM

Picture from 2016

13th Annual Shane’s Crossing 5k Run/Walk

Saturday, July 15th 2017 @ 8:30 A.M.

Race Location: Starts and ends at Shane’s Park, 705 W. Front Street, Rockford, OH.

Times: Pre‐registration post-marked by July 7, 2016 (July 5th to guarantee shirt)

Day of Race Registration begins at 7:30am

(New this year!) ½ Mile Run for ages 12 & Under begins at 8:00am

Opening Ceremonies begin at 8:15am

Click Here for the full details with entry form in printable PDF format to fill out and send in. Address included to Steve Fisher, event coordinator.

 
July 10-11, 2017
 

The National Weather Service and Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey issued a tornado warning for Rockford  on Monday, July 10, 2017 about 8:30 PM, and shortly thereafter, the pop-up hit. The tornado was sighted by residents around the Tama Road area south of Rockford and it reportedly touched down as the storm traveled from Tama Road southeasterly through the village of Mercer at US Route 33 and 127 angling across to St. Marys, OH.  It was followed by a severe thunderstorm warning by Sheriff Grey until 11 PM which produced nonstop thunder and lightning for a period of time. 4/10 inches of rain fell with that storm. 4 inches of rain was reported in the extreme northeast corner of Mercer County near Spencerville.

Eyewitness, Sherry Shaffer commented, "

Sheila,  we watched this from north of us (south and west of Rockford) almost on top of Rockford.  Our daughter was home and had gone to Rockford and said the wind was really bad.  The cloud moved more slowly than ones we've seen before. 

At one point the cone tipped and you could see a defined circle with an empty middle.   It took almost 10 minutes for it to move from over Rockford to this point.  Reminded me of a lumbering giant.   Very amazing.  

Sherry."

Picture by Sherry Shaffer as it moves over Rockford

Picture above by Sherry Shaffer as it moves toward Mercer and begins to take shape.

The picture below (by Sheila Baltzell) is a look north from Celina at the shelf cloud which produced the tornado. According to reports, a National Weather Service expert confirmed that a tornado did touch down near Winkler and Jordan Roads west of Rockford. No property damage was reported.

Thank you to Henkle Insurance for Sponsoring the Weather Channel Link above!

OLIVE BRANCH TO HAVE SUPER HERO VBS

Calling all Super heroes!   Olive Branch Church will have a free two day VBS this Friday and Saturday, July 14th and 15th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Kids ages 4 through entering 6th grade are invited to participate in the fun.                                                                                                                                 

This is going to be one SUPER VBS!   It will be a great opportunity for kids to discover that some of the people found in the bible were great bible heroes.  Those stories will help inspire kids to realize how they can be a great hero too by trusting God and having faith in Jesus who is our Ultimate Super Hero!   Each story will concentrate on*superpowers* that we receive by God.  Because of Jesus and through the HolySpirit, we can ALL have these “powers”.                                                                                                                                                                                          Each day will also include high energy songs, fun recreation and really neat crafts.  Each child will receive their own Super Hero cape and mask!   A free lunch will also be provided each day. Olive Branch is located between Ohio City and Rockford on State Route 118.

If you have questions call 419 203-7723.

 
July 7-9, 2017
 

Rockford EMS Plans Open House and Health Fair
The Rockford EMS is planning an Open House and Health Fair at their facility on Main Street in Rockford on Saturday July 29, 2017 from 9-noon.  It is all free with blood pressure and glucose checks, CPR presentations and ambulance tours, free giveaways and volunteer opportunities. Contact rockfordems@gmail.com

Meeting Date Change

Because of the July 4th Holiday - the Rockford Bicentennial Committee meeting has
been changed to July 10th - Rockford Village Hall - 7 pm.

Mercer County EMA Posts Meeting Dates

EMA Advisory Board Meeting

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

EMA Office          
Celina                        12:05 PM

LEPC Meeting &

PUBLIC CRITIQUE of HAZMAT EXERCISE

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Central Services Building 
2nd Floor Conference Room
Celina            7:30 AM

No Lost Time

Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart announced recently that for the 2nd quarter of 2017, its full time and seasonal work force of 35 employees recorded no (0) lost time injuries as related to on the job injuries.

“Achieving quarterly benchmarks of no lost time injuries is a direct result of our employees collaboratively embracing a safety culture.  Kudos to our workforce in achieving this milestone.  With safety being a priority, our folks are working smarter and staying healthier.”  Wiechart stated.

OUR OLD BOOK CASE

By  Joyce L. Alig, President, Mercer County Historical Society

Photo caption:   The Village of Cassella is located at the intersection of St. Rt. 119 and Cassella-Montezuma Road.  Do any readers recognize these old buildings at Cassella?

This Cassella post card was being sold over ebay, by Jim and Donna Dehne from Richardson, Texas.  There is a connection between the early settlement in Mercer County, Ohio  and Texas.  After the turn of the century, in the early 1900’s, several Mercer County families moved to Texas.  The railroads were being used for travel as well as transportation of goods, and the U.S. Mail.  Post cards were a popular method of communication among families “here and there.”   This is my theory as to how the Cassella post card made it to Texas.

The Church at Cassella was named the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, and was formed in 1847.  With the migration of German citizens in the 1830’s and 1840’s, St. Rt. 119 was right on the direct route of settlers entering Mercer County, from the Miami & Erie Canal at Minster. 

The village of Cassella was platted as Marysville in 1860.  On June 5, 1878, John Cron, Post Master wrote, “The Post Office name of my office is Cassella.  Its local name is Marysville.”  [The Cassella Post Office was discontinued June 15, 1905.]  The 1876 Map of Mercer County stated that John Cron was Postmaster at Cassella Post Office in 1876.  The 1882 “History of Van Wert and Mercer Counties, Ohio,” edited by R. Sutton, stated that John Cron was the Postmaster at Cappella [Cassella] from 1868-1876.  The U.S. Post Office states that the Cassella Post Office was established in 1878.  [Remember the old adage, “Read not to believe nor disbelieve, but to weigh and consider.”]  Studying this photograph, it appears to me that the building on the left side of the photograph may have been the local General Store.  Often the early Villages had the Post Office mail, in their local General Stores.  I wonder if this building in Cassella was the site of their first Post Office?

The October 16, 1980 Mercer County Chronicle newspaper carried photographs and a story of the fire in the store room of the Cassella Tavern.  The area fire departments arrived quickly and prevented the fire from spreading to the main building.  At that time, Dennis (Spanky) Kessen and Tommy (Tammy) Kessen were the owners.  The newspaper reported that this tavern had been an old landmark in Cassella and dated back to the Civil War.  Cassella was platted in 1860; it is possible the first General Store did date back to the Civil War, in the 1860’s.  The 1980 newspaper photograph of the Cassella Tavern building resembles the building on the Cassella Post Card above.

In 1976, the newspaper borrowed a photograph from Henry J. Leugers, of the interior of Cassella Saloon, dated about 1911.  I wonder if this was the same building, known as the Cassella Tavern?

I re-read the “History of Cassella,” written by Oscar Eifert, for the 1978 “Mercer County History Book.”  For those seeking the early history of Cassella, the early names for the local village included Marysville, Kappella, Frogtown, and Dog Town.  In the 1980’s Ray Feltz volunteered at the Mercer County Historical Museum.  Ray would tell stories of Frog Town and Dog Town.

When I retired as Director of the Mercer County Historical Museum in 2004, I wrote several Township History books, for people doing research on a specific Township within Mercer County.  The “Passport to Mercer County Ohio History, Marion Township,” includes a bibliography of historical resources of Marion Township Villages and Sites, including Cassella’s history.   The Village of Cassella will have its 160thBirthday in 2020.   Who is interested in writing a book about Cassella’s history for 2020?  Who wants to help the Mercer County Historical Society to preserve Cassella’s history as a part of Mercer County’s history?

[Mercer County Historical Society President Joyce Alig, may be contacted at 3054 Burk-St. Henry Road, Saint Henry, OH 45883,  or histalig@bright.net or 419-678-2614]

OUR OLD BOOK CASE

By  Joyce L. Alig, President, Mercer County Historical Society

Photo caption:   This February 17, 2011 letter from U.S. Board on Geographic Names to Charles H. Ayers, at Celina, confirms the local lake’s name as “Grand Lake.” 

Questions keep coming across my desk about the “official” name of the local lake between Mercer & Auglaize Counties.  I have written about the many names of this lake, over the years.  This February 17, 2011 letter printed above should remove any doubt about the name of “Grand Lake.”

Questions keep coming across my desk about how Saint Marys gained and lost the status of being the Mercer County Seat.  On February 16, 2017, I wrote about St. Marys being the Mercer County Seat from 1824 until September 12, 1839, when the County Seat was moved to Celina.  I asked if anyone knew why the County Seat was moved from St. Marys to Celina.

John Valentine, New Bremen, sent me a copy of a page from Frank Shuffelton’s book, “The Saint Marys Story, 1823-1973,” written for the Village’s Sesquicentennial.  On page 28, Shuffelton wrote:

            “When this area was laid out by the State Legislature in 1820, the County of Mercer contained the western half of Auglaize County.  [Auglaize County was not founded until 1848, which resulted in St. Marys, New Bremen and Minster being a part of Mercer County, 1824-1847.  As of 1848 the three villages became a part of the newly formed County, Auglaize County.]  In 1824, the proprietors of Saint Marys, (Murray, Houston and McCorkle), gave the County Commissioners 31 of the 68 plotted lots.  These lots were sold by the Commissioners to raise funds for the establishment of the county to build a courthouse, a jail, and provide operating monies.  By virtue of this gift, the new County was successfully established.  Sixteen years later, in 1840, the controlling votes of the Commissioners passed to elect members of the western most parts of Mercer County.  They wanted the County seat to be closer to themselves.  Consequently, they moved the Courthouse and all to Celina, much to the unhappiness of Saint Marys.  In 1848, a new County of Auglaize was formed.  An Election was held soon to choose a site for the new County seat.  Wapakoneta wanted it as being close to the geographical center while Saint Marys pushed its claim of being nearer the center of population.”   Auglaize Countians can check those records at the Auglaize County Courthouse.  Shuffelton recommended in the introduction to his 1973 book, that Saint Marys plan for its Bicentennial celebration in 2023.  I do hope that Auglaize County includes the facts about the elections in the 1830’s and 1840’s for their Bicentennial Celebration.

The first week of April, 2017, I contacted the Mercer County Board of Elections twice, and asked them to provide the public records about the public elections in the 1830’s and 1840’s.  I have not heard from them as of this July.  The public is interested in the information which may confirm the story about why the Courthouse was moved to Celina.

When I was writing the “History of the Mercer County Courthouse,” for the Mercer County Commissioners, for the 75th Celebration of the current Courthouse in 1998, I did not find a record of a meeting of the Mercer County Commissioners which recorded why they made the decision and/or passed a Resolution to change the site of the Mercer County Seat.  I did find the Mercer County Commissioners’ Journal that the Commissioners held their first meeting at Celina, dated September 12, 1839.

Decisions to move an Ohio County Courthouse, from one Village to another Village should have been a public record in 1839.  Was this decision about a County Public Building Site, a private decision made behind closed doors?   In the “Ohio Sunshine Laws, An open Government Resource Manual,” from the Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, the statement is made, “Over 200 years of Sunshine:  Reflections on Open Government.”

[Mercer County Historical Society President Joyce Alig, may be contacted at 3054 Burk-St. Henry Road, Saint Henry, OH 45883,  or histalig@bright.net or 419-678-2614]

New Troopers Assigned to the Van Wert Patrol Post

VAN WERT - The Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol has two new troopers serving at the post.

Troopers Chase Black and Austin Adams graduated from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy on March 24, 2017 after 26 weeks of intense paramilitary training.

Courses completed by the Patrol’s 161th class included crash investigation, criminal and traffic law, detection of impaired drivers, firearms, physical fitness, self-defense, and emergency vehicle operations.

The troopers recently completed their field-training period and are now serving the Van Wert and Paulding county communities.

Austin Adams

Chase Black

Sign-Up For Wren Rib Roast Cook-off

It’s Rib Cook-off time again!  The 14^th Annual Wren Rib Roast Cookoff will be held on Saturday, August 19, 2017 during the Homecoming festivities.  This year’s theme will be “Backyard Bonfire BBQ”.  Cooks are asked to consider adding a flare of creativity with their main entry and/or side dishes that connect to the theme.

Contestants will need to provide any equipment and supplies necessary for the cook-off. Western-style pork ribs will be provided, at no cost, to each contestant on the Thursday before the contest. All types of spices, marinades, and “secret recipes” are encouraged.  All types of cookers and any fuel sources will be accepted.  Cooking will take place outside the Wrenway Wiffleball Park, with judging starting at 11:30 am.  Ribs will be judged on taste and tenderness.  A separate prize will be given for presentation, sauce and best side dish.  For the third consecutive year, a “People’s Choice” award will once again be presented. Visiting rib enthusiasts can enter a drawing to be one of two “celebrity judges”.  All ribs must be prepared on-site the day of the contest.

To sign up or find out more information, please call James Lautzenheiser at (216) 262-2805. You may also reach him at james.lautzenheiser@yahoo.com. Only the first 15 amateur cooks who register will be permitted to participate.  Deadline to enter is Tuesday, August 1, 2017.  T-shirts will be available to order prior to August 1^st.

Faith Bible Institute for Adults Coming to Liberty Baptist Church

(Van Wert) Open enrollment has begun for the Faith Bible Institute for adults which is held at the Liberty Baptist Church at 501 E. Third Street, Van Wert, Ohio.  FBI is a once a week Bible Institute with 3 hours of college level studies each Thurs. night beginning at 6 pm. The first session for this year’s fall semester is Aug. 24, 2017. The last night for this semester is Dec. 14.  The DVD instructor is John Yates, who founded Faith Bible Institute in 1985.  FBI courses have been held in churches in 47 U S states and 7 different continents.  Although FBI is designed to bring a practical Bible education to lay people to enrich your Christian lives and help you better understand the Bible, FBI is also an excellent tool to encourage Sunday School teachers, Bible teachers, as well as Pastors, evangelists and missionaries. Each night of studies includes one Old Testament Bible lesson, one New Testament Bible lesson and one Bible doctrine theology lesson.  This 2017 fall semester will cover:  the Separate Kingdoms of Israel & Judah, the New Testament Epistles of  Paul, and the theology course will be on the Doctrine of  Salvation.   If you attend Faith Bible Institute every semester for 3 years, you will study every book of the Bible. Some Bible Colleges will also accept FBI credits towards higher degrees. Your host and director of the Van Wert classes is Mr. Fred Heimann and Pastor Jim C. Burns is the pastor of the host church.   You may enroll online at:  www.fbiclass.com & enter classes for "Van Wert."  If you have any questions about the area Faith Bible Institute classes for the fall semester you may contact Fred Heimann at 260-413-2873, or view the Faith Bible Institute’s web site at:  www.fbiclass.com.

 
July 5-6, 2017
 

Couple Celebrates 50th Wedding Anniversary

Jason E. & Rae S. Dull will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on July 14, 2017. They were married July 14th, 1967 at the United Methodist Church in Pleasant Mills IN.

Jay & Rae have five daughters: Jenni (Bobby) Brewer of Celina OH; Julie (Chris) Coppler of Decatur IN; June (Jason) Arnold of Celina OH; Jessica (Len) Archibald of Lima OH; & Joelle (Travis) Pond of Celina OH.

In their golden years, Jay & Rae love to spend time with their family, especially their 15 grandchildren & 4 great grandchildren. They also love to sit on the glider, on their front porch, and take in all the outdoors has to offer.

Parkway Board of Education to Meet on July 11, 2017 - Click here to see Agenda by Sally Cox

Reminder to Pull over and STOP for All Public Safety Vehicles

Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reminds motorists that the Ohio Revised 

Code 4511.45 requires all vehicles to yield the right of way to public safety 

vehicles.  Public safety vehicles are Fire, EMS and Law Enforcement

 vehicles using emergency flashing red or blue lights and sirens. 

The law requires you to stop as close as possible to the right side of the 

roadway and remain in that position until the public safety vehicle has 

passed.

The Sheriff’s Office has received complaints regarding vehicles that refuse 

to yield to emergency vehicles. Vehicles that do not stop and/or pull to the 

right of the roadway may be charged with a misdemeanor of the fourth 

degree on a first offense. Maximum penalty is $250 fine and 30 days in jail. 

Sheriff Grey reminds motorists to drive safely and allow those responding 

to emergencies get to their destination safely as well, they may be 

responding to help someone you know. 

Writers Invited

The Stateline Writers Club is scheduled to meet on Saturday, July 15, at 10 a.m. in the Celina public library.  The suggested composition topic is a summer activity.

If time permits, the meeting will include a writing activity.

Rockford Rec Fall Sports Registration - Flag Football & Soccer 

The Rockford Recreation Association is currently accepting registration forms for the 2017 fall sports season. Registration and medical forms can be printed from www.rockfordrec.com, the Rockford Rec Facebook page, or picked up at the Rockford Village Office. Registration deadline for all fall programs is August 6th.

The 2017 Fall Soccer League is open to boys and girls entering grades K-6. Games will be played on Sunday afternoons at Shanes Park through the months of September and October. The registration fee is $25.00 per child and each participant will receive a team jersey. Each player is required to provide their own shin guards. 

The 2017 Fall Flag Football League is open to boys and girls entering grades 1-6. Flag football games will be played on Monday evenings at Shanes park through the months of September and October. The registration fee is $25.00 per child and each participant will receive a team jersey and a mouthpiece. Mouthpieces are required to participate at all practices and games. 

Completed registration forms, medical forms, and registration fees can be dropped off at the Rockford Village Office or mailed to Rockford Rec. - PO Box 16 - Rockford, OH 45882. 

 
July 1-4, 2017
Happy Independence Day!

 

Taste of Celina – Very Fun and Delicious Event

A Taste of Celina Block Party and Car Show is scheduled for Friday, July 14th in downtown Celina.  The festivities will be downtown Main Street in Celina from 5-10pm. You will be able to taste the unique specialties of several different Celina restaurants and caterers.  Food items will require 1 to 4 food tickets which will be available at the ticket tent for $1 each.  If you wish to avoid the lines, presale tickets are on sale now at the Celina Mercer County Chamber office located at 121 East Logan Street in Celina.  Buy 20 tickets; get one free for a limited time! 

Tables and chairs will align the streets so you can sit and enjoy food and friends while also listening to live music by Will Freed and Friends. Beer and wine tasting will also be available inside some of the downtown restaurants.   Several local establishments will be open after the event closes with special entertainment.  Feel free to browse through the unique specialty shops that downtown has to offer.  Again this year at the south end of Main Street is the cruise in car show.  The evening has so much to offer with food, friends, and fun at the Taste of Celina Block Party and Carshow.

For more information, call the Celina Mercer County Chamber of Commerce at 419-586-2219.  

 
Picture from 2016

13th Annual Shane’s Crossing 5k Run/Walk

Saturday, July 15th 2017 @ 8:30 A.M.

Race Location: Starts and ends at Shane’s Park, 705 W. Front Street, Rockford, OH.

Times: Pre‐registration post-marked by July 7, 2016 (July 5th to guarantee shirt)

Day of Race Registration begins at 7:30am

(New this year!) ½ Mile Run for ages 12 & Under begins at 8:00am

Opening Ceremonies begin at 8:15am

Click Here for the full details with entry form in printable PDF format to fill out and send in. Address included to Steve Fisher, event coordinator.

 
June 28-30, 2017

 

Artist from Urbana, Native of Rockford Area, to Speak on Radio Show

Todd Buschur will be interviewed on the Spectrum radio show by Kevin
Sandler on WCSM on Friday, July 7. He will talk about his own art plus his
involvement in the Lake Area Arts Group. Todd is a Parkway graduate and now teaches art in Urbana, OH. His personal artwork is shown in the area ~ one such place being Eastview Park in Celina, OH.

Northmen and Cathy to Perform in Rockford

The Northmen and Cathy will be in concert at Rockford United Methodist Church on Sunday, July 9, at 8:30 and 10:30 worship services. The Northmen and Cathy are celebrating 28 years as a full-time Christian music ministry. The group consists of three members. Lead singer is Alan Godsey, Alan’s wife, Cathy, sings alto and plays piano. Singing baritone is Brad Luzadder.

The Northmen and Cathy are a ministry that entertains and uplifts the Christian, as well as reaches out to a lost and dying world to let them know that Jesus still saves.

Rockford United Methodist Church is located at 202 South Franklin Street, where Chip Steffy is lead pastor. Please join us when the Northmen and Cathy come to entertain and inspire us.

MILITARY FAMILY RECEIVES NEW HOME

For Jonathan and Kami Hampton, looking to the organization Lots for Soldiers for a home didn’t seem like the real-deal at first.

"When I first heard of Lots for Soldiers, I thought it was kind of a too-good-to-be-true type of things and it turned out to be a really great organization that really cares about the veterans," Jonathan Hampton said.

But now, the town of Rockford is welcoming in the Hampton family after helping build a home for the couple and their young son with a house dedication and raising of the American flag. Lots for Soldiers helps out military families by bringing the community together to build them a home on a donated residential lot, and it’s just a way to give back to those that have served or are serving now.

"We found a that there are a whole host of people out there that want to say thank you in some fashion for the veterans' service but they don't know how to do it, so we actually started to provide a way for them to say thanks," said Homer Burnett, Board President of Lots for Soldiers.

That community has been very warm towards Jonathan, who is a career counselor and recruiter for the Ohio National Guard and Kami, who is a licensed practical nurse - a community that they are excited to be a part of soon.

"We're looking forward to the community because they're a close knit community - both of us come from bigger communities, not really big cities, but bigger than this, where they're not as close knit," said Kami Hampton.

This is the second home that Lots for Soldiers has donated, and they’re planning to build more this coming fall.

Local Veterans helped with the dedication.

Lake Area Arts to Meet

The Lake Area Arts Group will meet on Wednesday, July 12 at the
Richardson-Bretz building beginning at 6 p.m. Items will include given art creations, 2D and 3D art at the Celina CityAdministrative building, and stations at Eastview Park. Otherpertinent points will include the following: 1. Public art at
Montgomery Field, 2.Mercer County Fair booth for art, 3. new methods in art by Emilie Fisher, a graduate of Parkway High School, and 4.2017-18 LAAG programs.

Public is invited.

Tia Caffee of Willshire will have solo exhibits for the month of July at CJ Highmarks in Celina. Her artistic creations 
will be admired by many, many people. 

Public is encouraged and welcome to visit.

Ice Cream Social Planned

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Serving from 4:30-7pm

Homemade ice cream, pies, cakes, sandwiches

St. John Lutheran Church, Hopewell Twp.

9009 State Route 118, Celina, OH

(Corner of St. Rt. 118 & Oregon Rd.)

Calvary Evangelical Church Updates

Mercer Health Weight Management Center continues

with Weight Management Support Program

Gentle Yoga Demonstration

The Weight Management Center at Mercer Health will be holding a special, free speaker event on Monday, July 10, at 6:00pm at Mercer Health’s West Campus location.  Join Jenna Moody, Certified Gentle Yoga Instructor, as she explains and demonstrates the art of Gentle Yoga, as well as her own personal weight loss journey.  Registration is preferred for this event.

The Mercer Health Weight Management Center also continues to offer several other Weight Management programs throughout the year.  The following programs are now available through Mercer Health’s Weight Management Center:

1)      Medical Weight loss is now available, with the addition of Lindsey Moeller, CNP, to the Weight Management Center staff.  This offers medically managed weight loss, including surgical and non-surgical interventions, weight loss medications, and appointments specialized to discuss your personal weight loss needs.

2)      The weight loss surgery program continues to grow, and now includes laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy surgery.  The required informational seminar is now available online anytime at www.mercer-health.com. 

3)      Rev It Up!® Weight Management is a 9-week interactive lifestyle program led by our registered dietitian that covers topics such as behavior modification, hunger and fullness signals, fluid needs, meal timing, aerobic exercise, and more. The next 9-week session begins this fall.

4)      The Medifast® Program offers a structured meal plan that incorporates specially formulated Medifast meal replacement and snack products to achieve a low calorie, low carbohydrate diet.  To begin the Medifast program, view the required “Introduction to Medifast” class online anytime at www.mercer-health.com.

5)      The MedGem Indirect Calorimeter is a handheld device that determines an individual’s resting metabolic rate.  This test also includes an interpretation with a registered dietitian to determine an appropriate caloric level for weight loss.  Tests are scheduled on a patient by patient basis.

6)      The monthly Weight Management Support Group Program is held the second Monday of each month at 6:00pm at Mercer Health West Campus meeting room.

To register for the Support Program, or for more information about this program or other Weight Management Programs available at Mercer Health, contact the Weight Management Center at 419-678-8446. 

Redskin Classic 5K

The Redskin Classic 5K walk/run will be Sunday July 2th 2017 at 8:45 A.M. at St. Henry, Ohio.  This event is sponsored by P. T. Services with the proceeds to benefit community improvements and events.

This walk/run is part of the Mercer Health 5K Challenge Series.

The course will start and finish on Columbus St. near the high school.  Race day registration will be at the school for $13.00 with no shirt.

Mail completed form and check to: P.T. Services c/o Connie Buschur, 452 Stachler Dr. St. Henry, Ohio 45883.  If you wish to receive race results, please visit www.mercerhealth5kchallenge.com .  For information call 419-678-4444.

Those who complete all eight challenge races will receive a half-zip, Dri-fit pullover.  Those who complete six races will receive a T-shirt.  Good running!

 
June 23-27, 2017
 

Corn in Right of Way

Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart is reminding landowners and farmers that corn that has been planted and is encroaching in the road right-of-ways can be a very serious sight problem on the narrower township and county roads.  “Such sight problems limiting the ability of the traveling public to see, can be particularly hazardous; causing the very real and dangerous potential for intersection accidents,” Wiechart said.

The Mercer County Engineer’s Office requests that landowners review these intersections where they have corn planted and if they see sight problems, they lessen the hazard by removing that portion of the crop that is obstructing the clear line of sight.  Details regarding existing township and county road right-of-ways may be obtained by contacting the engineer’s office.

Taste of Celina - Great Food, Music and Community

Friday, July 14, 2017 from 5 to 10 PM; Great Food; Car Show; Music by Will Freed and Friends.

Public Service Announcement

The Village of Rockford will begin a project of smoking the sewer system.  This will begin on July 5th and may continue for up to 2 weeks.  You may see white smoke coming up out of the ground – do not be alarmed.

41st Old Fashioned Farmers Days coming to Van Wert Fairground

Plan now to take in the fun at the Old Fashioned Farmers’ Days Event to be held June 29 through July 2, 2017. Tractors, engines, equipment food and fun. See the ad and website link at the top of the Parkway Independent.

 
June 22, 2017
 

RADC Members, to Meet in Rockford in august
The Rockford Area Development Corporation meeting is cancelled for Monday, June 26th at 7pm in the Rockford Library basement.
There is no July Meeting. The August meeting is planned.

Jeanne (Clouse) Osterfeld Hired as New Parkway Superintendent

The Parkway Local School Board on Tuesday, June 13, voted to hire Jeanne (Clouse) Osterfeld as their new Superintendent, offering her a two year contract beginning on August 1, 2017 . She will make $94,500 salary per year. A native of Rockford, Osterfeld is a Parkway graduate herself and is the daughter of Bill and Sharon (Hamrick) Clouse of Rockford.

The board thanked the public and staff for their input, through an online survey, as they deliberated on the pool of candidates. The board was looking for a student-first candidate with strong leadership and communications skills.  Mrs. Osterfeld will come to Parkway from Versailles Middle School where she has been serving several years as the principal.

Greg Puthoff, the current superintendent, will retire after 8 years in the position and 4 years as high school principal at Parkway.  

Greg Puthoff Retiring as Parkway Superintendent on July 31, 2017 – Moving on in his Educational Career

Greg Puthoff has been at the helm of Parkway for 8 years as Superintendent and 4 years as high school principal. He plans to retire at the end of the month. 

He grew up on a small farm outside of St. Henry where he enjoyed playing football, basketball and baseball during high school. He received a Football Scholarship to Ohio University.  Greg credits his
brother in law who was a teacher and influenced Greg’s  decision to go in to Education.

Greg ~ early on in his career ~ set an Educational goal to become a Superintendent. As the High School Principal at Parkway for four years , he was able to apply for the position of Superintendent when Mr. Karst retired.

Greg’s most memorable moments include several things.  When he first came to Parkway, the Parkway School Building was built. In June 2006, he helped move students and administrators into the new building in Rockford.  He is also proud of the fact that Parkway became an Excellent rated School District three years in a row.    One big challenge, in his first year was the dilemma of the Parkway District losing $20,000 per year for Opened Enrolled Students (who were attending school elsewhere. Greg is roud to say that in the 2016-2017 school year, Parkway has a positive $420,000 for Open Enrolled Students.

For Greg, his proudest personal moments at Parkway were actually three ~ he said, “My proudest moments were handing my three sons their Graduation Diplomas.”

Greg enjoys spending time with his family. His wife Jenifer is a teacher in the Crestview School District.

Their sons are busy, too.  Jacob graduated from Ball State and is working for Garman/Miller Architects in Minster Ohio. Jared is a Junior at Hillsdale College majoring in Economics. And, Joshua will be a Freshman at the University of Toledo majoring in Mechanical Engineering. 

Greg welcomes Jeanne Osterfeld as the new Parkway Superintendent. Greg’s retirement plans include a new job. He has accepted a position as the Paulding Elementary Principal in Paulding OH starting on August 2, 2017.

21^st Century Club Learn About Child’s Play and Yahtzee

The Twenty First Century Club met on May 23, 2017 at Twyla Hayes’ business office.  Vice President Rozann welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order.  Roll-Call was completed with everyone stating their favorite game.

The treasurer’s report was not available.

Minutes were read and approved. Twyla reviewed some of the Rockford Bicentennial updates and  suggested that the 21st Century Club consider hosting an old-fashioned “tea”.  The group also discussed inviting new members to join the club. Any woman interested in joining may also contact Sheila Baltzell at 419-733-3326.  A slate of officers was presented  for the 2017-2018 year:

President: Rozann Maurer; VP: Karla Butler; Treasurer: Valerie Frizinger: Reporter: Sheila Baltzell; and Secretary: Kim Carr

The officers were approved by the members.

The theme for the year “Start to Finish” has been about all aspects of different games with outgoing president Lani Stein and outgoing vice-president leading the group.

The last program for the current club year was presented by Ann Gage speaking of some of the people that have influenced her life the most. She recalls that her family didn’t play games when she was a child.  She sewed, crocheted, tatted, and played with paper dolls.  She displayed many of her paper doll items with Patty Page, Rosemary Clooney and Bob Cummings being represented.  She discussed some of her life long collections: earrings; napkins (almost 600); and marbles - with some of them being from her grandfather’s collection.

She then shared the rules of Yahtzee (stating that she had never played it.)

Following Ann was member Susan Coburn who then shared what she learned about Mancala.  She stated it originated in the 6th-7th century possibly in southern Iraq.  It is a two person game, using a board and markers that can be stones, beach glass, acorns, marbles, and many other variations. 

She reviewed the rules and then each member played several games.

Twyla Hayes and Cindy Canary then served delicious snacks with a red-white-blue theme to represent the upcoming Memorial Day.

The next meeting will be in September 2017.

Plans Being Finalized For  52nd Annual Willshire Days  

Plans are nearly completed for the 52nd annual Willshire Days, scheduled
for June 23rd, 24th and 25th.

The park will have many activities going on Friday evening and Saturday.
Those activities include inflatables, carnival games,  bingo, face painting,
the ODNR archery trailer and Hover Archery.

Community wide garage sales and the second annual Willshire Days Swap Meet
will open early on Friday morning. A list of participating garage sales will
be available at local businesses. Watch for crafters/vendors to be setting
up in the park along the path on the northeast side of the park on Saturday
morning.

The Car Show will be well underway prior to the Flag Raising ceremony at
6:00 p.m. Activities during Friday evening include a Talent Show Pageant,
and Lions Club Bingo.  New to the entertainment stage will be rock band Muddsock
featuring area singer, Garry Heck.

Activities on Saturday will begin early as the Willshire Fire Department
and Ladies Auxiliary will be serving a breakfast at the fire station for all
to enjoy. Breakfast will include pancake, sausages, biscuits with gravy and
scrambled eggs.  

Inflatables, and games,  along with  concessions will open
at 11:30 a.m.  The annual parade begins at 4:00 p.m. Following the parade
the park will again be filled with many activities including free pony
rides, kids tractor pull and Willshire native, Aaron Roehm. He will be
entertaining all ages with a magic show. Plan to be there early as he will
be making balloon sculptures prior to the show.

Rounding out the evening entertainment will be "Evolution" featuring Willshire's own Matt Motycka.
The band features the sounds of acoustic rock from the 80s and 90s. 

Sunday will feature a Chicken Dinner. Presale tickets are available from
any Willshire Youth Activities member or player, members of the  Willshire
Fire Dept. and/or at the Photo Star.

Contact numbers for the various activities are as follows: Car Show (Bryan
Hess, 419-910-1558), Crafts/Vendors (Renee Linn, 419-953-8961), Garage Sales
(Village Office, 419-495-2704), Pageants (Angela at 419-953-4865 or Audrey
at 567-259-8527), Parade (Karen Hunziker, 419-495-2802 or Paulette Stauffer,
419-203-2579), Swap Meet (Rod Vore, 260-223-9985), General Information (Jodi
Berry, 567-259-7818).

 
June 20-21, 2017
Summer Solstice and First Day of Summer
 

Parkway Grads Deliver Home Sewn Clothing to Mission in Haiti

By Ty Habegger

On May 20th the Rockford United Methodist Church held a “Girls Night Out” event to sew girl’s dresses and boy’s shorts to be given to impoverished children in Haiti. Over 130 dresses and a dozen pairs of shorts were made.

This clothing was delivered by the “Hope Has a Name” mission team from Lafayette, IN which included Parkway alums Ty & Laura (Linn) Habegger. The team presented the dresses on June 6th to the pastor at a church in rural Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti to be distributed amongst the children of the village. The women and children in the village were overcome with joy at the generous gift.

The “Hope Has A Name” mission team is a part of First Assembly Community Ministries in Lafayette, IN and consisted of 19 team members from Lafayette, Logansport, and Attica, Indiana. The team worked in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti from June 2-9th. During this time the team partnered with the organization, Convoy of Hope in constructing an addition on to a school building, delivering used laptop computers and French books for the school, and helped in training the school teachers and nurses at the church clinic. Overall it was a very successful and rewarding trip for all.

ROCKFORD LIONS CLUB AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS

Claire Fisher, Alivia Stover, Sydney Swygart, and Megan Weirrick each received a $500.00 Scholarship from the Rockford Lions Club during the Senior Awards Night held at Parkway High School in May.  Proceeds from Rockford Lions Club projects, like the Annual Variety Show, fund scholarships and help to fulfill local community needs & requests. 

Lion President Lee Ann Frank recently presented varsity baseball coach Luke Clouse with a donation in support of the Parkway Baseball program. 

Members of the Rockford Lions were a part of the Rockford Community Days Parade on Saturday afternoon June 17th.   Planning for 2018 projects will continue throughout the summer.

The Rockford Lions Club meets at the Rockford Carry Out, 156 S. Main Street.

Drug Arrest Made

Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reports that his agency had received a drug tip, that led to the arrest of a local man.   Grey reported that his agency received the tip on June 15th, 2017 shortly after 9am.   Deputies from the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office and a patrolman from the Celina Police Department went to the 7000 block of Havemann Road and located the suspect at 9:29 am.  The suspect was reported to be in possession of drugs.

Deputies checked the male suspect and found that he was in possession of over 5 grams of Methamphetamines.  Arrested was 35 year old Michael James Wilson Jr. of 219 E Wayne Street Celina, Ohio.  Wilson is currently being held in the Mercer County Adult Detention Facility on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance, a felony of the 5th degree.  Wilson’s bond has been set at $125,000.00 subject to ten percent.

“Tips have increased as of late and so have our arrests,” stated Sheriff Grey.   Grey stated that he is asking his citizens to continue help his office by leaving tips. 

2017 4TH OF JULY “HOLIDAY AT HOME”

The “Holiday at Home” Committee would like to extend their annual invitation to all Van Wert County to join them for the July 4th  festivities. 

On Friday evening, June 30, a Star Spangled Spectacular concert will be presented in Fountain Park.  The American and patriotic music presented by Crafton Beck and the Lima Pops Orchestra will set the tone for the upcoming July 4th celebration.  The concert will begin at 7:00 p.m. with food being served starting at 5:30 p.m.

The Van Wert VFW located at the corner of Jackson and Shannon will start out the July 4th by serving breakfast.   They will be serving pancakes and sausage and biscuits and gravy from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The 24th Annual Historical Society Bike Tour is a scenic tour through Van Wert County.  Tour departs (at 7:30 a.m.) and returns at Jubilee Park.  Both pre-registration and day of race registrations are available by contacting Lionel Enyart.

At 11:00 a.m., the annual 4th of July parade will begin.  Parade lineup begins at the corner of Cherry & Main Streets (YWCA). The parade will proceed down Main Street to Shannon Street (YMCA) at which time it will turn north onto Shannon and end at Jackson Street.  For a parade form or more information, contact Linda Stutz at 419-238-4192 (until 4:00 p.m.) or 419-238-2901 (after 4:30 p.m.)

In conjunction with the “Holiday at Home” celebration, the Van Wert County Historical Society will be hosting their annual craft, food and fun.  Such things as free train rides and games and activities for the kids will be on the Museum grounds located at 602 N. Washington Street.  Food will be ongoing from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Service again this year will be by the Van Wert Rotary Club with the assistance of Scout Troop 35.   Music will be presented in the Gazebo by the Merry Gentlemen presenting the National Anthem at Noon with the Boy Scouts flag raising.    Additional presentations will be made at 12:15 by Randy Long; 1:00 The Community Band and from 2:00 Aaron Roehm’s magic & balloons. 

The 4th of July “Holiday at Home” wouldn’t be much of a celebration without a spectacular fireworks display.  American Fireworks will be presenting a fireworks display you won’t soon forget.  The fireworks will be shot off at the Van Wert City School property on St. Rt. 118 (Shannon Street) south of Van Wert at approximately 10:00 p.m.   The fireworks are made possible by a grant from the Van Wert County Foundation and many other Van Wert County merchants.   

 
June 17-19, 2017
 

Summer Reading is for all ages at Rockford Carnegie Library!

The summer reading program for the preschool and elementary age children will continue on Tuesday, June 20th and Wednesday, June 21st at 10:30.  This week, on Wednesday the 21st only, members of the Grand Lake Mariners will be here to meet and greet with the children.

All teens and children signed up for the summer reading program by Friday, June 30th will be entered in a drawing for 4 (four) Kings Island tickets.  

All teens and adults can enter a drawing by signing an entry slip with their name and phone number.  Prizes will be awarded the last week of July.  We have some Kindle Fire 7's among other prizes to give away.

Plans Being Finalized For  52nd Annual Willshire Days  

Plans are nearly completed for the 52nd annual Willshire Days, scheduled
for June 23rd, 24th and 25th.

The park will have many activities going on Friday evening and Saturday.
Those activities include inflatables, carnival games,  bingo, face painting,
the ODNR archery trailer and Hover Archery.

Community wide garage sales and the second annual Willshire Days Swap Meet
will open early on Friday morning. A list of participating garage sales will
be available at local businesses. Watch for crafters/vendors to be setting
up in the park along the path on the northeast side of the park on Saturday
morning.

The Car Show will be well underway prior to the Flag Raising ceremony at
6:00 p.m. Activities during Friday evening include a Talent Show Pageant,
and Lions Club Bingo.  New to the entertainment stage will be rock band Muddsock
featuring area singer, Garry Heck.

Activities on Saturday will begin early as the Willshire Fire Department
and Ladies Auxiliary will be serving a breakfast at the fire station for all
to enjoy. Breakfast will include pancake, sausages, biscuits with gravy and
scrambled eggs.  

Inflatables, and games,  along with  concessions will open
at 11:30 a.m.  The annual parade begins at 4:00 p.m. Following the parade
the park will again be filled with many activities including free pony
rides, kids tractor pull and Willshire native, Aaron Roehm. He will be
entertaining all ages with a magic show. Plan to be there early as he will
be making balloon sculptures prior to the show.

Rounding out the evening entertainment will be "Evolution" featuring Willshire's own Matt Motycka.
The band features the sounds of acoustic rock from the 80s and 90s. 

Sunday will feature a Chicken Dinner. Presale tickets are available from
any Willshire Youth Activities member or player, members of the  Willshire
Fire Dept. and/or at the Photo Star.

Contact numbers for the various activities are as follows: Car Show (Bryan
Hess, 419-910-1558), Crafts/Vendors (Renee Linn, 419-953-8961), Garage Sales
(Village Office, 419-495-2704), Pageants (Angela at 419-953-4865 or Audrey
at 567-259-8527), Parade (Karen Hunziker, 419-495-2802 or Paulette Stauffer,
419-203-2579), Swap Meet (Rod Vore, 260-223-9985), General Information (Jodi
Berry, 567-259-7818).

 
June 16, 2017
 

Parkway 8th Graders Enjoy Annual Class Trip to Washington DC April 9-14th

Principal Brian Woods commented on the recent trip to Washington DC by 8th graders and their chaperones, “We had a great trip to Washington D.C.! The weather was beautiful with high's in the 70's each day and no rain. We started our trip in Philadelphia (second year for this) and then headed to D.C.”

Two coach busses full of excited students traveled through the night of April 9th and began touring early on Monday morning April 10, 2017 in Philadelphia, PA where they saw the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and the US Mint. They all enjoyed the Constitution Center’s "Rocky Steps".  Traveling on, they made DC by evening and took a tour of “The Mall” and checked into the hotel.

First thing on April 11, everyone took the White House Walk - North Side and then headed to the museums including: American History, Natural History, Air & Space National Archives, U.S. Marine Corps Museum 3:30 Mt. Vernon Estate & Educational Center and then finished up the long day with the Alexandria Colonial Tour . On April 12, 2017 busses delivered the students to Arlington Cemetery where students  watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the unknown soldier and four students from Parkway conducted the Wreath-Laying Ceremony . Students also visited the Kennedy Graves .  That afternoon they all met with Congressman Latta at the  Capitol and saw the Library of Congress .  Students also visited the  Martin Luther King, Jr. and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorials, Pentagon, 9-11 Memorial before heading to their hotels for the night.  On April 13, 2017 they loaded up the busses for the trip home, but they still had a full day of sight-seeing to do. Thursday was the Lincoln / Vietnam / Korean Memorials, Ford's Theatre: Museum, Theatre Walk Thru, Petersen House, Educational Center World War II Memorial, U.S. Holocaust Permanent Exhibit, National Archives – and  Jefferson Memorial. After dinner, they took in two more sights Air Force Memorial and  Iwo Jima Memorial before traveling through the night to arrive home  at Parkway Middle School on Friday April 14, 2017.

Students selected by their peers to participate in the wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery - Kelsey Nichols, Kaden Boroff, Elijah Rich, Avery Boroff

Group pic at the White House

Girls taking a break at the National Sculpture Garden with the National Archives building in the background.

Students at the Marine Corp Museum

Students at John F. Kennedy grave site at Arlington  

Students participating in the wreath laying ceremony

Group photo at the Capitol

Students getting "rubbing" of names on Vietnam Memorial wall.

Rockford Community Prepares for Upcoming Bicentennial Celebration

The members of the Rockford community are now making plans for the Rockford Bicentennial to be recognized in 2020.  The year-long celebration will feature the 200th anniversary of the establishment of Rockford (Shanes Crossing) and all the great history that has made this village what it is today.  The events will be kicked off with a formal celebration ball in December 2019.

Members of the community and surrounding area who consider the Rockford area their home are encouraged to join in the planning of this grand celebration.  It will take many hands to make this celebration a success, so your participation would be appreciated.

The Bicentennial Celebration Committee meets the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Rockford Village Hall.  Please consider being a part of this very exciting celebration.

Gun Raffle to Benefit Bicentennial Celebration Plans

The Rockford Bicentennial Celebration Committee will be holding a gun raffle during the Rockford Community Days this year, with the guns being awarded at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, in front of the log cabin in Shanes Park.  A limited number of tickets are still available for purchase.  Being given away are a Remington 870 Mag and a 9MM Smith & Wesson Shield, with the guns being furnished by Iron Elements of Celina, Ohio. 

Tickets can still be purchased on Friday, June 16, at the Community Days Car Show in downtown Rockford, located at the Bicentennial T-shirt table at the car show.  All proceeds will help with the Rockford Bicentennial celebration to be held in 2020.  Thank you for your support of our upcoming bicentennial celebration!

Road to Close for Bridge Work

The Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart, is planning to close Rauh Road between Pine Road and St. Anthony Road in Washington Township for a bridge rehabilitation.  This road will be closed tentatively on June 19, 2017 and is scheduled to reopen in approximately 5 weeks, depending on the weather conditions.

Any additional questions, contact the Mercer County Engineer's Office at 419-586-7759.

Taste of Celina - Great Food, Music and Community

Friday, July 14, 2017 from 5 to 10 PM

2017-2018 Parkway Preschool

Parkway Preschool is currently accepting registrations for the 2017-2018 school year.  Our preschool is once again a Step Up to Quality Five-Star program, which means this program has demonstrated the highest level of quality as rated by the Ohio Department of Education.

Registration forms are available in the district office or on our website under Parents>>School Forms Download>>Preschool Forms and Documents.  Once the registration is completed and the registration fee paid, the forms packet needs to be turned in on Back to School Night, August 15 or before preschool begins (August 23).  Morning classes are 8:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. and afternoon classes are 12:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.  

We currently have openings for the Tuesday/Thursday morning and afternoon classes as well as the Monday/Wednesday afternoon classes.  Children must be 3, 4 or 5 to attend and fully potty trained.  Financial assistance is available; however, the preschooler must be 4 years old by August 1 to qualify.

Sign-up as soon as possible as the deadline to register is August 1, 2017.  If you have further questions, please call the elementary office at 419-363-3045 ext. 720. 

 
June 8-15, 2017
 

Flag Day is June 14, 2017
Fly your American flag!

Lots For Soldiers - Rockford Home Dedication - Community Invited

Please plan to attend as we honor a deserving member of
the United States Armed Forces and his family.  We will be
turning over the keys to their new home located at:

310 Holly Lane, Rockford
June 18th, 2017 
1 to 3 pm

Parkway Board of Education to Meet on June 13, 2017 - Click here to see Agenda by Sally Cox

Rockford Police Department Serves Search Warrant

Mercer County Sheriff, Jeff Grey reports that his deputies and officers of the Celina Police Department working as the Grand Lake Task Force and a member of the Rockford Police Department served a search warrant for a residence in Rockford on Tuesday, June 6.  The Sheriff’s Office had received an anonymous tip at 7:05 am of possible drug activity at 214 West Walnut Street in Rockford, Ohio.   Deputies applied for and received a Search Warrant for the residence with the information that they had.  At 4:44 pm, the search warrant was issued and served. 

Deputies and officers found three (3) people hiding inside the residence.   All three people were detained and their information checked.   Two people were found to have outstanding warrants, they were taken into custody. The third person was questioned and released.

Arrested was 24 year old James Charles – Phillip Higgins II.  Higgins last known address is listed as 2405 Gannon Road Howell, Michigan.   Higgins had an outstanding bench warrant out of Auglaize County for Failure to Appear on the original charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with a bond $10,000.00.

Also arrested was 34 year old Stephanie Clare Boeckman of 1730 Celina Road Lot 15 St.Marys, Ohio.   Boeckman had an active Felony Warrant out of Mercer County for Aggravated Possession of Drugs.  There was No Bond on her warrant.

During the search of the residence, deputies and officers found suspected Methamphetamines, small amount of marijuana, syringes and other drug paraphernalia. 

A copy of this investigation will be sent to the Mercer County Prosecutors Office for their review of additional charges. 

Sheriff Grey reminds citizens that every tip that is received by his office will be looked into.  Grey stated that some tips have instant results, while others begin long term investigations.  Grey stated that it will take all of us, Law Enforcement, Courts and the citizens to combat our drug problem.    Grey stated that tips can be left on the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office web site. 

Click Here - Parkway Middle School Supply List for 2017-2018

Honor Roll ~ Parkway Middle School ~ 4th Nine Weeks 2016-2017 SY ~ by Michelle Agler
Click Here

Community Announcement – Ice Cream Social

What:              Salem Church Ice Cream Social, Venedocia, Ohio

When:                        Friday, June 16, 4:30 – 7:00 pm

Description:   Featuring Venedocia Lion’s Club Sausage and Sycamore Ice Cream along with other dinner and dessert items.

Where:           Venedocia Lions Club Building, air conditioned, next to the recreation park and ball field. Venedocia is west of Lima and southeast of Van Wert on State Route 116.

Church Background: 

Almost like a cathedral arising out of corn fields, Salem Presbyterian Church was built in 1897. It features beautiful stain glass windows and a Welsh heritage singing festival every year on Labor Day Sunday night.

Venedocia Background:

Venedocia was settled by Welsh immigrates in the early and mid-1800s. Many came for religious expression of being able to sing four part harmony rather than single line as the Anglican Church severely enforced by British troops. Governor Bebb of Ohio, a Welshman himself, organized the settlement.

Auction Donations Now Accepted for Annual TV-44 Auction

Donations are being accepted now for the 2017 TV-44 auction. Items of interest include quality furniture, automobiles, collectables, sports memorabilia, vehicles, tools, timeshares, trips, and other items of value. Garage sale and boutique items also accepted.

TV-44 is a 501-c3 non-profit association and the annual auction serves as the station’s largest one day fundraiser. Hundreds converge on the TV-44 studio grounds, 1844 Baty Rd., and enjoy a day under the big tent. This year’s auction is September 9.

Proceeds from the auction benefit youth and family focused community programming including The Holiday Music Festival, Whiz Quiz, Faith & Friends, Sports Report, and the hundreds of high school sporting events covered each year on WOSN.

This year TV-44 is celebrating 35 years of serving the community. The annual fundraising auction is a tool used to support this viewer supported local TV station.

Donations for the annual auction can be brought to the TV-44 studios, 1844 Baty Rd, Lima, Monday-Thursday, 10am – 3pm.  Call in advance for Friday drop-offs. Additionally, if you are downsizing or depleting items from an estate, the TV-44 auction is capable of accepting your large load items. All donations are tax-deductable according to what is allowed by law. 

For more information, call (419) 339-4444 and ask for Jennifer or Michele.

Stateline Writers Club
The Stateline Writers Club is scheduled to meet on Saturday, June 17, at 10 a.m. in the Celina public library.  The suggested composition topics are "graduation" or "change."

If time permits, a language arts lesson will follow.

The public is welcome to attend.

Calvary Evangelical Church Updates

2017 Graduates - Parkway Scholarship Winners - Open PDF and Rotate Clockwise

Bryan Area Foundation Grant & Others for new High Ropes Project at 4-H Camp Palmer

Fayette, OHIO

The Camp Palmer staff and board are very thankful for a $12,000 grant from Bryan Area Foundations for the new high ropes project at camp. Other recent grants for this project have also included: $2500 grant from Defiance Area Foundation, $2500 grant from North Western Electric Trust Round Up and $500 grant from Midwest Electric Community Connection. 4-H Camp Palmer, Inc. serves youth from eleven counties in northwest Ohio and many groups from across the state, Michigan and Indiana.  The new high ropes course scheduled for full completion by spring of 2018 replaces our original course that was built in 1990.

4-H resident camps will begin their 70 year of operation at 4-H Camp Palmer during the month of June and July. Eleven Counties in northwest Ohio including: Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams and Wood County offer 5 day, 4 night camps for youth ages 9-14 years of age. Registrations are taking place at the respective 4-H Extension office of your county; non 4-H youth are welcome to join in for these camps.

For addition information concerning camp enrollment or to donate toward the high ropes project, please call 419-237-2247 or email 4hcamppalmer@gmail.com.  4-H Camp Palmer is a non-profit 501c3 organization.

LOCAL FOOD PANTRY OPENS IN NEW LOCATION

For more than a decade Parkway Local School District residents contacted their local churches in advance for food assistance through the Parkway Ministerial Association Food Pantry.   The pantry enjoyed district-wide support.   

Beginning Saturday, June 24th, 2017, to better serve area communities and fulfill food assistance needs, residents of the Parkway School District may come in person to the new Parkway Local Food Pantry located on East Columbia Street in Rockford. 

The Parkway Local Food Pantry will be open the fourth Saturday of the month from 9-11 a.m.   Those who need food assistance will be asked to show proof of residency in the school district and provide the names of those in their household.  

The new Parkway Local Food Pantry on East Columbia Street, is facilitated by the Rockford United Methodist Church, and guided by the biblical command to ‘…serve one another in love’ found in Galatians 5:13.   

Serving the Rockford community since April of 2009, the Helping Hands Thrift Store helps to provide Parkway families with clothing and some household items.   Helping Hands, located at 131 S. Main Street in Rockford, is open Wednesdays from 4-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10-1 p.m.  

For more information contact the office of the Rockford UMC 202 S. Franklin Street, 419-363-3230.

In addition to the local resources, since February 2017 Mercer County residents who qualify under the Job and Family Services Poverty guidelines may receive food assistance through the Agape’ Mobile Rural Food Pantry a creative cooperative of churches, businesses, and individuals based in Sidney, OH.  

The Mobile Pantry travels to Mendon and Rockford on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month and to Fort Recovery on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month.    

Rockford, Ohio - Shanes Crossing Subdivision lots for sale - 
Please contact:  Jeff Long - Village Administration at 
151 E Columbia St. or by email at jeff.long@rockfordohio.org

Click Here for the subdivision layout

Click Here for the subdivision rules

 
June 5-7, 2017
 

Thank you to Henkle Insurance for Sponsoring the Weather Channel Link above!

JOIN US FOR ROCKFORD COMMUNITY DAYS - JUNE 16 & 17:

  
  Summer's here!! That means it's festival time. Rockford Community Days
  is gearing up and almost ready to go. We are so excited to welcome a
  new event this year. Racing for Relief will be making their Rockford
  debut on Sat June 17th. Joins us in supporting the event and help them
  raise money for area fire depts.
  
  Other events include Pageants with a purpose. This is a pageant that
  teaches girls how to be brave and help them to be supportive and
  collect canned goods and money for local charity. The ever growing car
  show will be back on Friday evening. On Saturday a Cake walk and
  grocery game will be available for all to participate. Who doesn't
  love homemade baked goods and prizes?
  
  Friday night June 17 after the car show our entertainment includes
  Brother Believe me and our oh so popular fireworks display.
  
  Saturdays line up also includes inflates with a water slide, vendor
  event, community wide garage sales, fox family ride and we will top
  off the night with Karmas Pawn in beer garden.
  
  We are still accepting entries for garage sale, vendor event, and
  pageant. Also accepting donation for cake walk and grocery game. Also
  accepting monetary donations to help cover our expenses.
  
  Volunteers needed to help run inflatables and beer servers. Wanna make
  money for your organization ask me how.
  
  Contacts Amy Joseph or Amy Noll
  419.953.7874 or 419.953.8761
  Visit "Rockford Community Days" on Facebook for more details and share
  info with friends and family.

 
June 2-4, 2017
 

Hooray for Parkway Runners – 7th at State in Relay

Parkway's Girls 4x100 team qualified for the State Final on Saturday June 3, 2017 @ 10:20 at Jesse Owens Stadium at OSU. The 4x100 Team consisted of Clista Hellwarth, Rachel Barrett, Ansley Burtch, and Sydney Crouch.

Parkway 's Girls 4x100 team finished in 7th place at State Track Meet

Fatal Traffic Crash

Mercer County Sheriff, Jeff Grey reports that his office is investigating a fatal traffic crash that occurred in Washington Township.   The investigation found that 52 year old Alice L Buschor of 2577 Mud Pike Celina, Ohio was Southbound on Township Line Road North of St. Rte 29.    Buschor went off of the west side of the roadway, overcorrected, lost control of her vehicle and went off of the west side of the roadway again. Buschor struck a utility pole and rolled her 2001 Ford F-150.   Buschor was ejected from her vehicle and was pronounced deceased at the scene.   

There were two witnesses of the crash and both stated that speed was not a factor.   The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by members of the Celina Fire Department / EMS and  Mercer County Coroner, Dr. Timothy Heinrichs

Sheriff Grey reports that this marks the second fatal crash in Mercer County for 2017.

Jonesy Strictly Bluegrass Festival 

Date:  June 16,17,18 - Father's Day Weekend 

Place: Jay County Fairgrounds 

Come enjoy Great American Music & Camping! 

National and Regional Acts 

7 Bands will be performing.   

Friday 1:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. 

Saturday 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. 

Sunday 12p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Admission Price:  $15.00 a day per person. 

Camping/Admission

$45.00 Weekend Pass Per Person - Included Camping & Electric 

$40.00 Weekend Pass Per Person - Rough Camping 

Campers can start arriving  Wednesday 06/14 or Thursday 06/15 with an additional 

$10  a day.  

NEW OUTLOOK 

 Leading the group, New Outlook is husband & wife team Lori & Brad Lambert.  Lori's been impressing crowds with her upright bass and powerful lead and harmony vocals that are reminiscent of some of the greats. Dolly Parton, Connie Smith, and more. She grew up listening to the Country Gentlemen and Lester Flatt & Scruggs and a huge fan of the Boys from Indiana. Brad brings to the band his own style of soul stirrin' and hard-driving banjo pickin'. Brad's lead and harmony vocals are not easily mistaken, he's in a class all his own. Brad's ability to pick up almost any instrument and play along, makes him a well rounded musician.  New Outlook also has a great group of musicians.  Mike Dean on Banjo and Brian Scott on mandolin!  Visit their website to take a listen www.newoutlookbg.com 

THE WAYFARERS

Hailing from rural Southeast Ohio, The Wayfarers emerged onto the scene in early 2010 playing their own form of American Roots music. While much of their repertoire is drawn from the Appalachian tradition they revere, The Wayfarers fuse tight musicianship - centered largely by the fiddle - with the high energy that characterized early mountain music. With old-time radio shows setting the example, their style encompasses Appalachian dance music, traditional mountain fiddle tunes, and pre-bluegrass music of the 1920's - resulting in a dose of nostalgic Americana. Their spirited approach to live performance is infectious, and people of all ages are drawn in to the sounds of thumping washtub bass, driving guitars, sawing fiddles, and rich harmonies. Whether it's at a large festival or barn square dance, a rock venue or a busy street corner, The Wayfarers continue to carry this music forward with creativity and authenticity, making it contemporary and fun. 

The Wayfarers have been featured on the national PBS television series "Song of the Mountains", toured much of the Midwest and Southern Appalachians, released 4 studio albums, and have shared the stage with some of the biggest names in bluegrass & country music; including Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Connie Smith, Dailey & Vincent, Lonesome River Band, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Rhonda Vincent, Marty Raybon, Jerry Douglas, and many many more.

https://www.thewayfarersband.com/

TOMMY WEBB BAND

Here is one of those "sleepers" that comes from time to time---
this one from out of the hills of Eastern Kentucky. Tommy Webb is a fine, powerful 
singer with a distinctive voice.   

http://www.tommywebb.fanspace.com/

Evan Lanier & The Bluegrass Express

True Gospel Echos

Mark Poe

River Ramblers

The next Rockford Bicentennial Committee meeting will be
held on Monday - June 5th at 7 pm - Village Hall.

Zuma 5K Challenge 

The 2017 Mercer Health 5K Challenge season will kick off with the 25nd annual Zuma 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, June 17, 2017 at Montezuma.

This road race is part of the Montezuma picnic with proceeds to go to community improvements.

Registration is at the shelter house at Zuma Park.  The race will begin at the Franklin Township Fire House and will finish inside our beautiful Park.

Pre-registration for 5K is $20.00 including a T-shirt, or $13.00 with no shirt.  Early registration must be postmarked by June 2, 2017.  Make checks payable to: South Shore Zuma, Inc.  Mail entries to: Stacy Braun P.O. Box 125 Montezuma, Ohio 45866 Race day entry fee is $15.00 with no shirt.

For more information contact Stacy Braun at 419-733-8218 or stacy_braun@hotmail.com.

 This year for the Mercer Health Countywide 5-K Challenge, run all eight races and earn a half-zip dri-fit pullover.  As in pasted years run six of eight of the Mercer Health Countywide 5-K Challenge  and receive a T-shirt. Good running.

 
June 1, 2017
Parkway Independent - Celebrating 12 years of bringing news to the Parkway area communities.

 

Challenger Baseball/Softball League Coming to Rockford!

On Sunday, June 4th, Rockford will host the Mercer County Challenger Baseball/Softball League at Shanes Park. Two games will be played on that day - starting at 5:00pm and 6:00pm. Prior to the start of each game, lineups will be announced and the National Anthem will be played. Music, dancing, and other fun activities are scheduled between innings.

The Challenger Division of Little League Baseball was established in 1989 as a separate division to enable boys and girls with physical and mental challenges, ages 4-18, or up to age 22 if still enrolled in high school, to enjoy the game of baseball along with the millions of other children who participate in this sport worldwide.  Today, more than 30,000 children participate in more than 900 Challenger Divisions worldwide.

Teams are set up according to abilities, rather than age, and can include as many as 15-20 players. Challenger games can be played as tee ball games, coach pitch, player pitch, or a combination of the three. One of the benefits of having a Challenger Division is that it encourages the use of "buddies" for the Challenger players. The buddies assist the Challenger players on the field, but whenever possible, encourage the players to bat and make plays themselves. However, the buddy is always nearby to help when needed.

There will be three Parkway students playing on these teams - along with students from all of the other school districts in Mercer County. Come to Shanes Park and cheer them on - like all of our children, they love playing for a big crowd! This is a great opportunity for our community to support such a wonderful event!!

In the event of inclement weather on June 4th, the game will be move indoors to the Parkway High School gymnasium.

41st Old Fashioned Farmers Days coming to Van Wert Fairground

Plan now to take in the fun at the Old Fashioned Farmers’ Days Event to be held June 29 through July 2, 2017. Tractors, engines, equipment food and fun. See the ad and website link at the top of the Parkway Independent.

Our Old Bookcase, June 1, 2017. Mercer Co. Indian Relic Collectors - June 25 exhibit

OUR OLD BOOK CASE

 By  Joyce L. Alig, President, Mercer County Historical Society

Photo caption:  The Mercer County Indian Relic Collectors will be sharing their Prehistoric Artifact Collections at the Mercer County Historical Museum for the 37th year on June 25th.

“A Picture is worth a thousand words,” is the phrase which I recalled when I wanted to clarify that the photograph above illustrated previous exhibits by the Mercer County Indian Relic Collectors displaying their artifacts at the Mercer County Historical Museum.   When I checked Bartlett’s book, “Familiar Quotations,” I learned that statement paraphrased the ancient Chinese quotation, “One picture is worth more than ten thousand words.” 

The word “artifacts” is used to describe “anything made by man.”  Therefore, stone tools created by man thousands of years ago are identified as” artifacts.”  Arrow heads, stone axes, and slate pendants are known as “prehistoric artifacts,” because they were made by man thousands of years ago, before history books were written.  Look at the cemeteries at the marble monuments; a thousand years from now, historians may identify the monuments as artifacts made by man in the 20th and/or the 21st Centuries.

These  Mercer County Indian Relic Collectors are Prehistoric Artifact  Collectors who have a passion for collecting the artifacts which range in age up to a thousand to ten thousand years old.  The Collectors are dedicated to learning how the artifacts were used and whether the artifacts are slate, flint, or granite.  They study the flint colors because that knowledge of geology may tell them where the flint was found which was used for a particular arrow head.  Some people come to the Mercer County Historical Museum and ask for identification of artifacts made from a rich multi-colored rose and wine color. Ohioans know these beautiful stones come from the Flint Ridge area of Ohio.  Others ask about a green colored stone, with the name of “Mercer” and are surprised that those “Mercer artifacts” do not come stones found from Mercer County, Ohio, but originated in Indiana.  Geologists can often look at a stone piece and identify the place where that stone originated, whether in Ohio or elsewhere.  Geologists are able to determine the source of marble used in government buildings or churches, by looking at the color and pattern on the marble.

Other Collectors find stones which had been worked into the shape of an animal.  A few beautiful “Bird Stones,” are exhibited at the Mercer County Historical Museum Exhibit.  Some black slate stones had been created into beautiful pendants. 

Remember that trade was important to prehistoric people.  During the winter, many groups of early man, traveled south, to a  warmer climate. . . just like many Mercer Countians travel to Florida in the wintertime today.  For thousands of years, early man moved  through South America, Central America and North America at a time when farming did not tie them to one place.  The artifacts I have seen in Museums in South and Central American countries are very similar to the artifacts I have seen in the United States and Canada and as far north as Alaska.  Prehistoric man had his own trade routes across land and rivers.

If you appreciate the prehistoric artifacts which  were made thousands of years ago by people living right here in Mercer County, you should visit the Mercer County Historical Museum,  one block east of the Mercer County Courthouse, and see the Prehistoric Artifact Exhibit by the Mercer County Indian Relic Collectors, on Sunday, June 25th.  I hope to see you there.

Mercer County Historical Society President Joyce Alig, may be contacted at 3054 Burk-St. Henry Road, Saint Henry, OH 45883,  or histalig@bright.net or 419-678-2614.]

 
May 30-31, 2017
Parkway Independent - Celebrating 12 years of bringing news to the Parkway area communities.

 

Memorial Day Parades in Mendon, Willshire and Rockford Draw Great Crowds

Sunny and warm weather and the news of Memorial Day Parades and Speakers brought out large crowds at Mendon, Willshire and Rockford on Monday May 29, 2017. At Mendon, The Celina VFW and Auxiliary, Celina American Legion and Auxiliary, and the Vietnam Veterans Organization led the meaningful service at the town park and at the St. Marys River. The parade route to the river was led by the flag bearers. The Parkway Band played and kept the tempo. After a short talk by Commander Gerald Ward, the auxiliary women and the scouting children threw cut flowers into the river as a memorial to the war dead,  Pastor Brandon Baker from Praise Point Church gave the message after the walk back to the park. He served and was injured in Iraq and gave a heart-felt message on his encounters with other injured soldiers and watching the flag draped coffins. They gave the ultimate sacrifice ~ their lives. Baker said it is up to us to never forget them. A 21 gun salute followed. A breakfast was served to all at the Methodist Church.

At Willshire, the rains made a soggy cemetery on the edge of town. But a long crowd of people walked from the Willshire American Legion to it, and they joined those waiting. Commander Dick Edgel led the crowd in prayer, the Parkway Band provided Patriotic Music, and Ben Sapp of Findlay, namesake of his uncle, fallen Vietnam soldier, Benjamin Sapp of Rockford, gave a meaningful speech. His message was that of the honor he carried for his family. He often heard from people who knew his uncle and spoke kindly of him and thanked Ben for his uncle’s service and paying the ultimate price for our freedom.  A 21 gun salute followed. Aleta Weis and Willshire Home Furnishings again displayed her military memorabilia. The group then marched back to the river in downtown Willshire to cast flowers on the water in memoriam.

The last parade in Rockford had not only the band and the scouts, but the 4-H club and our community veterans as well. They followed the band and the Legion Flag Bearers to Hedge’s Park beside the Rockford American Legion Post, where the post commander Mike Heiser greeted everyone with a welcome and prayers. He then introduced retired Army Major Mike Pontius, Rockford native and Parkway graduate of 1973.

Mike outlined the history of Memorial Day and named some of the local soldiers in the many wars. Some lost their lives in the wars; others lived to tell their stories. Mike also shared his pathway to becoming a Major in the Army and how his life growing up in Rockford inspired him to become a military man. Older classmates, the Vietnam War, and soldiers returning gave him inspiration to join the Army and then go on to graduate from West Point. A 21 gun salute followed.

The legion served chicken dinners.

Click on smaller thumbnail pictures below to enlarge them.

Click here for her entire collection - http://www.nfoxphoto.com/album-2

Parkway Girls Relay Break School Record

Parkway’s team of Clista Hellwarth, Sydney Crouch, Rachel Barrett and Ansley Burtch broke the school record in the 4x100 meter relay during regionals on Friday May 26, 2017 . Time: 50.46. They beat the record of their coach Jennifer (Frahm) Fisher’s relay team from 1985.

Rockford Council Members Approve Price Hike for Sewer Rates
On Tuesday, May 16, the Rockford Village council approved a $4 per month sewer rate hike to begin in 2018.  In addition, property owners will pay $15.50 for their first 2,000 gallons used and then $2.60 for each 1000 gallons more they consume. There is a waste water treatment plant renovation coming up and the rate hike will help Rockford become eligible  for $490,000 in community Development Block Grant monies. Click here to read the council minutes by Fiscal Agent Lisa Kuhn.