Please patronize the PWI advertisers!
Scroll Down:
The news for today starts below the ads.

Business News
 

Scroll Down Past Our Advertisers for the Day's News

Scroll Down on the right scroll bar for the Day's News


 

May 30 - June 5, 2023
Serving the Rockford, Willshire and Mendon Communities for 18 years!
The Parkway Independent is 18 years old!
 

OHSAA Softball State Tournament Pairings and Live Coverage
Firestone Stadium in Akron will host 45th annual state tournament beginning Thursday morning
Parkway Softball Team Goes to State

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio High School Athletic Association softball state tournament begins Thursday morning at venerable Firestone Stadium in Akron, when four schools in each of four divisions will compete for a state championship. Three schools are making their first state tournament appearance, while two teams are back to defend their state title from last year.

Now 99 years young, Firestone Stadium has hosted the OHSAA softball state tournament since 2008. This spring the City of Akron purchased and installed a new surface of artificial field turf that covers the entire playing field.

Tickets for all state tournament games are available at www.OHSAA.org/tickets.

All 12 games from the state tournament will be broadcast live on the NFHS Network (subscription) and the OHSAA Radio Network. David Wilson, Ryan Baker, Bill Morgan, Karen Linder, Jeff Kurtz and Melissa Basil will have the call.

Lewistown Indian Lake (Div. III), Bascom Hopewell-Loudon (Div. IV) and Steubenville (Div. II) are all making their school’s first trip to the softball Final Four. Wheelersburg (Div. III) and Strasburg-Franklin (Div. IV) are defending state champions from last year.

More information and live stats are available at: https://www.ohsaa.org/Sports-Tournaments/Softball/Softball-2023/2023-OHSAA-Softball-State-Tournament-Coverage

OHSAA State Tournament Media Credential Information: https://www.ohsaa.org/news/credentials

2023 Softball State Tournament Pairings

Home team listed first.

All games at Firestone Stadium, Akron.

All games on the NFHS Network and the OHSAA Radio Network.

Pairings shown with final state rank by Ohio Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association.

Division III

No. 10 Johnstown (26-2) vs. No. 7 Lewistown Indian Lake (25-3), Thurs., June 1, 10 a.m.

No. 1 Wheelersburg (30-0) vs. No. 5 Canfield South Range (26-3), Thurs., Jun 1, 12:30 p.m.

Div. III State Championship: Sat., June 3, 10 a.m.

Division II

No. 3 Canfield (23-2) vs. Steubenville (23-5), Thurs., June 1, 3 p.m.

Tallmadge (22-8) vs. No. 4 Greenville (29-4), Thurs., June 1, 5:30 p.m.

Div. II State Championship: Sat., June 3, 12:30 p.m.

Division I

No. 3 Whitehouse Anthony Wayne (27-3) vs. No. 4 Austintown-Fitch (20-0), Fri., June 2, 10 a.m.

No. 2 Pataskala Watkins Memorial (28-1) vs. No. 6 Lebanon (28-3), Fri., June 2, 12:30 p.m.

Championship: at Akron Firestone Stadium, June 3, 3 p.m.

Division IV

No. 3 Bascom Hopewell-Loudon (30-0) vs. Rockford Parkway (21-5), Fri., June 2, 3 p.m.

No. 1 Strasburg-Franklin (27-2) vs. Gibsonburg (21-6), Fri., June 2, 5:30 p.m.

Div. IV State Championship: Sat., June 3, 5:30 p.m.

St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford Service

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to their worship service at 10 AM on Sunday, June 4, 2023. Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit with a sermon straight from the Bible. Based on Matthew 28:16-20, the title is “Can’t Share What You Don’t Have”.

Sunday school begins at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Bible based lessons and children’s activities are taught with snacks included.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

May 23-29, 2023
Happy Memorial Day!
 

21^st Century Club Meets In May

The Twenty First Century Club met on May 23, 2023 at the Rockford United Methodist Church Cafe for a regular meeting. President Janet Steffy presided over her last meeting and wished everyone well as she is moving to another city soon and is leaving our club. She welcomed everyone with reading a children’s book called Laugh Out Loud Baby, which made us laugh. Roll-Call by acting Secretary Karla Butler was completed with everyone naming a song that made them laugh. The treasurer’s report was given.

Minutes from the April meeting will be read in the Fall. Members were asked to vote on new member for Fall, Janie Roll Overley, who was heartily accepted.. Karla Butler thanked the members for past donations to Helping Hands. The group discussed a news story for the media and a birthday party for our 100^th year as a club. New 2023-2024 president, Karla Butler, VP Kim Carr, Secretary Cindy Canary and treasurer Val Fritzinger will figure out the details for next year. Sheila Baltzell remains as reporter

“Funny Girl – Funny Guy” the theme for the year was continued as Valerie Fritzinger presented her program on comedienne Yvette Nicole Brown, born in 1971, in Cleveland, OH. She attended Akron University, graduating in 1984. She was in over 100 shows but known for her supporting actress roles after going to Hollywood. She continues to work on celebrity game shows like Hollywood Squares and in movies. She does voice overs for big cartoon movies, like Legos and DC Super Heroes. She’s never been married or had children. She has been nominated for numerous acting awards.

Melanie Shindeldecker continued the evening program with her funny entertainer Molly Shannon, once a big star on Saturday Night Live where she did unique skits. She was born in 1964 in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and lost her mom and sister early in life in a drunk driving accident where her dad was driving. Growing up with only a father to raise her, she developed some unconventional habits. Her father told her if she wanted to travel, she should just hop on a plane and go. So she and a friend stowed-away on a plane to NYC and spent the day there, sight-seeing and shop lifting. Her dad encouraged her to break the rules to get what she wanted and encouraged mischief. When they couldn’t find a place to safely stay in NY, he told her to go back to the airport and stowaway on a flight to Cleveland. Security caught them. Molly had to repay her dad for the plane ticket he was forced to buy. Molly had a memorable character on Saturday Night Live named Mary Katherine Gallagher, the teen cheerleader who sniffed her armpits.

Melanie explained that cast members on Saturday Night Live had to create and present their original characters and skits to the producers. If the producers liked the character, the performer got to go on with the creation and present it live on the show,

Delicious refreshments were served by Sheila Baltzell-Linn and Julia Henkle. Club will meet again in September 2023. If you are interested in joining club, contact Karla Butler or Sheila Baltzell-Linn.

Memorial Day in Willshire

The Willshire American Legion will hold Memorial Day Services beginning at approximately 9:30 AM with a parade beginning at the Post uptown and proceeding to the cemetery. Parkway Graduates Bonnie Smith and Allison Hughes will speak. There will be a wreath laying service at the cemetery after which the parade will return to the St. Marys River bridge to honor those soldiers who lost their lives at sea. Come and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The Parkway Band will be playing.

Memorial Day in Mendon

The Celina American Legion will hold the Memorial Day Services in Mendon with the Parkway High School Marching Band leading the parade to the St. Marys River bridge for the flowering ceremony. Approximately 8:30 AM.

Memorial Weekend Patriotic Concert In The Park

On Friday May 26th, the Van Wert Area Community Concert Band will present a concert in the bandshell of Fountain Park in Van Wert, Ohio. The program will begin at 7:00 P.M. and is free to the public. Music performed at the concert will include Patriotic selections that are intended to reflect, revitalize and rekindle the pride that each of us have as citizens of the best country in the world, the United States of America. A few of these selections are, America, Of Thee I Sing featuring vocalist Claire Keysor, Band of Brothers March, words and music by a U.S. survivor of one of the bloodiest battles of the Koren War, Frank G. Gross, Visions of Courage, God Bless America, and God bless the U.S.A.. Area military personnel and veterans will also be honored with a Salute To America’s Finest. In the event of inclement weather the concert will be held in the Niswonger Performing Arts Center auditorium. Please listen to the local radio station or visit the Van Wert Area Community Concert Band Facebook page for updates. The band members and director are excited to present this live performance. Please join the band directed by Richard Sherrick and members from, Van Wert, Ohio City, Delphos, Convoy, Chat, Middle Point, Coldwater, Ft. Wayne, Spencerville, Celina and Rockford for this special concert. The band will also be providing music for the Ohio City American Legion Memorial Day Ceremonies on Monday May 29th at 10:00 A.M. Pictured is the VWACCB percussion section, William Hawkins, Charlie Price and Adam Long preparing for the concert.

Join St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford on May 28 and May 29, 2023

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to their worship service at 10 AM on Sunday, May 28, 2023. Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit with a sermon straight from the Bible. Based on Acts 2:1-21, the title is “Under the Influence”.

Sunday school begins at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Bible based lessons and children’s activities are taught with snacks included.  

Join us on Memorial Day for a meaningful service, as well, Monday, May 29 at 8:30 AM . Home cooked breakfast will follow.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

4th Annual Freedom Truck Meet

4th Annual Freedom Truck Meet Announced

(Berne, IN, 2023) Cole Motors, a pickup truck sales & diesel repair shop CCS specializing in Custom Diesel engine swaps based in Berne, Indiana is hosting the 4th Annual Freedom Truck Meet, June 16-18, 2023. This annual event will be held at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds, located at 1055 S. Washington St, in Van Wert Ohio in partnership with the Van Wert County Agricultural Society. This weekend event, occurring Father’s Day weekend, is designed for truck enthusiasts, but boasts fun for the whole family. Activities include a show and shine competition, dirt drags, monster truck rides, burnout contests, Dyno, cruise route, live band and live DJ, on-site camping, power wheels racing, vendors, meet & greets and more! Food trucks will also be onsite. Co-hosts for the event include industry influencers Chelsey Marie with 12 Twenty Five, Wrench Workz, Cole Motors, Cory Wheat Customs, Dudes Fab Shop, Crude Diesel, Gabe Farrell, Lindsay Bercosky, Freed Diesel, and Truck Master Diesel. This year, event organizers are dedicating the 2023 Freedom Truck Meet to Ryne Cooper, or as some fans may know him as, @Useless6.7. Sadly, Ryne passed away in 2022 after a battle with cancer. During the Freedom Truck Meet, there will be a special Show & Shine award to honor Cooper. At the conclusion of each annual event, a portion of the event proceeds are donated to Riley Children’s Foundation.

Mendon-Union Alumni Weekend
The Mendon-Union Alumni Association, Mendon, Ohio has their Alumni weekend scheduled for June 3rd & 4th, 2023.  All the events are open to the public.  The weekend starts off with a Pancake & Sausage, Biscuits & Gravy breakfast at the Fire Station starting at 7:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday morning June 3rd.  At 9:00 a.m.-noon,  the Alumni is sponsoring a Car*Motorcycle*Truck Cruise-In downtown.  No Judging. All makes and models are welcome to come.  50/50 Raffle, Long Distance award, $250 Harbor Freight gift certificate to be given away to a lucky show participant.  DJ Stan Burk will be providing the music during the Cruise-In.  Saturday afternoon at 5:00 p.m. the 127th Annual Alumni Banquet will be held at the Celina American Legion Post 210 upstairs dining hall.  The 50 yr. class of 1973 will be recognized.  After the banquet, Jordan Ross, will be the evening's entertainment at the Legion from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  This will be a free concert sponsored by 10 Mendon area businesses.  Sunday June 4th, from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the annual Alumni Chicken B*B*Q catered by the Rockford Carry Out, will be at the Mendon Methodist Church drive thru.  Pre-sale tickets are $10/ea and includes a ½ chicken, baked beans, roll, butter and cookie, tickets available until May 31st at the Mendon Library.  The Methodist ladies will have their strawberry shortcake for sale at the church during the Chicken dinners.  At 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, an "All Year's" reunion will take place at the Mendon school park.  Anyone who ever attended Mendon-Union school is invited to come.  Bring your lawn chair.  Rockford Carry Out will have their RCO to go food trailer there, so plan on coming up and grabbing a bite to eat.  During the reunion at the school, our last event of the weekend will be an outdoor concert in the park by Two Groovy from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Susan & Dave Ohl from Ottawa, Ohio, will be taking us back with their music to a time when bell bottoms, leather vests, and colored sunglasses were the norm.  This is another free event to the public, sponsored by 10 Mendon area businesses.  Later in June, the M-U Alumni Golf Scramble will be held Sunday June 25, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. at the Oaks golf course, Lima.  For info on any of the events, you can call Jim Shaffer @ 419-795-5511.

MED Foundation of Mercer Health awards $18,250.00 in scholarships to 19 local high school seniors

The Medical, Educational and Development (MED) Foundation of Mercer Health recently awarded a total of $18,250.00 to local high school students furthering their education in the medical field after graduation. Scholarships were awarded to students from each of the six high schools in Mercer County and were selected as recipients based on their academic performance, extracurricular activities, volunteerism and plans for higher education.

“On behalf of the MED Foundation and the Board of Directors, I want to extend my congratulations not only to the 19 recipient of this year’s scholarships but to all applicants and to their parents,” Deb Hemmelgarn, MED Foundation and Volunteer Services Director stated. “This year’s scholarship committee, made up of members of the MED Foundation board, were thrilled with the shear caliber of the applicants again this year.”

MED Foundation scholarship recipients for 2023 include:

Celina

Kira Dirksen, Biology- Pre-dental, The Ohio State University      

Lauren Muhlenkamp, Nursing, Kent State University

Carly Hathaway, Public Health, UC, Miami University, or University of Dayton

Coldwater

Julia Bertke, Biology- Pre-dental, Bowling Green State University

Allison Hamberg, Biology/Microbiology- Pre-med, Notre Dame

Jenna Leugers, Exercise Science- Occupational Therapy, University of Findlay

Ft. Recovery

Faith Wendel, Nursing, Wright State Lake Campus

Abigail Knapke, Nurse Practitioner or Anesthetist, University of Cincinnati

Megan Knapke, Psychology, Miami University

Marion Local

Drew Guggenbiller, Biology-Pre-med, Wright State University

Lauren Meiring, Nursing, University of Toledo or Wright State University

Parkway

Corban Rich, Neuroscience-Pre-med, Bowling Green State University

Brooke Stephenson, Biomedical Sciences-Pre-med, University of Cincinnati

St. Henry

Bryce Brookhart, Exercise Science-Physical Therapy, Indiana Institute of Technology

Leah Heitkamp, Pharmacy, Ohio Northern University

Nolan Fullenkamp, Biology/Biomedical Science, The Ohio State University

Allison Miller, Psychology, Ball State University or University of Toledo

Tyler Schwieterman, Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University

Audrey Wendel, Nursing, Wright State University Lake Campus

The MED Foundation Scholarship Program is funded by the annual Esmonde/Homan Golf Outing and Golf Ball Drop. Due to the success of the golf outing in recent years, the MED Foundation has been able to provide additional scholarships to even more local students. Since 1992, 328 scholarships have been awarded totaling $346,450.00. This year’s golf outing, is scheduled for Friday, June 9 at the Mercer County Elks.

For more information about the MED Foundation of Mercer Health, contact Deb Hemmelgarn at 419-678-5679 or dhemmelgarn@mercer-health.com.

Calvary Evangelical Church Calendar

Parkway High School Class of 1963

Get ready to celebrate 60 years since graduation!

The reunion will be at the Black Angus Grille on S. Shannon Street (118) in Van Wert at 12 noon to 4 ish on Saturday, August 5, 2023.

If you wish to enjoy their great food, order from the menu, at your cost.

Please share with any classmates.

Questions or comments contact Jerry Reigle at 419-305-5839.

We look forward to seeing everyone in August.

Mercer Health and Community Sports & Therapy Center partner to provide free physical activity challenge

Mercer Health and Community Sports and Therapy Center are collaborating to offer a Healthy Waves Challenge to motivate and encourage the community to be more physically active this summer. The FREE challenge requires participants to complete 1,020 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity from June 4 through July 15, 2023.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services site recommends that adults complete at least 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity each week. Preferably, aerobic activity should be spread throughout the week for substantial health benefits, such as reducing stress levels, boosting the immune system, improving sleep and preventing weight gain.

The Mercer Health Center for Healthy Weight and Wellness recommends getting creative when it comes to your physical activity and ways to stay active. These include outdoor activities (running, walking, biking and hiking); exercising with family, using online fitness resources, taking a virtual class, creating a relay race with kids, biking to work, renting a kayak or canoe, and so many other options.

This year’s challenge will also provide opportunities for Bonus Entries; follow Mercer Health and Community Sports and Therapy Center’s Facebook Pages for a fun challenge announced each week for a chance to win up to six bonus entries. Winners will receive gift certificates for the Mercer County Chamber of Commerce.

Official entry forms can be downloaded at mercer-health.com, cstcenter.com, and https://bit.ly/3W2cAR3. 

Completed entry forms must be submitted by July 21, 2023 to be eligible for prizes. Participants must be 18 years of age or older. Please see official rules for more information.

Please contact Stacy Schwieterman at 419-678-5216 or smschwieterman@mercer-health.com for more information.

The Unclouded Day Vocal Ensemble to lead Sunday Morning Worship Service at First United Methodist Church in Van Wert on June 4, 2023 at 9:30am.

The Unclouded Day Vocal and Instrumental Ensemble from Fort Wayne, Indiana will present their unique style of sacred music ministry at First United Methodist Church, 113 West Central Avenue in Van Wert, Ohio on Sunday, June 4th, during the church’s 9:30am Morning Worship Service.  This will be the group’s

 fourth presentation since 2005 in First Church’s beautiful and historic sanctuary.

The ten-member vocal and instrumental ensemble will present a program of vocal and instrumental settings of traditional, gospel and contemporary sacred songs.  Their pianist is Dr. Alexander Klepach, Piano Performance Graduate from the Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music in Moscow and a member of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. 

Unclouded Day is accompanied by piano, bass guitar, drums and brass ensemble, and has presented programs in Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania.   

Plan to attend and enjoy Unclouded Day’s inspirational musical program in the church’s beautiful sanctuary.  The ensemble is looking forward to SINGING for YOU

May 16-22, 2023
 

Road Closures – Short Term

The Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart is announcing the closing of 2 roads on Monday, May 22nd to Friday, May 26th :

Elgin Road from State Route 117 to Mercer Van Wert County Line
Rauh Road from St. Anthony Road to Pine Road

These roads are being closed for bridge resurfacing.

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

Huwer Road to Close

The Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart, is planning to close Huwer Road between State Route 716 and Rolfes Road in Marion Township for a culvert replacement.  This road will be closed tentatively on May 22, 2023 and is scheduled to reopen in approximately 4-5 weeks, depending on the weather conditions.

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

University Women’s Club Presents $7500 in 2023 Scholarships to Five Area Young Women

The members of The University Women’s Club of Mercer County are pleased to announce their selections of young women who are receiving scholarship grants totaling $7500 for the 2023 school year.

The two $1,500 Evelyn Meyer’s scholarships for high school senior girls going into the field of Education were awarded to Coldwater High School's Lydia Dippold who is planning to attend Bowling Green State University in Early Childhood Education; and Celina High School's Amelia Adams who is planning to attend Bluffton College with a major of Elementary Education.

The two $1,500 University Women’s Club of Mercer County Scholarships for high school senior girls (any field) were awarded to Coldwater High School senior: Kendra Clune and Ft. Recovery High School graduate Abigail Knapke. Kendra  will attend BGSU majoring in Graphic Design. Abigail will attend Bowling Green State University majoring in Nursing.

The $1,500 Scholarship for a female COLLEGE Junior going into her Senior year, which requires a GPA above 3.0, an essay, and a college professor’s recommendation, for 2023, goes to: Ally Kaiser, from Ft. Recovery, OH. Ally will be a senior in the Fall at University of Dayton. She is studying to become a high school English teacher.

The UWC of Mercer County unites university graduates of the vicinity for mutual educational benefits and encourages high school women from Mercer County to continue their education. Contact Barb Phares at phares@bright.net for your  welcoming invite.

Photo one is from the Coldwater High School Awards Ceremony earlier this month. Left to right: Lydia Dippold; Kendra Clune; and Kelly Hone.

Photo two is the Celina High School Awards ceremony earlier this month. Left to right: Patrick and Zenia Adams (parents) next to Amelia Adams, with Sylvia Hux.

Photo three is at the Ft. Recovery High School presentation. Left to right are Beth Weber with Ft. Recovery senior Abigail Knapke.

Photo four is University of Dayton Junior Ally Kaiser from Ft. Recovery.

Rockford Area Development Corporation to meet
RADC meeting will be meeting Monday, May 22, 2023 at 7 pm in the Rockford Library basement. Discussion will continue on moving forward with investment in and development of an Industrial Park in Rockford.

Eric Baltzell Inducted into Parkway’s Academic Hall of Fame

By Brian Fortkamp, Parkway High School Principal

Parkway Schools are proud to announce the latest inductee to Parkway’s Academic Hall of Fame, Mr. Eric Baltzell of the Class of 1990. After graduating from high school, Mr. Baltzell attended the University of Toledo where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree. Mr. Baltzell began his career with Korda/Nemeth Engineering in Columbus as an Electrical Designer. Shortly after, he began working with Fanning Howey as an Electrical Designer. Mr. Baltzell eventually joined Garmann Miller where he was the Electrical and Technology Department Leader from 2001 until 2017. Currently, Mr. Baltzell is CEO of Garmann Miller. During his tenure as CEO, Garmann Miller has risen to a national top 100 K-12 architecture firm, earned Best Firms to Work For in the US four consecutive years, and ranked No. 13 in the world for firms that have been Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design administrators for K-12 projects. Garmann Miller has over 60 professionals and an annual revenue of approximately $12 million. Locally, Mr. Baltzell is in his second term for the Celina City Council where he has served on the City of Celina Planning commission and is a central committee representative for the Mercer County Republican Party. He is a member of the Celina First Church of God, where he has served on the finance committee and church council. He currently serves on the board of directors of Our Home Family Resource Center and the Foundation of the Great Lakes Conference.

Mr. Baltzell was also the designer of electrical and technology systems on the Parkway Schools building project many years ago.

Mr. Baltzell received his award on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at the Parkway Senior Awards ceremony. Presenter was Brian Fortkamp, Parkway High School Principal. Photo by Eric’s aunt and uncle, Dave and Lina Wilson.

Eric invites you to click on the link for the Garmann/Miller Architects-Engineers' website at  www.garmannmiller.com and click on the Education link. From there you can view their work on the Parkway School Project. You can also learn what other projects they are working on as well.

Eric, a resident of Celina  is the son of the late Jim and Shirley (Wilson) Baltzell of Rockford. Tami Baltzell Conklin is his sister of Whitehouse, OH. Eric had one brother, the late Tim Baltzell.

Parkway Schools are on a
2 hour delay
for Friday, May 19, 2023.

The Village of Rockford lifted a Boil Water Advisory on Friday, May 19, 2023

The Village of Rockford is under a Boil Water Advisory for Thursday, May 18, 2023

Parkway Schools are  CLOSED for Thursday, May 18, 2023

Please NOTE: No E Learning (Electronic) today.
 

Parkway Schools are on a
2 hour delay
for Thursday, May 18, 2023.
The school reports a water issue.

Memorial Day in Rockford

The Rockford American Legion Post Post 508 will be holding our annual Memorial Day Services, Monday, May 29, 2023.  The public is invited to our service at Riverside Cemetery at 10 am honoring all fallen veterans in Riverside.  The Memorial Day parade will begin at approximately 11 am (When the Parkway Marching Band arrives!) beginning at the Fire Station and travel north on Main street to the service at Hedges Veteran Park.  This year we are honored to have Bob Blackwell as our speaker.  Bob was born and raised in western North Carolina.  He was drafted into the Army and sent to Vietnam in 1969.  His time in Vietnam became his connection to the Rockford and Willshire communities.  Pastor Michael Husted from St. Paul’s Country Church will be offering the prayers.  Post 508 SAL member Mike Heiser will be the MC.

All area veterans (please feel free to wear your military uniform if you still have it) and Post 508 members are invited to join us at both or either service.
  
The Rockford American Legion and Sons will be holding our annual  barbecue chicken dinner fundraiser.  The cost will be $10 - Tickets are pre-sale only and are available at the Rockford American Legion, Barrys Family Market, and The Rockford Carryout.  The Chicken dinners are provided by the Rockford Carryout and will be available for pickup behind the Rockford American Legion Hall immediately following the ceremony.
  

Reed Shaffer
Rockford Legion Post 508

Celina Cycle Center

The Celina Mercer Chamber of Commerce welcomes a new Chamber member, Celina Cycle Center. The Celina Cycle Center is a new small business located just north of Celina on US Rte 33. They are locally owned and operated and offer services for motorcycles of all brands and types, ATV's, dirt bikes, snowmobiles and mopeds. Their shop offers a variety of inventory, including sunglasses, helmets, headwear, T-shirts, and have the ability to special order parts and accessories. They are a Dunlop Pro Dealer which allows them to offer special rebates to their customers. With over 35 years of experience working with, building and racing motorcycles, they will provide quality repairs and maintenance, focusing on excellent customer service, trust and satisfaction. For more information, contact Erin at 937-710-5471 or email celinacyclecenterll@gmail.com. Visit their Open House Event on Saturday, May 20th 10am-4pm

Visit their website for details: CelinaCycleCenter.com

Local Businesses and Employees Participate in Seller Server Training

 By Laura Sanford

On Monday, April 17, The Mercer County Prevention Coalition hosted two Seller-Server Trainings held for alcohol permit holders and servers. Seller-Server Training is a project of the Mercer County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) as a result of the 2022 Community Health Assessment, which indicated alcohol/substance abuse as one of our top health issues in Mercer County.

Agent Andy Alanis from the Ohio Investigative Unit presented information on the A.S.K. program (Alcohol Server Knowledge). The Ohio state course is designed for bartenders, sellers, and servers and was filled with knowledge and techniques to become a responsible server/seller of alcohol and liquor regulations.  Covering topics such as:  how to protect yourself and your establishment from liability, how to check IDs, how to identify a fake ID, levels of intoxication, recognizing the signs of intoxication, recognize minors, and interventions.  Agent Alanis also covered what the Ohio penalties and fines are for a business or server who is found in non-compliance. 

All businesses who serve or sell alcohol in Mercer County were invited to attend the training. There were 5 businesses and 9 alcohol permit holders/servers in attendance:  C-Town Wings (Brittany Brookhart, Jordan McGee, and Jeremy Green), Celina Moose Lodge (Brooke Brown and Linda Monroe), Plaza Bowling Lanes (Heather Kennedy), Cozy Cabin Cafe, LLC (Deborah Mertz), Gilbert Station Bar and Grille, LLC (Ashley Borgerding and Christopher L. Siefring).

The CHIP Substance Abuse Committee and the Mercer County Prevention Coalition want to thank the listed businesses for participating in this training and recognizing the importance for keeping our community safe.

Thanks to the Mercer County Prevention Coalition for donating the $20 Mercer County Chamber of Commerce Gift Certificate door prizes at each session. Thank you to Agent Alanis for teaching this excellent training.

For those interested in joining or finding out more about ways to reduce alcohol and other drug use/abuse in our community, please consider joining the Mercer County Prevention Coalition.  For more information contact Laura Sanford at 419-584-1000 or mercercountyprevention@gmail.com if interested.

Mercer County Youth to Youth holds annual Recognition Banquet

On April 24th, Mercer County Youth to Youth held their annual Recognition banquet for those 7th-12th grade students who have been serving in our group. The Mercer County Y2Y group serves many purposes in Mercer County. Y2Y helps to promote Y2Y’s mission – youth empowering youth – and to educate their peers on the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, along with mental health and suicide awareness. Y2Y teens serve as a link between the youth, their schools, and the community. Y2Y is a place for Mercer County teens to express ideas and opinions while building their leadership skills and bettering their communities!

Youth were honored for their meeting attendance and volunteer hours! Since the beginning of the school year, the youth in our group have volunteered a total of 347 hours as Youth to Youth volunteers in the community! Not all were able to be present, but we are thankful for each one of them! Top volunteer hours were Aiden Norris and Makenzie Norris with 30.6 hours each and 2nd place was Tiffany Taft and Bella Taft with 29.75 hours each. Top meeting attendance went to Paul Homan, Koton Gehm and Tiffany Taft with 14 meetings. We also celebrated with a variety of food originating from other countries.

The remaining meetings for the school year are open to incoming 7th graders as well. Our last meetings are May 8 (Learning ASL) and May 22 (Creative Craft) from 6:30-8:30 pm at the Foundation’s Clubhouse, 221 S. Buckeye St., Celina. Youth will also be meeting up three times this summer to stay connected and engaged. Those dates include: Tuesday, June 20 from 2-5 pm Putt Putt and Bowling, Coldwater; Tuesday, July 11 Coldwater Pool and Park from 3-6 pm; and Wednesday, August 16 Mercer County Fair 12:30-3:30 pm. Our monthly meetings will begin again in September 2023. Check out our Mercer County Youth to Youth group on Facebook or mercercounty_y2y on Instagram to stay connected. If your youth is interested in participating in any of the upcoming meetings or gatherings, please contact Laura Sanford at lauras@foundationsbhs.org or 419-584-1000 at Foundations Behavioral Health Services.

42nd Honor Flight From Fort Wayne

Honor Flight Northeast Indiana is slated for its 42nd Honor Flight from Fort Wayne on May 24, 2023.  Eighty-Three veterans from the Fort Wayne area are booked and confirmed for the flight. 

Included will be 10 - Korean War Veterans, 31 - Cold War Veterans, 39 - Vietnam Veterans, 2 – Lebanon/Grenada Veterans and 1 – Desert Shield/Desert Storm Veteran.

The Honor Flight family will dedicate this Flight to the Memory of an incredibly Special Board Member that worked tirelessly for many years to make sure that every veteran who went on an Honor Flight was treated with honor and respect.  Sandie Meyer holds a place of honor among our family and will be honored in subtle ways during the day’s normal events.  A wreath will be laid in honor of Sandie at Arlington Cemetery by her family.  Colonel Bob Meyer (Retired) was President of Honor Flight Northeast Indiana for several years and will lead the wreath laying ceremony.

As of this date, 3,205 veterans have traveled from Fort Wayne to Washington, D.C. on an Honor Flight to visit the Memorials that were built in their honor.  

Due to construction at the airport, no welcome home festivities are permitted.

Cathy Berkshire, President of Honor Flight Northeast Indiana, is honored to dedicate this flight to the Memory of Sandie Myer.  Sandie had a huge heart and loved all our Veterans; she is missed every day!  Cathy is thankful for our Honor Flight Family and the great community of patriotic individuals that support our mission to take the brave men and women of the armed services of the United States to see the memorials built in their honor. Great Thanks to all who donate time, effort, and money to this wonderful mission.

Honor Flight Northeast Indiana, Inc. is a volunteer, nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

Schlosser Wins Creative Writing Award

At its May 5, 2023 luncheon held in the St. Marys Community Public Library, the Shakespeare Club presented its annual Creative Writing Award of $250 to Molly Schlosser, daughter of Sheri and Scott Schlosser.

Each year, the St. Marys High School English Department selects a student for the award.  The winner attends the club’s spring luncheon and meets club members, receives a certificate and cash prize, and then shares a piece of original writing with the group.

Schlosser, who plans to pursue an undergraduate degree in psychology and eventually a graduate degree in law, shared a short piece she had written titled “The Window Well.”

Schlosser said that her “nonstop reading” has helped her become a writer.  “My dream has always been to impact others with my writing in the same way that others’ writing has impacted me.”

After President Dianne Logan presented the club’s award, she presented Schlosser with a matching $250 check from the estate of Mary Engelhart, a longtime St. Marys English teacher and member of the Shakespeare Club.  Her son, Eric Engelhart, is pleased to donate money to the club his mother enjoyed so much.

The Shakespeare Club, founded in 1888, is celebrating its 135th anniversary this year.  The club meets regularly at the St. Marys library and welcomes new members.  Its next season will begin September 8, 2023 at 1:30, with a study of Hamlet.

Calvary Evangelical Church Calendar

Pastor Michael Husted at St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford


The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to their worship service at 10 AM on Sunday, May 21, 2023. Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit with a sermon straight from the Bible. Based on Ephesians 1:15-23, the title is “To Know Him Better”.

Sunday school begins at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Bible based lessons and children’s activities are taught with snacks included.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

Gunpowder - Topic of Next Civil War Roundtable Meeting

George Wolf, a member of our Roundtable, and our resident expert on Artillery in the war, will speak to the group in our final meeting of the season. George speaks on May 25, 2023 and we will adjourn until September. George's topic for this month will be "Gunpowder".

The Confederacy used some of the highest quality powder in the world. They geared up their own production facilities in Augusta Georgia, beginning in 1862, and supplied their own needs through the end of the war. They produced 2,750,000 pounds in total..

George's personal collection of books provided the basic information that supports his thesis. He is a solid researcher, and a good story-teller.

Join us on Thursday evening at 7:15 PM at the Richardson Bretz Building in downtown Celina.

May 10 - 15, 2023
Serving the Rockford, Willshire and Mendon Communities for 18 years!
 

Parkway High School Holds Fund –Raiser for Cancer
Parkway High School held an event called Relay for Life to raise money for the Mercer County Cancer Society on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Over 340 students and staff members spent their day outside enjoying the nice weather. There were multiple games the kids could play as well as food provided by local food trucks for lunch. Businesses around the area donated many items for a raffle at the end of the day. During the day each student walked over 3 miles in honor of those who have battled or are battling cancer. 

Mercer County Health District Celebrates National Nurses Week

As National Nurses Week comes to a close, the Mercer County Health District wishes to thank and recognize the seven nurses who make up nearly half of the MCHD team. At the health department, nurses perform a variety of tasks including administering immunizations, helping people find the health care they need, instructing parents on the proper use of car seats, providing safe sleep environments for newborn babies, watching for unusual disease patterns in the community, investigating disease outbreaks, and even supporting environmental health programs. Mercer County is a better place because of their hard work and dedication!

Pictured from left to right: Michaela Heitkamp, Deb Scheer, Moriah Plattner, Lisa Vondrell, Misty Kleman, Julia Shaffer, and Jennifer Hiser

Parkway Class of 1968 to Celebrate 55^th Reunion

The Reunion Committee for the Parkway Class of 1968 is planning their 55^th Reunion on Saturday, September 16, 2023 to be held at Jane (Stephenson) Suzuki’s building east of Rockford. Beginning the event will be a time of socializing at 2 PM. At 5 PM a buffet dinner will be served followed by a short business meeting. Everything ends at 9 PM.

The cost will be $20 per person.  This includes the meal, stamps, paper, memorial cards, event space, and donations to the Carey, Benny and Bill Scholarship Fund.  

Send your money/reservation before July 1, 2023  to:  Sherry Adler, 310 Frank Road, Willshire, OH  45898,  Phone (260) 438-2039.

Confederate Railroad Concert added to the 167th Annual Van Wert County Fair
Veterans attend FREE

Van Wert, OH

The Van Wert County Agricultural Society proudly announces the Confederate Railroad will be performing at The Grandstand, Thursday, August 31, 2023 at 7:30 PM. Confederate Railroad first rolled onto the national country music scene in the early 90s with its unique style and sound. Headed by founder and frontman Danny Shirley, the former backup band for both David Allan Coe and Johnny Paycheck got their big break by signing with Atlantic Records. The first single from their debut album ("Confederate Railroad") was "She Took It Like A Man". It went to No. 26, a preview of what was to come. "The next two singles, "Jesus and Mama" and "Queen of Memphis" went to the top of the charts. Three more huge hits followed, "Trashy Women", "When You Leave That Way You Can Never Go Back", and "She Never Cried". "Trashy" would lead to a Grammy nomination and become their signature song. That album with six hits and nearly three million sales brought Confederate the Academy of Country Music's Best New Group Award in 1993 as well as numerous nominations from the Country Music Association and the British Country Music Foundation.

The band plays 100 or so dates each year. Whatever the venue, they are right at home…be it a fair, a club, or a biker show. Shirley, the lead singer and vocalist, and his mates, Mark Dufresne on drums, Mo Thaxton on bass and vocals, Rusty Hendrix on lead guitar and Joey Recker on keyboards and vocals are obviously having fun right along with their appreciative audience. At the end of each show, the band stays around until every fan who wants an autograph, or to pose with the group for a picture or just say "hello" is taken care of.

The Van Wert County Agricultural Society is honored to offer this concert as FREE to all Veterans (with form of veterans identification). Van Wert County Veterans can secure their free ticket by visiting the Fair office at 1055 S. Washington St, Van Wert, OH 45891 by May 31st with appropriate veteran identification to secure their choice seating. Starting June 1, 2023, ticket sales and availability will be open to outside community veterans and the general public. Veterans tickets are free. Tickets are $10 each for general admission or $15.00 each for track seating. Our track seating ticket holders are advised to bring their own lawn chair to fully enjoy the concert. Tickets can be bought online or in person by visiting the Van Wert County Fair office at 1055 S. Washington Street, Van Wert, OH 45891. This event is sponsored in part by the Van Wert County Veterans Commission.

May 1 - 9, 2023
 

Pastor Michael Husted at St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to their worship service at 10 AM on Sunday, May 14, 2023, Mother’s Day. Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit with a sermon straight from the Bible. Based on Peter 3:13-22, the title is “Always Be Prepared”.

Sunday school begins at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Bible based lessons and children’s activities and taught with snacks included.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

RADC Community Meeting held on Tuesday April 25, 2023 Deemed Success

The Rockford Area Development Corporation planned a community meeting on Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

Guest speakers were Jared Ebbing, Mercer County Community and Economic Development Director and Mercer County Commissioner David Buschur. Forty-some members of the Rockford  Community attended the meeting. 

 
Bryan Sutton, Above

Bryan Sutton, President of RADC called the event to order at 7 PM and noted the reason for the meeting was to discuss ideas for Rockford development.
 

Dr. Jerry Sell, above
 

Serving as moderator, Dr. Jerry Sell, RADC treasurer – thanked everyone for attending and stated the purpose of the RADC – “The Rockford Area Development Committee was formed in 2006.  It is a not-for-profit group that is private so that we are not beholden to any specific projects, and there no guidelines we must follow.  We want to enhance the quality of life by providing development and improvements for the residents of this community.  We are wanting to re-invigorate the committee.  We have by-laws.  We are in need of some volunteers for finance, marketing / planning, infrastructure, and retaining and getting memberships.    We will make some presentations, and then we will open the meeting up for discussions.”

Marcus Heitkamp, above 
 

Next, Marcus Heitkamp, serving on the Rockford Village Council introduced the council members and Mayor present at the meeting.   He stated, “As a council, we want to be involved and help where we can.    We encourage the public to attend council meetings the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays each month at 7:30 pm.    If you have ideas get in touch with us.” 

Jared Ebbing, above

Dr. Sell introduced Jared Ebbing from Mercer County Economic Development Rockford should be proud of what you have done in the last 20+  years and it’s evident that the RADC has a passion for development and bringing business to this area. Ebbing explained that a big business like Ferguson Plant that came to the area recently is a one-time bonus for the area. Ebbing said the reality is that the small businesses actually provide the success and growth. He suggested encouraging the people here. Ebbing can offer Revolving Loans, Grants and TIF’s. He suggested that towns keep things clean and infrastructure updated.  That is what businesses like Ferguson are looking for – clean communities with people taking pride in their homes and towns. It equals work ethic.

Dave Buschur, above 

Dave Buschur then spoke. He gave some background on what the Maria Stein Community Development committee did in Maria Stein and Chickasaw.  They formed a group of investors with by-laws. They were volunteers who invested their own money to purchase land and create an industrial park.  have a web site with financials so that the community can see what funds are needed and what fundraising is going on and what projects we are working on.  Dave said volunteers are key. You can’t rely on government to do this – it needs to be community minded people that are willing to make an investment.   There are ways to work together -  investors, grants, and TIF districts and local government, said Buschur. As the park grew, with small businesses sustaining southern Mercer County, the park are now full and looking to expand.

Dr. Sell moderated a Comments and Questions section where needed businesses were discussed. List minutes prepared by Lisa Kuhn, Village Council:

Daycare ---- If the parents can’t find reliable daycare they can’t go to work.    Would be nice in the area where there is open space beside the nursing home.   Very much needed.   This is a build it and they will come.      Mercer County has revolving loan funds available.     Maybe there is an investor to build the building then you hire someone to run the business.   A daycare would make a great foundation.

Store fronts on Main Street ---- owners out of the area or use for personal use – very frustrating.  Suggestion to contact them – willing to sell, willing to lease – see if they are interested in working with community development.  You don’t know if you don’t ask.

Restaurant ---- we have a local chef  -  doesn’t want to invest in building – but perhaps there is a building that could be transformed into a restaurant.   Or again --- investors build and then hire the staff to run the business.   Classic example --- St. Anthony ---  they hired a chef from out of the area to come to this area to run the business.

Reasons why people don’t want to start a business – sleepless nights, risk, stress --- that is why the idea of investors working with those running the business --- both have some risk but not all risk.

Note – Business Enterprise Center at Wright State is a great resource that we can refer to those that might be interested in starting or running a business.  A great local resource.

There is a lot in front of the Village Office – on Main Street.   Bruns Construction is willing to build whatever is needed in order to lease.   Could be a good combination.  Both parties taking risk.  Would be a nice place for a coffee shop / bakery.   Really would be ideal to have companion businesses beside each other and working together.

Benefits to this area – Route 33 ---- 6,000 vehicles per day come through?   Plus 1,000 students and administrators at the school.   We have a great location – a lot of through traffic.

When ideas are presented --- need to stay positive and let any negative comments go.  A positive community will see positive results.

Perhaps have a meeting with Fremont and see if they have suppliers interested in coming to this area.  Might save them some money in the long run.     Other idea --- contact those businesses in other communities that might be considering expanding – maybe they would consider Rockford Area for expanding current businesses or starting additional business that compliments their current business.

Need to have a meeting and discuss the top 5 potential land areas and contact the owners to see if they would be interesting in selling / maybe partnership in development.

There may be some grants from the state for development of new industrial parks – but the state is hesitating on using tax payer funds for risk on industrial parks that may or may not take off.   This would be a ways off and wouldn’t wait for that to happen as it may never happen.  

The RADC would like to get a group of interested investors together at their next meeting scheduled for May 22nd at 7 pm at the Rockford Library.

Thank you! Pictures by Connie Sell; Contributors: Connie Sell; Lisa Kuhn; Tammy Cheek; and Dr. Jerry Sell.

Rockford Lions Club Plans Upcoming Events
Lions Club charter members Darrell Sheppard, Norm VanTilburg, and Dan Henkle were honored for their forty-five (45) years of dedication and service to the Rockford Lions Club and to their community, during a break in the Rockford Lions Quarter Auction on Saturday April 22, 2023 at the Rockford Community Building. The Rockford Lions Club became a chartered service organization on October 24, 1977 with forty-four members. The Lions motto is ‘We Serve.’

The Rockford Lions extend their thanks to the many businesses, vendors and participants who helped to make the Quarter auction, under the direction of project chair LeeAnn Frank, a success. The first Lions Club Quarter Auction was held in 2019. 

Preparations are now underway for the 29th annual Rockford Car Show and Cruise-In to be held on Friday, June 16th, 2023 on Market Street in Rockford, in conjunction with Rockford Community Days. 

Proceeds from Rockford Lions Club projects like the Quarter Auction and the Car Show and Cruise-In help to fund scholarships and fulfill community needs and requests.

Mercer County Sheriff and Ohio State Highway Patrol to Partner
Celina, OH – Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey announces that the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the Ohio State Highway Patrol to conduct a traffic enforcement detail on May 1st, 2nd, and 3rd focusing on stop sign violations.  Lt John Westerfield of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is coordinating their involvement and will be assigning troopers to Mercer County on those dates, both on the roadways and in the air, with the OSHP Aviation Unit assisting.  Sheriff Jeff Grey will be assigning patrol deputies to work jointly with the troopers in this effort to deter failure to yield and other crash causing violations.  Though deputies have stepped up extra patrol in the high complaint and traffic crash areas, the Sheriff’s Office continues to receive complaints of traffic violations occurring throughout Mercer County.

Both the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office strive to prevent crashes, educate the public, and ensure the safe travel for all motorists within Mercer County.  Motorists are encouraged to limit the distractions within their vehicles and focus on the road ahead.

OhioHealth and Surgery Partners Announce State-wide Partnership for Ambulatory Surgical Care Partnership to provide high-quality, affordable, accessible surgical care for patients across Ohio

by Marcus Thorpe – OhioHealth Media Relations

 

OhioHealth and Surgery Partners today announced an agreement to form a company that will grow ASC joint ventures across the state. The partnership will enhance relationships with surgeons and provide high quality, affordable, and local care for patients.

“We know there is a tremendous desire from patients to work with a trusted healthcare partner for their care,” Brian Jepson, OhioHealth president, central market said. “OhioHealth is already that partner for inpatient as well ambulatory care in more than half of the state of Ohio. However, to support our organization’s desire to grow beyond our traditional geographic areas, to meet patients where they are in their health journey, and to partner with surgeons across the state, we needed the right management partner. We feel Surgery Partners, the leading independent operator of surgical facilities, is the perfect fit.”

The new partnership will use a phased approach for statewide growth, starting with expansion opportunities within the 50 counties OhioHealth serves, followed by an opportunity review of the remaining 38 counties, allowing for flexibility and intentionality.

“At Surgery Partners, our mission is to enhance patient quality of life through partnership,” said Eric Evans, Chief Executive Officer.  “We are excited to partner with OhioHealth to provide quality, affordable and local care to patients across the state of Ohio. Our two organizations bring together local market knowledge and relationships and a trusted legacy of high-quality patient care with an industry-leading surgical facility management and growth expertise.

In addition to the partnership building an enhanced experience for patients, it will also foster relationships with top surgeons across the state. This partnership offers a unique opportunity for physicians to further invest in their practice, patients, and community and supports continued physician independence. With this flexible arrangement, physicians can continue to have a voice in day-to-day operations as well as strategic decisions for overall long-term strategy while benefiting from the scale and management expertise of OhioHealth and Surgery Partners.

About OhioHealth

Based in Columbus, Ohio, OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable, healthcare outreach of the United Methodist Church.  

Serving its communities since 1891, OhioHealth is a family of 35,000 associates, physicians and volunteers, and a network of 14 hospitals, 3 joint-venture hospitals, one managed-affiliate hospital, 200+ ambulatory sites and other health services spanning a 50-county area. It has been recognized by FORTUNE as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” 15 times since 2007.

For more information, visit ohiohealth.com.

Surgery Partners

Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Surgery Partners (NASDAQ: SGRY) is a leading healthcare services company with a differentiated outpatient delivery model focused on providing high quality, cost effective solutions for surgical care in support of both patients and physicians. Founded in 2004, Surgery Partners is one of the largest and fastest growing surgical services businesses in the country, with more than 180 locations in 31 states, including ambulatory surgery centers, surgical hospitals, and multi-specialty physician practices.

Historic Main Street Van Wert Announces Annual Awards Dinner on May 17

VAN WERT - Historic Main Street Van Wert is excited to announce its annual awards dinner, to be held on May 17th at the Wassenberg Art Center. This event is a celebration of the downtown community, individuals and businesses that make our district thrive.

The theme of the evening will be “It’s about that time” to support the effort of Historic Main Street Van Wert’s goal of restoring the National Bank clock on the corner of Washington and Main Streets.

The evening will begin with cocktails and networking from 5:30pm to 6:00pm, followed by dinner, which will be provided by Black Angus. State Representative Roy Klopfenstein will be the keynote speaker, addressing the importance of the Main Street Program and its impact on the downtown district.

Throughout the evening, Historic Main Street Van Wert will honor business owners and downtown champions who have made significant contributions to the community. These individuals and businesses have helped to revitalize and preserve the historic charm of Van Wert's downtown area.

"We are thrilled to host our annual awards dinner and recognize the individuals and businesses who make our community so special," said Joe Dray, Executive Director of Historic Main Street Van Wert. "Their hard work and dedication to the downtown area is truly inspiring, and we look forward to celebrating their contribution."

The awards dinner is open to the public, and tickets are available for purchase on the Main Street Van Wert website or through their social media pages for $25 each. A limited number of tickets will be sold for this event. This is an excellent opportunity for community members to come together and celebrate the vitality of downtown Van Wert.

About Historic Main Street Van Wert

Historic Main Street Van Wert is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of downtown Van Wert. The organization works to promote economic development, preserve historic buildings, and enhance the quality of life in the community.

For more information about Historic Main Street Van Wert or to purchase tickets to the awards dinner, please visit their website at www.mainstreetvanwert.org.

Contact: Joe Dray, Executive Director Historic Main Street Van Wert 419-238-6911 director@mainstreetvanwert.org

Guest Speaker at St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to their worship service at 10 AM on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Reverend Doug Meyer will be filling in for Pastor Michael Husted. His lesson is from the Gospel of John 14:1-7 and is entitled “On Being Untroubled”.

Sunday school begins at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Bible based lessons and children’s activities are taught. Snacks.

Please call the church office at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

Rockford Carnegie Library Board of Trustees will meet
 

The Rockford Carnegie Library Board of Trustees will meet in public session for its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 9 at 4 p.m.  The meeting will be held in the library basement.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 61st ANNUAL YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION

Lima, OH (May 2, 2023) – On April 29th, the Friends of the Symphony hosted the 61st annual “Young Artists Competition” in Yoder Recital Hall on the campus of Bluffton University. The competition featured woodwind, brass, and piano performers. Cash awards were presented to eight finalists after a finalist concert was held that evening. This year's eight finalists were:

1st Place Junior Wind/Brass ($600): Matthew Hrinda, saxophone, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York

2nd Place Junior Wind/Brass ($400): Estel Vivo Casanovas, saxophone, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York

1st Place Junior Piano ($600): Derek Szlauer, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan

2nd Place Junior Piano ($400): Victor Shlyakhtenko, Oberlin Conservatory, Oberlin, Ohio

1st Place Senior Wind/Brass ($1,000): James O’Donnell, saxophone, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio

2nd Place Wind/Brass ($700): Lingxiao Li, saxophone, University of Iowa School of Music, Iowa City, Iowa

1st Place Senior Piano ($1,000): Tianmi Wu, Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, Ohio

2nd Place Senior Piano, ($700):  Dina Kasman, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Bloomington, Indiana

Including both a Junior and Senior Division, these competitors represent the finest Universities and Conservatories in the country. The winners of this renowned competition receive cash prizes. In addition to cash prizes, division finalists may be invited to appear as a guest soloist with the Lima Symphony at a performance in a future season, upon recommendation of the Lima Symphony Orchestra Music Director. The junior division is for competitors ages 17-21 enrolled in a college or conservatory degree program. The senior division is for competitors ages 22-26 enrolled in a college or conservatory degree program.

The 62nd Young Artists Competition will be held in spring of 2023.  Information on the Friends of the Symphony and other educational programs and opportunities can be found on the symphony’s website: www.limasymphony.com

Medical Director at EverHeart Hospice Celebrates 32 Years of Service

Caring for patients who are nearing the end of life might seem intimidating to some, but Dr. Edward Hosbach doesn’t look at it this way. Instead, he feels it’s his role to be a tour guide on a patient’s individual journey to what awaits them in the next phase of their journey.

In fact, Hosbach has been helping hospice patients as the Medical Director with EverHeart Hospice for 32 years. He has been with the non-profit organization for over three quarters of its existence. This consistency and dedication truly allow him to practice as an expert in the field of hospice.

For those unfamiliar, Hospice is a special type of healthcare for individuals facing a terminal illness. The care focuses on keeping a patient comfortable and is individualized for each patient. Hospice uses an interdisciplinary approach to caring for a person’s mind, body, and spirit. The care team at EverHeart Hospice includes a doctor, nurse practitioners, nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, music therapists, a bereavement coordinator, and volunteers.

Hosbach began his hospice experience with a rotation in medical school. While observing a hospice physician, he was instantly amazed by the communication taking place and the compassion being shown for the patient and their family.

“You get a sense right away that management of the family is just as important as symptom management,” shared Hosbach. “Being there for them and helping all of them get through this journey is important.”

Hosbach actually has a background and undergraduate degree in electrical engineering. In medical school, his favorite subject was anatomy. He was fascinated by the structure and function of the body.

“If you like machines, the most cool machine in the world is the human body.”

After medical school, Hosbach opened his own practice in Mercer County. Hospice of Mercer County was a newer provider at that time and needed a physician. Because of the positive experience he had with hospice in medical school, Hosbach stepped up and volunteered with Hospice of Mercer County and attended their meetings every few weeks. Eventually, this blossomed into a full-time position as Medical Director.

In 1990, Hospice of Darke County, Inc. and Mercer County Hospice joined to provide an expanded service area. The two later became known as State of the Heart Home Health and Hospice. In 2021, the name was changed to “EverHeart Hospice” as a testament to the everlasting love and care that is given to their patients.

Even through the name changes, providing quality of life for dying patients has remained a top priority for the team at EverHeart Hospice. Their staff often feel a strong calling to work in hospice, doing work that is bigger than just a job.

“Where hospice comes into play is to help maintain the integrity of a patient’s goals. I always say when we see the end, we want to get them there with as much dignity and comfort as possible,” said Hosbach.

Hospice is a whole different scope of practice compared to his time spent in his family practice. In medical school, everything is about prevention, cure, and lengthening life, but there is little mentioned about how to care for a dying person. Hospice on the other hand is a different mindset. The goals of care change. Once a patient is facing a life ending disease, the goal becomes how to maintain comfort as much as possible when there are no more options to treat the disease.

It's a field of work that requires compassion above all else.

The most common advice Dr. Hosbach gives to families when their loved one enters Hospice focuses on  goal setting and to really hone in on what the patient wants.

“We can get lost in what the caregiver wants, what the medical team wants, and what the family wants. And sometimes we lose sight of what the patient wants. It’s important to negotiate on behalf of the patient to meet their wishes,” shared Hosbach. “I always say in medicine we can do a lot, but should we do a lot. It is not our job to argue with the patient. We want to get them to the finish line as gracefully as possible.”

Hosbach encourages medical students and new doctors to have some exposure to hospice and try to get comfortable talking about end of life and goal setting. Honest communication is important, even when it isn’t easy.

Hosbach often ends these long discussions by reminding families that even when death is peaceful and the patient is in a better place, it’s ok to admit that as the family member,

“It’s still hard, it just sucks. I have found that to be true with the losses in my own family. Sometimes there is just nothing you can say to change that,” he explained.

Balancing the emotions of constantly learning that your patients have passed is something that can weigh heavily on you, according to Hosbach. It is something all the employees in the hospice industry face. He feels that maintaining his private practice helps bounce his spirits back.

“I still get to see the babies and nursery visits, and do a little with sports medicine.”

The combination of a family practice and hospice work truly paints the image of the full circle of life. But at the end of the day, doctors are human too, and they are not immune from the sea of emotions that build up as someone passes away.

“What gets to me is especially if I am in a home with a dying mother and her kids. I have been known to shed a tear and my voice will crack. That’s part of the way we learn to cope with things.”

But the opportunity to provide comfort and warmth for patients at a time when it is needed most far outweighs the negative.

“Everybody at EverHeart has a big heart and works hard as a team. I am blessed to be a part of it.”

Working in a rural community has also been a positive experience for Hosbach, noting that the family unit is very strong in this area. Our team spends one-on-one time with patients, and their loved ones often note that our staff become like family. There are also more opportunities to positively impact the community in a rural area, where you don’t get lost in the noise of a big city.

“I just LOVE the employees of EverHeart,” he says with a genuine smile and bounce of excitement in his voice. “You guys are FUN people!”

From everyone at EverHeart, we thank Dr. Hosbach for his 32 years of service to our organization!

Dr. Hosbach graduated with honors from Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine. In addition to serving as Medical Director at EverHeart Hospice, Dr. Hosbach maintains a private practice in Fort Recovery and St. Henry in affiliation with Mercer Health. He is the recipient of the 2022 OhioHYPERLINK "https://mercer-health.com/dr-ed-hosbach-receives-ohio-acofp-distinguished-service-award/" HYPERLINK "https://mercer-health.com/dr-ed-hosbach-receives-ohio-acofp-distinguished-service-award/"AHYPERLINK "https://mercer-health.com/dr-ed-hosbach-receives-ohio-acofp-distinguished-service-award/"merican College of Osteopathic Family PhysiciansHYPERLINK "https://mercer-health.com/dr-ed-hosbach-receives-ohio-acofp-distinguished-service-award/" (ACOFP)HYPERLINK "https://mercer-health.com/dr-ed-hosbach-receives-ohio-acofp-distinguished-service-award/" Distinguished Physicians Award and is a current member and past president of the ACOFP. His hobbies include golf, sports, playing with his kids and grandkids, playing trumpet, and writing humor and performing humor.

EverHeart Hospice is a non-profit organization caring for patients in West Central Ohio and East Central Indiana for over 42 years. To learn more, visit their website at everhearthospice.org.

BROWN ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $735,000 TO IMPROVE AIRPORTS IN NORTHWEST OHIO

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded five grants totaling $735,787 to five airports in Northwest Ohio. 

“Ohio airports are vital infrastructure supporting travel and commerce in our state,” Brown said. “These investments will enhance safety and operations at Northwest Ohio airports and improve travel for area residents and businesses.” 

Funding from FAA includes:

 $310,159 to the Bluffton Airport to reconstruct taxi lane pavement and shifts the hangar taxiway to meet FAA design standards.

$153,000 to the Putnam County Airport in Ottawa to construct a new T-hangar for aircraft storage and a 25-foot taxi lane to connect an existing parking area to a hangar area and performs sealing and crack repairs to the existing taxiway surface. 

$94,950 to the Lakefield Airport in Celina to conduct a new airport drainage study.

$89,676 to the Van Wert County Airport to reconstruct an existing runway lighting system, construct a lighting vault to meet FAA standards, and install replacement runway end identifier lights to make the airport more accessible by improving approaches to the runway.

$88,002 to the Lima Allen County Airport to rehabilitate existing taxiway pavement and connector pavement.

Roadside Herbicide - To spray or not to spray

Roadside herbicide application for the suppression of undesirable vegetation and environmental enhancement, through the use of Environmental Protection Agency approved herbicides, will be performed by licensed personnel along all county roads in Mercer County and on township roads in Center and Jefferson Townships, starting May 1, 2023 extending thru May 31, 2023, according to the Mercer County Engineer Jim Wiechart.

Anyone who has sensitive areas adjacent to any road right-of-way and does not wish for those areas to be treated must erect signs reading “Do Not Spray”.

For further information, contact the office of the Mercer County Engineer at 419-586-7759.

DITCH MAINTENANCE SPRAYING BEGINS

Mercer County Engineer Jim Wiechart is announcing that crews are tentatively scheduled to begin the 2023 herbicidal spray application of various open drainage ditches located in Mercer County. Only those ditches that are on the county maintenance program maintained by the Mercer County Engineer’s Office will be sprayed.

Right of Way Management, St. Joseph, IN has been awarded the contract this year to apply one application of the E.P.A. approved herbicide, to suppress and control undesirable brush and noxious weeds within the channel and maintenance berm.

Weather permitting, the tentatively scheduled completion date for this year’s herbicidal spray application is May 31, 2023.  Any landowner having questions or concerns regarding the herbicide application, should contact the Mercer County Engineer’s Office, 4195867759.

Huwer Road to Close in Marion Township

The Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart, is planning to close Huwer Road between Clune Stucke Road and Voskuhl Road in Marion Township for a culvert replacement.  This road will be closed tentatively on May 2, 2023 and is scheduled to reopen in approximately 3 weeks, depending on the weather conditions.

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

Road Closures

The Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart, is issuing a reminder to all drivers, that during the construction season and also at other times throughout the year, there are various temporary road closures in the county to allow our crews to do the repair/maintenance work required to keep our roads in good driving condition.  These roads may be closed intermittently on our normal work days (Monday thru Thursday 7:30 am-4:00 pm) as conditions and work requirements fashion.

The only reason a driver should bypass a “Road Closed” sign is to access a local address in the “closed” road area.  Through travel should always detour away from the road closure.

If local access is necessary and you must access the “closed” road, please use caution and drive slow to keep yourself and our workers safe.   

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

Memories sought of Highland Park

Highland Park in Celina needs the help of current and past residents for its 100th anniversary celebration.

Please send in your stories and memories as soon as possible so there is time to get the book prepared and printed. The deadline is extended to May 13.

The booklet will contain photos, stories and memories of life and activities at Highland Park. This booklet will be sold at the annual Corn Roast. The anniversary event is for present and past residents on Aug. 6 beginning at noon at the park.

Parkway School Board Agenda for a Regular Meeting on Wednesday May 3, 2023 6:30 PM
in the Community Room
by Sally Cox

The Celina Mercer Cty Chamber of Commerce welcomes new member, Community
Blood Center. Mercer Health and Community Blood Center launched a new
partnership in 2023 that includes a new monthly schedule of "hometown
hospital" and community blood drives.
CBC is now the sole provider of all blood products to Mercer Health. The
partnership includes monthly community blood drives at Mercer County
Community Hospital and bimonthly community blood drives at Community Medical
Center in Celina. What does this mean to you...the blood YOU donate stays
here locally helping local patients!
CBC has also forged new partnerships with employer and community blood
drives in the Saint Henry, Fort Recovery, and Maria Stein communities and is
welcoming more blood drive sponsors.  Pictured is Mercer County Account
Manager, Donna Kueterman. Contact Donna at (937) 423-4611 or email
dkueterman@cbccts.org to find out more about becoming a partner in this
lifesaving mission.
Find a Mercer County blood drive near you and make an appointment to donate
at www.DonorTime.com, call (937) 461-3220, or use the new Donor Time app.
CBC was founded in 1964 as Dayton's first blood bank. Today CBC is the sole
provider of blood products to 30 partner hospitals and health centers in its
18-county region of western Ohio and eastern Indiana and to select hospitals
and blood centers outside the region. For more information about CBC visit
www.GivingBlood.org

Mercer County PERI to meet
Mercer County PERI Chapter #13 will hold its next regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 9th.  As Mercer County is celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Mercer County Courthouse, this PERI meeting will be held in the Courthouse auditorium.  The meeting will begin, as always, at 10:00 AM with refreshments available starting at 9:30 AM.

Following the business meeting, Kip Wright will offer a brief overview of the Courthouse history followed by a tour.  Copies of the Mercer County Courthouse 100th Celebration event list will be available.  Members and guests who may need a handicapped accessible entrance will find this on the southwest corner of the courthouse. 

Members who have any questions about this special meeting event may call Secretary, Sharon Heitbrink at 567-644-2302 or Treasurer, Mary Wright at 419-305-2901.

Sharon Heitbrink, Chapter Secretary

21^st Century Club Meets In April

The Twenty First Century Club met on April 25, 2023 at the lovely home of Suasan Coburn for a regular meeting. Spring flowers were in bloom in her gardens. President Janet Steffy called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone with reading on How to Become Famous. Roll-Call by Secretary Kim Carr was completed with everyone naming someone famous they have met. The treasurer’s report was given. The balance is $318.92.

Minutes from the February meeting were read and approved. Janet Steffy read a letter from member Sheila Baltzell-Linn. She suggested we consider a 100^th Birthday Party for our club! She and honorary member Barb Painter also recommended a new member for consideration at the May meeting – Janie Roll Overley. The group will sadly say goodbye to member Janet Steffy, our president, who is moving away. Karla Butler thanked the members for past donations to Helping Hands and asked for canned meat and peanut butter (in small cans/jars) for the May donations.

“Funny Girl – Funny Guy” the theme for the year was continued as Toni Fisher presented her program on comedian Drew Allison Carey, born in 1958, one of 3 sons in Cleveland, OH. Drew attended Kent State and was expelled twice. Hew was in the Marine reserves for 6 years, went on to work as a bank teller and at Denney’s Restaurant. In 1988, he went on Star Search and later was tapped for the Tonight Show in 1991. Johnny Carson actually asked Drew to sit right beside him – a big honor. In 1995, he got his own Drew Carey Comedy Show, and struck it rich running 223 episodes. Hi last episode paid $750K.  In 1998, he went on to host Who’s Line is This?.  In 2000 he had an angioplasty to his heart. He wears glasses as props. Libraries get his support. He loves Let’s Make a Deal, his current gig.

Karla Butler continued the evening program with her funny entertainer Joe Evan Brown. Hew as born in 1891 in Holgate Ohio, third of 7 children and performed in theater in Bowling Green, OH. Later in life he received an honorary doctorate from Bowling Green State University and had a theater named after him. As a child, he worried about getting enough to eat and securing a job. He was laughed at over his unusual facial features. He started out as an entertainer – acrobat because he could walk on his hands. Later he sold newspapers. Times were tough but he got a job as a clown, too, and traveled the USA. In 1906, there was an earthquake, and he survived it. At the age of 14 he played semi-pro baseball for a while and earned enough money to travel to NYC where he worked with W. C. Fields. His acrobat skills led to a comedian job where his “rubber” face made him famous. He won the Bronze Star award for traveling to entertain for the troops. He became to first president of the Pony League Baseball team. A city park bench is named for him in Toledo.

Delicious refreshments were served by Susan and Rozann Maurer.

The last meeting of the year is Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at the Rockford United Methodist Church Cafe. Hostesses are Sheila Baltzell-Linn and Julie Henkle. Program leaders are Melanie Shindeldecker and Valerie Fritzinger.

April 18-30, 2023
 

Missing Person Update
PRESS RELEASE from Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey
April 20, 2023

Celina, OH – Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey today announced that his office received a call to the area of 6213 Sebastian Rd in Franklin Township.  The caller, a farmer doing field work, reported that he located a body in his field.  Deputies and Detectives responded to the area, which is approximately 1135 feet east, southeast of where the vehicle of Robert W Hageman (78), the missing adult male from Beavercreek, OH, was previously located on US RTE 127 on January 31, 2023.  The on scene investigation confirmed the body to be that of Mr. Hageman.  Contact was made with the Beavercreek Police Department, as both agencies have been continuously working together in the search for Hageman.  Mercer County Coroner Timothy Heinrichs was also contacted.

Robert Hageman was reported missing on January 30, 2023 at 8:08 PM to the Beavercreek Police Department.  On January 31st at 11:44 AM his 2005 silver Buick LeSebre was found near the Overdrive venue on US RTE 127 and a deputy responded to the scene.  On that same date, a search ensued consisting of Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputies, Celina Police Department Officers, Montezuma Fire Department Volunteers, Coldwater Fire Department Volunteers, and local residents.  Several resources were utilized during the search, including ATV’s and UTV’s, drones, a K-9 unit, and a private airplane.  Buildings, open fields, creeks/ditches, and wooded areas were searched.  Additionally, Contact was made with area hotels and businesses as well as with the hospitals in the surrounding area.  These efforts turned up no leads.  The initial search concluded around 4:30 PM on January 31st.

On February 1st Mercer County detectives reached out to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office Child Abduction Response Team seeking guidance on any additional resources available.  The Ohio State Highway Patrol Aviation Unit was also contacted and requested to respond to Mercer County to assist us in the on-going search.  Additional foot searching of the area continued, checking under bridges, inside culverts and in or under pine trees within a four square mile area of where Hageman’s vehicle was located.  The OSHP Aviation Unit as well as patrol troopers assisted for a few hours during the aerial search of the area.  Both the aerial search and foot search were unsuccessful in locating Mr. Hageman or any leads on this date.

On February 2nd detectives met with EquuSearch Midwest, which is a Columbus, Ohio branch of Texas EquuSearch, a volunteer based search and recovery team.  Their team deployed and assisted us in searching the area for Hageman as well as making contact again with local businesses in hopes of any leads or sightings of him.  Drones were also utilized during this search effort, which was unsuccessful.  Deputies also met with the family of Mr Hageman at the Sheriff’s Office that morning.

On February 3rd detectives from the Beavercreek Police Department met with detectives at the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office to discuss this case and the on-going joint effort moving forward.  On this same date, Mercer County Detectives again went out searching the area.

In the coming days and weeks, after the above searches were completed and unsuccessful, detectives and deputies continued to follow-up on any calls received of possible locations to be checked.  Communication between the Beavercreek Police Department and Mercer County Sheriff’s Office detectives continued throughout.  Although this is not the outcome we had hoped for, we are thankful that Mr. Hageman has been located and hope that this will give his family closure.  We appreciated the assistance of all the first responders, local residents and businesses in the area who have put time, effort, and resources in to helping us locate Mr Hageman.

The Parkway Local Regular Board of Education meeting has been changed to Wednesday, May 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room.

Showtime at First Baptist Church of Ivy Gap, Tennessee: 

Be prepared for an emotional roller coaster ride with six highly talented actresses who will move you from tears to laughter.  These southern ladies must somehow come up with an idea that will save their beloved church that has suffered a fire and a death all at once. 

Watch as Edith: the pastor’s spirited wife-played by Emily Smith, Vera: the opinionated wife of the church’s most powerful deacon-played by Stephanie Wagner, Mae Ellen: the church’s rebellious organist with a dream-played by Mary Weisman, Olene: a former member with a flashy past who has just returned to Ivy Gap-played by Amy McConn, Annie: a northerner living with her in laws while her husband serves in Vietnam-played by Alea Rex, and Lucille: Annie’s mother in law, a tried and true Southern Baptist-played by  Dolores Foreman, skillfully and bravely maneuver their way through misogyny, politics, religion, intolerance, economics, personal self-esteem and each other. 

Besieged by everything that they have been taught, and believe, to keep them in “their place” they must overcome it to accomplish their goal and save the church. 

You will want to stand up and cheer when you experience their triumph over it all, and as they start themselves, Ivy Gap, and their church on a new path. 

Reservations for “Showtime at First Baptist” can be made by calling the box office number 419-605-6708 during business hours.  Performance dates are April 21, 22,23,28,29 & 30. Off Stage Productions, Inc - Van Wert, OH.

Pastor Michael Husted at St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to their worship service at 10 AM on Sunday, April 30, 2023. Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit with a sermon straight from the Bible. Based on John 10:1-10, the title is “Jesus, The Good Shepherd”.

Sunday school is begins at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Bible based lessons and children’s activities taught. Snacks. On Thursday April 27, God’s Country Kids will gather from 6-7:30 PM for a meal, Bible lesson and activities. All children ages 3 and up are invited.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

Memorial for Attorney Charles F. Kennedy, III

A memorial ceremony for Charles F. Kennedy III will be held in Van Wert, announced the Van Wert Bar Association, on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 2 PM in the Common Pleas Courtroom of the Van Wert Courthouse. Public invited.

Snow & Ice Statistics

By Jim Wiechart, Mercer County Engineer

Snow & Ice statistics for winter season 2022-2023

Mercer County, 385.7 miles of roads

13 snow plows average 29-30 miles per route (one way)

20 days of snow & ice control in winter of 2022-2023

Total miles driven = 27,523

Salt used – 597 tons = $45,489.20

Grit used – 597 tons = $5,790.90

            Total material costs during the winter season = $51,280.10

Total regular labor hours on snow & ice = 897.50 hours

               Overtime hours                         = 487.00 hours

Total costs for snow & ice during the season = $180,692.85 (Equip., labor, & material)

Average cost for snow & ice control per mile of roadway:

                                                                        2017-2018 season = $699.21/mile

                                                                        2018-2019 season = $758.47/mile          

                                                                        2019-2020 season = $759.97/mile

                                                                        2020-2021 season = $998.72/mile

                                                                        2021-2022 season = $559.94/mile

                                                                        2022-2023 season = $468.48/mile

Summer Business Program for High School Students to be hosted by BGSU
by Cory Dippold, Executive Director
Ohio Business Week Inspires the Next Generation of Business Leaders

The 2023 Summer program will be held June 18-23, 2023 at Bowling Green State University • Up to 200 high school students from around Ohio will be in attendance • First time BGSU will host the Ohio Business Week Camp • Applications close May 1 [Columbus, OH, April 18, 2023] - Ohio Business Week is excited to announce their 2023 summer business program. Ohio Business Week creates a hands-on experiential environment to educate, empower and encourage a diverse population of high school students to recognize and achieve their potential. Business leaders, educators, high school students and community volunteers teach and inspire one another to be responsible employees, employers and citizens. Ohio Business Week places up to 200 high school students in a dynamic simulation where they compete as industry professionals, sharpen communication skills, and face real-world challenges. With the guidance of a volunteer mentor from the business community, students gain a competitive edge in college preparation, workplace readiness, and overall life success. This is the premier summer experience for current high school students to ignite their potential. The week-long residential program will be held at Bowling Green State University June 18-23, 2023 and focuses on skills in entrepreneurship, leadership, communication, teamwork and problem-solving. Students undertake hands-on projects providing them the opportunity to operate a business and create a new product or service complete with a business plan, financials, marketing materials, a website and a commercial. The week concludes with a public tradeshow and presentation judging. Students can apply online at www.OhioBusinessWeek.org

Ohio Business Week Foundation was founded in 1988 to train and inspire high school students around business and entrepreneurship. Over the 34 years, there have been 53 camps with more than 6,800 students completing the program.

2023 Rockford Grand Parade entry form is available now.
The  event is on Saturday - June 17th at 5 pm.                                                  

Contact Logan Sutter 419-203-5278

Annual Senior DARE Scholarship Luncheon Held Recently
by Laura Sanford

Pictured are the 2023 DARE Scholarship Winners with current Mercer County DARE officers: Front Row: Carly Fullenkamp (Celina), Jackson Sonner (St. Henry), Amber Wendel (Marion Local), Amelia Adams (Celina), Megan Metzger (Fort Recovery); Back Row: Owen Moeller (Marion Local), Isaiah Glass (Celina), Elizabeth Huwer (St. Henry), Allison Hughes (Parkway), Bryce Stearns (Parkway)

The Annual Senior DARE Scholarship Luncheon was held on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at the Mercer County Elks. Over 40 students, school staff, and guests attended the luncheon. The ten scholarship winners are: Owen Moeller (Marion Local), Isaiah Glass (Celina), Elizabeth Huwer (St. Henry), Allison Hughes (Parkway), Bryce Stearns (Parkway), Carly Fullenkamp (Celina), Jackson Sonner (St. Henry), Amber Wendel (Marion Local), Amelia Adams (Celina), Megan Metzger (Fort Recovery). 

The luncheon honors students who have remained true to their 5th grade DARE promise. This promise says the student will remain drug, tobacco, and alcohol free.

Other seniors who applied for scholarships and attended were: Rebecca Broering and Megan Broering (St. Henry), Abigail Diller (Coldwater), Megan Knapke, Paul Homan, Miranda Metzger (Fort Recovery). Not present: Skyler Fokine, Kale Sudhoff, Colin Fokine, Sarah Giesige (Celina) and Madison Jacobs (Parkway).  

Guests attending in honor of the seniors were Guidance Counselor Natalie Kanney and Principal Jason Hemmelgarn - Coldwater HS; SADD advisor Julie Billenstein and Principal Tony Stahl - Ft. Recovery HS; Guidance Counselor Jenny Dippold – Marion Local HS; Guidance Counselor Lisa Ontrop– Parkway HS; Superintendent Julie Garke, Guidance Counselor Julie Overman, Secretary Sherri Ranly, SADD advisor Mindy Siefring - St. Henry HS; Captain Lori Knapke, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office; Doug Bertke, Coldwater Mayor; Dave Buschur, Mercer County Commissioner; Kathy Speelman, Mercer County Municipal Court Judge; Guest Speaker Joan Wedd; current DARE Booster members Jerry Kanney (president), DARE Officer Deputy Scott Geis, Laura Sanford, Mike Eyink, Casey Nuttle, Sherry Reineke, Brian Woods, and Joyce Howell.

Commendations were presented to the winners from the offices of Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor John Husted, State Representative Angela King, State Senator Matt Huffman, as well as the Mercer County DARE Boosters. 

Essays were received from 21 students. The prompt for this essay was “DARE: How it has impacted my life; how I will use these skills to contribute to society.” Applicants also had to document academic achievements and extracurricular activities that reflect the spirit and goals of DARE, provide two letters of recommendation, and have a parent, principal and guidance counselor sign their paperwork. Ten students were awarded $500 scholarships. A special thanks to Wright State University-Lake Campus’s Western Ohio Educational Foundation for yearly matching scholarships for those students who attend the Lake Campus. All non-scholarship winners each received a restaurant gift card. 

Those in attendance were also encouraged by DARE President Jerry Kanney’s story about Alex Sheen who created a social movement and nonprofit dedicated to the betterment of humanity through promises made and kept. This movement is called, “Because I said I would.” Jerry encouraged the youth to stick with promises they make, even when it gets difficult.  

The guest speaker this year was Joan Wedd, a long-time teacher at St. Henry Schools, volunteer with Mercer County Youth to Youth Retreats, and advocate and asset in the recovery community. She shared, “Addiction of any sort, and I know this from experience, is a time stealer, love smasher, goal taker and dream killer. Whatever high an addict gets off their drug of choice is fleeting and eventually destructive. I challenge you to keep on the path you have set for yourself. Get high off the natural world around you, get high from accomplishing your dreams and goals, get high from being productive members of society,  get high off of laughing with friends and loving your  families. As you move forward in your lives, I encourage you to continue to make positive choices. Remember that you are the architects of your own future. Your choices will determine your path in life, and the DARE program has given you the foundation to make wise decisions.” Joan’s message was very encouraging and we are thankful that she was able to speak at our luncheon.

Thank you to the Mercer County Elks for the donation of the meeting area and the men who served the luncheon. The Mercer County D.A.R.E. Boosters would also like to thank all merchants, individuals, and others who continually support this program through their donations and time. 

All Senior D.A.R.E. attendees to the luncheon.  

41st Honor Flight From Fort Wayne

Honor Flight Northeast Indiana is slated for its 41st Honor Flight from Fort Wayne on April 26, 2023.  Eighty-Five veterans from the Fort Wayne area are booked and confirmed for the flight.  

Included will be1 WWII Veteran, 12 Korean War veterans, 13 Cold War veterans, 58 Vietnam veterans, and one Iraqi Freedom veteran.

Honor Flight Northeast Indiana thanks all the organizations and individuals who, through their donations at local events and fund-raising events have made it possible to give our Veterans a day of remembrance and honor for their service.  The visits to all the memorials built in their honor, make this a wonderful day for the men and women who deserve our respect and honor!

As of this date, 3037 veterans have traveled from Fort Wayne to Washington, D.C. on an Honor Flight to visit the Memorials that were built in their honor.  

Due to construction at the airport, no welcome home festivities are permitted. 

Cathy Berkshire, President of Honor Flight Northeast Indiana, and the entire Honor Flight Team are excited to begin the 2023 Flying season.  We have 5 Honor Flights planned this year with one being an incredibly special flight for our Purple Heart Recipients sponsored by Community donations to WOWO Penny Pitch!  We look forward to honoring all our Veterans on their special Honor Flight! 

Honor Flight NE Indiana, Inc. is a volunteer, nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. 

Parkway Graduate, Eric Baltzell, of Garmann-Miller Architect Firm will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 when he becomes the 2023 Parkway Alumni Academic Award Winner.

Congratulations Eric! Time is 7 PM. Public invited.

Two Drug Arrests in Mercer County

CELINA, OH- Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey announced this afternoon (4/18/23) the arrest of Cassandra Seibert (34) and Eric Arthur (36) of Coldwater, for possession of methamphetamine, a fifth degree felony.   Mercer County Sheriff’s Detectives, acting on information they had as part of an on-going fraud investigation, applied for and obtained a search warrant for the residence at 5400 ST RTE 219, Coldwater, in Butler Township.

During the execution of this search warrant, numerous items pertaining to the fraud investigation as well as suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia were located.  The scene was then held and additional search warrants were applied for and obtained, specific to continuing the search of the residence for additional suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia.  Several items were collected at the scene and taken as evidence.  Preliminary tests were completed on the suspected drugs and tested presumptive positive for methamphetamines.  Seibert and Arthur were taken in to custody at the residence without incident and were transported to the Mercer County Adult Detention Facility where they were booked in with no bond.

The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.  Celina Municipal Court Judge Kathryn Speelman reviewed and granted the search warrants.  The case will be sent to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office for review of any additional charges.

EverHeart Hospice holding T-Shirt Design Contest for Camp Encourage

EverHeart Hospice is now accepting entries for a T-Shirt design for their annual Camp Encourage. Camp Encourage is a bereavement camp for kids ages 6-15 who are grieving the loss of a loved one. The theme for this year’s camp is “Coping, Colors, & Connection.” People of all ages are welcome to submit a design for consideration.

Designs can be emailed as a JPEG, PDF, or EPS file to joverholser@ehhospice.org. Photos of hand-drawn designs will also be accepted. Please include the name of the artist and a contact phone number in the email. The deadline to submit an entry is May 15th. When creating a design, please note that the final design will be used as a single-color screen print.

Members from the Camp Encourage planning committee will review each design. The winner will be voted on by EverHeart’s Board of Trustees.

“Camp Encourage is all about being expressive. We felt the t-shirt design contest would be a way to tap into our community’s creative side and feel involved in the planning process,” shared Jennifer Overholser, Marketing Manager at EverHeart Hospice.

This year’s Camp Encourage will be held on July 7th and 8th from 9:00 am to 3:15 pm each day at the Montezuma Spiritual Center. Lunch will be provided. This workshop is an opportunity for children to come together in an atmosphere of love and acceptance and connect with other kids who are going through similar emotions. The camp will be filled with hands on activities, team building, and adventures related to understanding grief and coping skills.

If you are interested in signing up a child for camp or helping as a volunteer, please visit everhearthospice.org/events/camp-encourage/ to download a registration form or volunteer application. The registration deadline for camp is May 15th. This camp is provided at no cost to families thanks to the generosity of donations and grants from our community.

For questions or help submitting a t-shirt design, contact Jennifer Overholser at joverholser@ehhospice.org or call 800-417-7535 option 6. 

Bridge Closing on Huwer Road
The Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart, is planning to close Huwer Road between Homan Road and Clune-Stucke Road in Marion Township for a bridge replacement.  This road will be closed tentatively on April 19, 2023 and is scheduled to reopen in approximately 2 weeks, depending on the weather conditions.

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

Washington Street Fence Project Donor Recognition In 2021

The Van Wert County Agricultural Society started ground improvements by updating nearly 2,000 feet of fencing along S. Washington Street of the Van Wert County Fairgrounds. This project was completed by R&C Fence out of Fort Wayne, Indiana and included 500’ of 6’ high black vinyl coated chain link fence at the South end with a 4’ wide gate; 782’ of 6’ high black vinyl coated chain link fence with 32’ wide double swing gate, and 545’ of 6’ high black vinyl coated chain link fence at the North End. The Washington Street Fence Project total investment was just over $38,000 with only $307.79 being paid out of pocket thanks to our community support and donations. Over $31,000 was raised by our generous donors towards this project. On behalf of the Agricultural Society, we would like to extend appreciation to the following donors: ● Mark, Dan, Beth, Mary, Ron and families ● Aaron Anspach Family ● Richard & Janice Miller ● Michael & Kerrie Miller Family ● Bob & Karlene Priest ● Nathan Profit ● Long Lane Acres Shawn Thatcher & Daughters ● Thad & Deb Lichtensteiger ● Huggy Bear Campground ● Van Wert Carts & More ● Carey Insurance

Death of a Man at America’s Best Value Inn

On Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at about 1:33PM Celina Police responded to a report of a deceased male at America’s Best Value Inn on SR703, Celina.  Upon arrival officers found the decedent, 63 year old Gary A. Clark of Vanlue, Ohio.  The cause of death is the apparent result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

Mr. Clark checked into the hotel on April 8th and was located shortly before the time of call by hotel staff.  Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective Brian Taylor of the Celina Police Department.

Calvary Evangelical Church Calendar

April 11-17, 2023
 

Tuesday, April 18, Parkway's Board of Education Special Meeting has been cancelled.
 

CANCELLED! - The Parkway Local Board of Education will have a special meeting Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the community room.   The purpose of the meeting will be to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing the employment of personnel and confidential matters. No business will be conducted after the executive session. 

Special guests will be speaking at the Rockford Area Development Corporation's Community Gathering scheduled for 7 PM on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at the new Rockford Community Building on Front St in Shanes Park.

The purpose of the meeting is to gather together as residents and business owners (current and future), to learn about opportunities available to help move forward with our community development.

Jared Ebbing, Mercer County Community and Economic Development Director, and Mercer County Commissioner David Buschur will talk to those in attendance about their experiences in local development and how it might apply to Rockford's local situation. Local physician, Dr. Jerry Sell, will be the moderator for this important meeting.

The RADC is a local non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote/assist existing business, encourage new business, and encourage residential and infrastructure developement within our community

Everyone is invited to come, listen and bring your own ideas and plans. Let's learn from each other, encourage each other, and generate some enthusiasm toward our development goals. Light refreshments will be served.

President Bryan Sutton
Treasurer Dr. Jerry Sell
Secretary Tammy cheek
Board Member Barb Pedroza
Board Member Nancy Leighner
Board Member Jeanne Osterfeld

Isaac Van Wart DAR members Tour Van Wert County Courthouse

On April 12, Isaac Van Wart DAR members were given a tour of the Van Wert County Courthouse by Commissioner Thad Lichtensteiger. Highlights included the history of the Courthouse, the domed stained glass ceiling in the courtroom, the bell tower, and the roof top view of Van Wert City.

Grace Sadowski from Lincolnview High School and Katie Gamble from Van Wert High were our guest presenters in March. They shared their experience at Buckeye Girls State in June 2022. While there the girls were divided up into cities and counties. They ran for public offices and enjoyed experiencing government first hand. Isaac Van Wart DAR is a sponsor for junior girls attending Buckeye Girls State.

Courthouse tour-pictured left to right: Commissioner Thad Lichtensteiger, Robin Kill, Nancy Smith, Cora Scharf, Betty Leininger, Janet Mohr, Deb Hardeman, Sheila Baltell-Linn, Cathy Johnson, Mickey McConahay (picture attached)

Pastor Michael Husted at St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to their worship service at 10 AM on Sunday, April 23, 2023. Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit with a sermon straight from the Bible. Based on Luke 24:13-35, the title is “Now What?”.

Sunday school is begins at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Bible based lessons and children’s activities taught. Snacks. On April 20 and April 27, God’s Country Kids will gather from 6-7:30 PM for a meal, Bible lesson and activities. All children ages 3 and up are invited.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

Defiance Post investigating three-vehicle fatal crash on U.S. Route 6

BRYAN – The Defiance Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a three-vehicle fatal crash that occurred today at 10:32 a.m. on U.S. Route 6 near County Road 8 in Center Township.

The preliminary investigation shows a semi-tractor-trailer combination, operated by Timothy Morgan, 42, Walbridge, was driving eastbound on U.S. 6 and drove left of center, sideswiping a Freightliner semi-tractor-trailer combination, operated by Luis Arturo Oliver-Ruiz Lerida, 45, Nuevo León, Mexico. Morgan’s vehicle then struck a semi-tractor-trailer combination, operated by Tony Sandhal, 54, Osseo, Mich., head-on.

After the crash occurred, the vehicles operated by Morgan and Sandhal caught fire. 

Sandhal suffered fatal injuries at the scene. Morgan was taken by air ambulance with serious injuries to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, Ind. Ruiz was not injured. Vehicle make and model information of the two vehicles that caught fire is unknown at this time.

Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Bryan Fire Department, Edgerton Fire Department, Williams County Sheriff’s Office, Williams County Emergency Medical Services, Montpelier Fire Department, Florence Township Fire Department, Hicksville Fire Department, Williams County Coroner’s Office, John’s Towing and Repair Service, and the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The roadway was closed for approximately 10 hours and has since reopened. The crash remains under investigation and no charges have been filed at this time.

God's Country Kids. a Thursday night children's Bible Study will be held at: St. Paul's Country Church of Rockford, 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH (corner of Wabash and Oregon Roads). A meal will be provided along with a Bible lesson and activities.

St. Paul's Board of Christian Education is sponsoring and teaching God's Country Kids.

The gathering on both dates is from 6 to 7:30 PM.

All children ages 3 and up are welcome.

Legendary Grand Funk Railroad Selects Van Wert For Anniversary Tour
by Tafi Stober

(Van Wert, OH) - Van Wert Federal Savings Bank presents classic rock sensation, Grand Funk Railroad at The Niswonger on Saturday, November 4 at 7:30 p.m.  This Van Wert Live event will be a stop on the 2023 American Band Tour. After playing to millions of fans on the band's tours from 1996 to 2022, Grand Funk's 2023 American Band Tour will continue to reach both new and long-time fans. The supporting sponsor for the Van Wert tour stop is Westwood Behavioral Health.

Known as "The American Band", the high-energy five-piece group will play forty shows all over the USA this year. Grand Funk Railroad includes original founding members Don Brewer (vocals and drums, writer and singer of the multi-million selling hit, We're An American Band) and bassist Mel Schacher, "The God Of Thunder". Joining Don and Mel are true "All Stars". Singer Max Carl is a rock veteran from 38 Special. Max penned and sang 38's biggest hit "Second Chance" and was co-founder of California's legendary Jack Mack and the Heart Attack. Don refers to Max as "the best blue-eyed soul singer on the planet". Lead guitarist Bruce Kulick is best known for his 12 years with KISS and has credits with Michael Bolton, Meatloaf, and Billy Squier. (KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were influenced early on by Grand Funk.) Keyboardist Tim Cashion has a master's degree in music from the University of Miami. Affectionately called "Dr. Tim", his credits include stints with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band and English soul man Robert Palmer.

Grand Funk laid the groundwork for such bands as Foreigner, Journey, Van Halen and Bon Jovi with its signature hard-driving sound, soulful vocals, muscular instrumentation, and forceful pop melodies. The fact that Grand Funk's legacy still reigns over the Classic Rock landscape fifty years after its 1969 birth in Flint, Michigan is a testament to the group's influence and staying power. Mega-hits We're An American Band, I'm Your Captain/Closer To Home, Locomotion and Some Kind Of Wonderful still receive continuous airplay on Classic Rock radio. Internationally acclaimed Grand Funk has toured the world, selling out in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan and South America. A 1971 performance at New York's Shea Stadium sold out faster than the Beatles. The group's widespread appeal is also evident in its prestigious recording achievements. Over their career, Grand Funk has had 19 charted singles, 8 Top 40 hits, and two Number One singles (We're An American Band and Locomotion, both selling more than one million each). The group has now accumulated 13 gold and 10 platinum records with record sales exceeding 25 million copies sold worldwide. The most recent gold CD award was presented to the band for their greatest hits package Grand Funk Railroad the Collectors Series.

The multi-talented band carries on the tradition of Grand Funk hits and creates a new chapter in the legacy of Grand Funk Railroad. THE AMERICAN BAND TOUR 2023, brings seasoned Grand Funk lovers and contemporary rock fans who are discovering the group for the first time together to celebrate the 50th ANNIVERSARY with Grand Funk Railroad.

Tickets from $39 are available now to Van Wert Live Members. General Sales begin on Friday, April 28. VWLive Memberships begin as low as $100 and provide 365 days of early buying opportunities and a 10% discount for Van Wert Live events. Memberships and tickets can be purchased at vanwertlive.com or through the Box Office Mon-Fri from 10A to 3P / 419-238-6722.

The Van Wert Area Performing Arts Foundation presenting VWLive events is powered by the Van Wert County Foundation. 2023 Annual sponsors helping keep ticket prices low are Central Insurance, Statewide Ford, and First Federal Bank of Van Wert. The Box Office is located within the Niswonger Performing Arts Center, 10700 SR 118 S, Van Wert.

Easter Sunday Sunrise Service
Children of St. Paul's Country Church of Rockford
Explain the Easter Story with Resurrection Eggs

The rising sun shone through the stained glass windows and reflected many colors on the cross.

The Sunrise service at St. Paul's Country Church of Rockford on Easter Sunday, April 10, 2023, was led by the Board of Christian Education and the Sunday School Children. Reader Aubrey explained the story through Bible readings, pausing at intervals to allow a child to open a large plastic egg with an artifact from the last days of Jesus Christ. Each child then explained what his/her artifact was, and Aubrey explained the significance. For example, a rock represented the stone rolled away at the tomb and a strip of leather represented the whip used on Jesus. Then, the group sang a special Easter song. The Board of Christian Education planned the service and decorated the church with the Spring flowers sold by Women’s Fellowship. It was a beautiful and fragrant service with the rising sun coming through the stained glass windows.

Flowering of the cross.

Click on smaller tumbnail pictures below to enlarge them.

On Behalf of the Shanes Crossing Historical Society:  
We are sorry -  we will not have any speaker series presentations until Fall 2023.

First United Methodist Preschool Art Show

Parents are invited to our First United Methodist Preschool Art Show on
Thursday, April 20, 2023 from 6:00-7:30pm at First United Methodist Church,
located at 113 W. Central Ave Van Wert, Ohio 45891.
Join our little artists as they display their masterpieces. The children's
family are invited to enjoy pizza with us at 6:00pm. Also, parents can
collect their student's work of art they have created. Optional freewill
donations will go toward our scholarship fund.
For more information contact Marilyn Agler, Administrator at 419-238-0631
Ext. 308. or email:  marilyn.agler@vanwertfirst.net

On Easter Sunday, New Members Join St. Paul's Country Church of Rockford

The congregation of St. Paul's Country Church of Rockford joyously welcomed five new members into the fold on Easter Sunday, April 10, 2023. Pastor Mike Husted led the ceremony with the help of the Consistory members. Prayers and congratulations go out to: Mike and Susan Etzcorn, Jill Luginbill, Donna Warthman and Bev Kuck.

OhioHealth to Lift Masking Requirements for Most Patients, Staff and Visitors

Due to decreasing community spread and higher immunity in our communities, OhioHealth will end the masking requirement for asymptomatic individuals in all hospitals, outpatient care centers and physician offices beginning Friday, April 14, 2023.

Masking may be required for visitors based on specific patient situations, such as when a patient is in isolation. Masks are also recommended for visitors if they are experiencing any respiratory symptoms.

Masks will continue to be made available for those who wish to wear them.

OhioHealth - Van Wert Health

21^st Century Club Meets In March

The Twenty First Century Club met on March 28, 2023 at the Rockford United Methodist Church Café for a regular meeting. President Janet Steffy called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone with helpful tips on doing stand-up comedy. Roll-Call by Secretary Kim Carr was completed with everyone naming something that made them smile or laugh out loud daily. The treasurer’s report was given. The balance is $318.92.

Minutes from the February meeting were read and approved. Janet Steffy read a thank you from honorary member Barb Painter. Karla Butler thanked the members for past donations to Helping Hands and explained that food drives by the FFA and other organizations have replenished their stocks. She will let us know what to bring for the April meeting

 

“Funny Girl – Funny Guy” the theme for the year was continued as Susan Coburn presented her program on comedian and actor Paul Lynde who was a true Ohioan born & raised in Ohio in 1926 in Mt. Vernon, OH. Paul grew up in ½ of a jail and he liked to mention that in his comedy acts. He dressed up as a kid and was a voracious eater. He ained so much weight as a young man that by the time he went to college as a Freshman, he weighed 200 lbs. He was a card and a cut-up, and met Cloris Leachman when hetook drama classes at Northwestern University. He was not a good student but managed to get his diploma. He lived with theatrical students. He drank alcohol to excess and was nasty when drunk. In college, he came out as a gay. Susan said Paul had the gift of delivery – zingers. Phyllis Diller was a good friend. He worked in Cabaret, Summer Stock, the TV series, The Flying Nun, Sit-coms, was the famous Uncle Arthur in Bewitched, his own comedy show, and was the voice in Charlotte’s Web movie. He was a gifted humorist in his time. Eventually, he stopped drinking but later died of a heart attack.

Twyla Hayes continued the evening program with her funny entertainer Patricia Heaton - famous for her role in Everybody Loves Raymond which ran 9 seasons. Born in 1958 in Bay city OH, she is living at 65 years old. Twyla commented that Patricia is Catholic and her mother died when she was very young. With 4 siblings and Patricia, her father kept the household in order.  He was a sports writer for the Plain Dealer and her brother works at the paper, too. Her dad thought she’d become a journalist. She went to college but soon changed majors to Drama. She won 3 Emmys and is worth $40 million. Twyla used a game method (with a bell to indicate members had the answer) for helping members recite details on Patricia.

Delicious refreshments were served by Cindy Canary and Melanie Shindeldecker.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Program leaders are Karla Butler and Valerie Fritzinger. The meeting will be held at the home of Susan Coburn with Rozann Maurer assisting as hostess.

Western Ohio Civil War April Roundtable Speaker Scheduled

On April 27, the Western Ohio Civil War April Roundtable has guest speaker David Mowery scheduled for a presentation based upon his recent book "Cincinnati in the Civil War." The meeting begins at 7:15 Pm at The Richrdson-Bretz Memorial Building in Celina, OH.

David addressed the group a few years ago on the topic of Morgan's Raid which came across southern Indiana and Ohio. Community is invited to enjoy this new topic and the speaker! 

Van Wert County General Health District Board of Health

The Van Wert County General Health District Board of Health will hold their regular monthly meeting on Monday, April 17, 2023 at 5:30 pm at the Van Wert County Health Department, 1179 Westwood Dr., Suite 300, Van Wert.

Celina Chamber of Commerce
by stacy@celinamercer.com
We would like to introduce new chamber member, Amazon - Delivery Partners. Amazon invites all Celina Business owners to partner with them to make deliveries in the Celina area and get paid! Earn extra income for your business just for making deliveries in this area. That's it, no sales, just delivering packages coming to the area. It's easy income for your business. Scan the QR Code for more information!

Join them for a Ribbon Cutting/Open House on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 12noon and meet the local representatives. Enjoy great local food and find out more about the delivery opportunities available to provide extra income to your business.

Amazon Delivery Partners Open House

Thursday, April 20, 2023

12:00 Noon

The Conference Room of the Celina Mercer Cty Chamber Office

121 E. Logan St., Celina, OH

Spring planting & open ditch maintenance

The Mercer County Commissioners and the Mercer County Engineer would like to remind those who plant and till the fields around the county this spring to remember to avoid planting in the roadway right-of-way.  The Engineer and the Commissioner’s Office have maps that identify the varied widths of the road right-of-way throughout the county.  More specifically, sight problems limiting the ability of the traveling public to see, can be particularly hazardous.

Also, a reminder to those along county-maintained open ditches.  By law there is a maintenance easement for access adjacent to the tops of banks of the open ditches.  We encourage the use of filter strips to eliminate sedimentation and soil erosion adjacent to the open ditches.  Keep in mind that our maintenance crews use the easement for access for the maintenance operations we perform (the spraying of weeds and brush is the most significant maintenance operation). 

Should you have any questions related to these requirements, please feel free to call the Commissioners’ Office at 419-586-3178 or the Engineer’s Office at 419-586-7759.

Burglaries in Celina - Suspect Caught

Over the past several days the Celina P.D. has been receiving reports of cars and garages being broken into and items stolen overnight.  Investigation into the crimes quickly gave officers a primary suspect, 33 year old Kyle Clifford of Celina.  Clifford has no permanent residence.

In the early morning hours Celina Police Department detectives and officers conducted surveillance on Clifford.  Shortly after 1:00AM Clifford was observed on a bicycle pulling a small trailer in the north part of Celina.  He parked his bicycle against a residence on Rosewood and burglarized a shed on Lilac St.

Officers arrested Clifford and took him to the Mercer Co. Jail.  He was in possession of burglary tools.   A follow-up investigation recovered stolen property including tools, antique coins and numerous other items.  Possible stolen property from crimes outside Celina was also located and the Celina P.D. is following up with other involved agencies. 

Kyle Clifford is being held in the Mercer Co. Jail pending a case review by the Mercer Co. Prosecutor Erin Minor. 

Pastor Michael Husted at St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to their worship service at 10 AM on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit with a sermon straight from the Bible. Based on John 20:19-31, the title is “No Doubt About It”.

Sunday school is now beginning at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is now every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Bible based lessons and children’s activities taught. Snacks.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

April 1-10, 2023
Serving the Rockford, Willshire and Mendon Communities for 18 years!
 

RESCHEDULED! APRIL 22, 2023

Join St. Paul’s Country Church for Holy Week

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invite you to join them for the Maundy Thursday Communion Service at St. Paul’s Country Church with Pastor Mike Husted providing the message at 7 PM on Thursday, April 6, 2023.

The Chatt Ministerium Combined Community Good Friday Service is Friday, April 7, 2023 at 7 PM, and will be held at St. Paul’s. (Chatt Ministerium includes: St. Paul’s, Chatt Zion Lutheran and Chatt Methodist).

Easter Sunrise service is at 8 AM on Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023 with the children of the church participating in the program. A home-cooked breakfast follows.

Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit on Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023 at 10 AM . Based on John 20:11-18, the title is “The Living Savior is With Us”.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 with any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is invited to all services.

Mercer Health Nationally Recognized for Excellence

Mercer Health Recognized in Top 100 Rural and Community Hospitals in the Nation for 2023, fifth time since 2016

Mercer Health’s Mercer County Joint Township Community Hospital has been recognized as a 2023 Top 100 Rural and Community Hospital.  Compiled by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, this annual recognition program honors outstanding performance among the nation’s rural hospitals based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX™.  One of only four hospitals in Ohio to be recognized in 2023, Mercer County Joint Township Community Hospital also received this recognition in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022.  The Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX™ has established itself as the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Leveraging publicly available data, the INDEX is trusted by rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints, hospital associations and state offices of rural health across the country to measure and monitor performance across a variety of areas impacting hospital operations and finance.

Mercer Health Recognized with 2023 Outstanding Patient Experience Award

Mercer Health’s Mercer County Joint Township Community Hospital has been recognized as a 2023 Outstanding Patient Experience Award recipient by Healthgrades, a leading resource for information about physicians and hospitals.  Only 5% of hospitals nationwide are awarded this distinction for outstanding patient experience.  Healthgrades evaluates performance by applying a scoring methodology to ten patient experience measures, using data collected with Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey of the hospital’s own patients.  Survey questions focus on patients’ perspectives of their care in the hospital, from cleanliness and noise levels in patient rooms to medication explanations and hospital staff responsiveness to patients’ needs.  The measures also include whether a patient would recommend the hospital to friends or family and their overall rating of the hospital.

Parkway April 2023 Printable Breakfast and Lunch Menus by Pam Smith

March 23-29, 2023
 

Parkway 2nd Graders Rock The Niswonger
By Tafi Stober

(Van Wert, OH) Over 70 Rockstars-In-Training made the Niswonger stage their destination for learning and lively fun on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. The Van Wert Live Team presented a Niswonger Behind The Scenes Experience that transformed the students into Rockstars for the day. Tour Guides, Gary Taylor, Bill Clifton, Greg Blackmore, and Amy Lyons led the students to four stations (Box Office - Amy McGovern and Jerry Beard, Marketing + Creatives - Quincy Thompson and Weston Thompson, Greenroom (Michelle Agler), and Stage - Hugh Saunier and Matt Saunier) that provided insights on how artists are selected, contracted, and marketed before the big show takes place.

Parkway 2nd Grade Teacher Zachary Bates shares, "Students got a taste of all the different pieces that make a production successful. This hands-on behind-the-scenes experience was awesome for our students and really excited them about what  The Niswonger has to offer to our community. The Van Wert Live team is top-notch!"

The two-hour experience is an opportunity for the Van Wert Live Team to introduce The Niswonger as a resource for young leaders to experience cultural events. The facility has enabled the arts to flourish for families throughout the region with the average Niswonger customer traveling from 32 miles for a show.  

Van Wert Live events are presented by The Van Wert Areas Performing Arts Foundation, a supporting 501c3 of The Van Wert County Foundation. The organization's vision is to make Van Wert an entertainment destination by providing experiences that are so good they demand a return. The Behind The Scenes Experience aligns with that mission and supports cultivating arts enthusiasts.

The enthusiasm was evident from Parkway 2nd Grade student, Lily Caffee. "It was really fun. It was my favorite field trip that I have ever been on," shared Lilly.

More information about Van Wert Live events can be found at vanwertlive.com or by contacting the Box Office at 419-238-6722.

Join St. Paul’s Country Church and Chatt Methodist Church for their joint Lenten Wednesday Evening Service
Sunday Services at St. Paul’s

The memberships of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH and Chatt United Methodist Church invite you to join them for the Lenten Service at St. Paul’s Country Church with Pastor Tom Brunstrup providing the “Amazing Grace” message at 7 PM on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. Community is welcome.

Offering goes to C.A.L.L. Ministries.

Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit on Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023. Based on Matthew 21:1-11, the title is “God’s Own Fool”.

Sunday school is at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. We offer Bible based lessons and children’s activities. Snacks included.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information. 

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

First UM Church announces Lenten and Resurrection Services

First United Methodist Church, located at 113 W. Central Avenue in Van Wert, Ohio is planning their upcoming Lenten and Resurrection services.

Palm Sunday, April 2 will feature children and choir processing with palm leaves at the 8:15 and 10:45am services.  Pastor Chris Farmer will give the sermon: “When Christ Comes to Town” based on the scripture from Matthew 21:1-11 The 8:15am early service features a casual style of worship, while the 10:45am service features traditional liturgy and music.

On Maundy Thursday, April 6, we invite all members of the Community to join us in Celebrating “Christ in the Passover” with the Trinity Friends Church.  This worshipful event will begin at 6:30 PM at Trinity Friends Church.  Pre-registration is required. 

First Church will host the traditional community Good Friday service on April 7 beginning at 12:05pm.  The service will begin with a procession of the cross beginning at 11:50am from the corner of Cherry and E Main Streets, in front of the YWCA. After processing down Main Street to First Church, the service will begin with a special offering being taken for ‘Haven of Hope.’ This is an initiative to address homelessness in Van Wert County. Special music will also be incorporated in this community service. The greater Van Wert community is invited to attend and worship together.

Resurrection, or Easter Sunday, April 9 will be celebrated in all its glory and splendor during both of our Worship experiences at 8:15 and 10:45 AM.  Brass instruments will be featured at the 10:45 worship experience along with the Chancel Choir in a regal service celebrating the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Pastor Chris Farmer will be delivering the sermon: “Filled with New Life” from the scripture of Matthew 28:1-10. 

If you are looking for a church home or haven’t been to church in a while, the loving congregation of First United Methodist and Pastor Chris Farmer invite you to celebrate this blessed season with them.

Parkway Middle School 3rd Quarter Honor Roll

By Kristi Dodds, secretary

5th Grade:  

Highest Honor Roll

Bransteter, Hunter 

England, Jackson 

Hays, Meadow 

Keeran, Emily 

Menchhofer, Bailee 

Pond, Jenna 

Trent, Cameo 

Wannemacher, Avah

High Honor Roll

Art, Autumn 

Baker, Chloe 

Bransteter, Kallee 

Burtch, Althea 

Byer, Zion 

Clay, Hudsen 

Everett, Brynlee 

Flory, Caile 

Gage, Kolten 

Gibbons, Lydia 

Harvey, Annabelle 

Heiser, Landyn 

Houser, Frank 

Knapke, Ryder 

Long, Ainsley 

Long, Braylin 

Molloy, Adelaide 

Moorman, Holly 

Norris, Kenlee 

Shellabarger, Elliot 

Shirk, Elijah 

Sill, Oliver 

Sipe, Sophie 

Snell, Claire 

Snell, Paige 

Tawoj, Julien 

Tickle, Savannah 

Vannette, Waylon 

Young, Briar 

Honor Roll

Abromavich, Carter 

Abromavich, Meah 

England, Madilyn 

Gile, Miranda 

Gruss, Kinlee

Hague, Jasmine 

Krugh, Evan 

Luginbill, Brynn 

Miller, Makinley 

Nichols, Cyrus 

Norris, Harper 

Shaffer, Gibson 

Springer, Olimar 

Suman, Reagan 

Taylor, Dexter 

Twigg, Hayden 

_____________________________________

6th Grade:

Highest Honor Roll

Brehm, Kallie 

Cottman, Lydia 

Knapke, Isabelle 

Korte, Cohen 

Stover, Jaxson

Tong, Carson 

Triplett, Savada 

High Honor Roll

Baucher, Alivia 

Burnett, Halen 

Burtch, Brooklyn 

Eller, Kade 

Ford, Kayliann 

Hays, Ella 

Hileman, Maxton 

Imwalle, Allison 

Jacobs, Aubrey 

Korte, Bosten 

Laux, Ezekiel (Zeke) 

Louth, Chase 

Luginbill, Rogan 

McDorman, Sierra 

Nichols, Lindsay 

Orick, James 

Piper, Michael 

Severt, Steven 

Sinning, Stella 

Sipe, Abigail 

Stover, Hadley 

Winget, Gabriel (Gabe) 

Honor Roll

Baker, Jacklyn (Jackie)

Bradley, Branson 

Carpenter, Sage 

Fent, Emma 

Fisher, Gavin 

Green, Frank 

James, Damarion (D) 

Neuenschwander, Mazie 

Rodriguez-Perez, Angel 

Sidle, Izyk 

Uncapher, Baylee 

Yoder, Greer 

Zizelman, Corbin 

____________________________

7th Grade:

Highest Honor Roll

Eichler, Lydia 

Menchhofer, Isaac 

Peel, Jaymin 

Stolly, Ethan 

Williamson, Abigail

High Honors

Anderson, Trey 

Bransteter, Case 

Christian, Kayden 

Clay, Makynlie 

England, Carter 

Fox, Levon 

Garrity, Sterling 

Harner, Ellie 

Heitkamp, Nicole 

Hess, Kymberly 

Ketchum, Colin 

Kraner, Addilynn 

Lyons, Branson 

Mathewson, Mason Minnich, Trevor 

Moeller, Elayna 

Muhlenkamp, Peyton 

Noll, Andee 

Pennell, Piper 

Poe, Caleb 

Rasbach, Chayse 

Ross, Jackson (Jack) 

Roth, Albany 

Schmidt, Amelia 

Schumm, Drayden 

Schwieterman, Perry 

Stauffer, Carson 

Stover, KJae 

Suzuki, Cohen 

Thomas, Cade 

Trisel, William (Will) 

Twigg, Tyson 

Honor Roll

Bollenbacher, Jaxson 

Buogo, Maria 

Byer, Uriah 

Dorsten, Naomi 

Fireoved, Austin 

Glosser, Lacey 

Hague, Jordan 

Henning, Sophia 

Keller, Cael 

Muhlenkamp, Ella Murphy, Marley 

Nuttle, Dylan 

Painter, Bryson 

Petit, Jonathan 

Ravine, Payton 

Reigle, Nathan 

Strickland, Natalie 

Tangeman, Cooper 

Tarilang, Dora 

Welling, Eric 

Whitaker, Magnus 

Williams, Obadiah 

Yaney, Addyson (Addy)

__________________________________

8th Grade:

Highest Honor Roll

Bennett, Charles (Charlie)

Hughes, Megan 

Pancake, Wyatt 

Stover, Madelyn 

Young, Isabell 

High Honors

Ackley, Mason 

Arnold, Kelsie 

Bentz, Morgan 

Blount, Freya 

Bollenbacher, Dylan 

Booher, Luke 

Carpenter, Rhen 

Denney, Bethany 

Eguia, Piper 

Everett, Aisley 

Fullenkamp, Kara 

Hays, Lillian 

Kiser, Faith 

Knapke, Austin 

Louth, Morgan 

Quickstad, Jaymie 

Reigle, Brody 

Rich, Magdalene 

Ridenour, Gwyneth 

Rogers, Adalynn 

Sheets, Luke 

Shirk, Robert 

Sites, Lexie 

Tickle, Samuel 

Triplett, Jacoby 

Winters, Tobin 

Younker, Kylie

Honor Roll

Bailey, Zavior 

Brister, Gage 

Buckner, Sasha 

Clay, Holden 

Haines, Oliver 

Kellermeyer, Kelsie 

Lange, Jayda 

Langenkamp, Cami 

Litteral, Kohen 

Miller, Mackenzie 

Pennell, Peyton 

Rutledge, Tyler 

Taylor, Deagan Thomas, Jensen 

Wenning, Jaden

Westgerdes, Gavin 

Williams, Arwen 

Winget, Grace

Rockford Area Development Corporation
The RADC plans to meet Monday, March 27 at 7 pm in the Rockford Library. We are making plans for a much larger meeting scheduled for April 25th with Jared Ebbing and Dave Buschur. 

The Ohio State University Marching Band To Perform At The Niswonger

By Tafi Stober

(Van Wert, OH) - Van Wert Live is pleased to announce the grand return of The Ohio State University Marching Band to the Niswonger Performing Arts Center presented by Jeffery-Mohr Family Dentistry on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. The nationally recognized, 228-piece “Pride of the Buckeyes” is one of the few college all-brass-and-percussion bands in the U.S. and is acknowledged as the largest of its type in the world. The Ohio State University Marching Band performs for all Ohio State Buckeye home football games, selected away games, postseason bowl games, and additional events during the autumn semester. It has been a decade since the band traveled to Northwest, Ohio. Their return is made possible by Presenting Sponsor Jeffery-Mohr Family Dentistry and Supporting Sponsors, Mel & Arlene Hurless and Edward Jones office of Eric Hurless, The Ohio State Alumni Association of Van Wert and Paulding Counties, and JoAnne Wolford.

Many marching band innovations were first tried and developed at Ohio State. Among them are floating and animated formations, measured-step marching, script writing, the fast cadence with a high knee lift, and the enhancement of rehearsals and performances through the implementation of new technologies. Brass instruments specially designed for marching bands were also first used at Ohio State. In 2013, the band garnered national attention for using iPads, a sustainable alternative to paper charts and music, to facilitate its rehearsal process.

More recently, the band cheered the Buckeyes on to victory at the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship game in January 2015, took its talents abroad in October 2015 for a performance at an NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium in London, performed at Fiesta Bowls to conclude the 2015, 2016, and 2019 seasons and at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic to conclude the 2017 season. The band also marched in the 2018 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City along with the 2019 and 2022 Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game in California.

Grounded in tradition yet propelled by innovation, The Ohio State University Marching Band, year in and year out, lives up to its nickname: The Best Damn Band in the Land.

Dr. Christopher Hoch is in his seventh year as director of Marching and Athletic Bands at The Ohio State University. An assistant professor in Ohio State’s School of Music, Dr. Hoch holds the Endowed Chair for the Director of The Ohio State University Marching Band and also serves as associate director of university bands.

Prior to his appointment, he served one year as interim director, two years as associate director, and one year as assistant director of the Marching and Athletic Bands at Ohio State. In addition, he served three years as director of The Ohio State University Marching Band Alumni and seven years as director of bands at Rutherford B. Hayes High School in Delaware, Ohio.

Dr. Hoch’s work with The Ohio State University Marching Band has received national and international recognition for innovation and creativity in show design; he has been the architect behind many of the shows that have been watched by millions of people on YouTube and at sites across the country.

Ticket for The OSUMB from $19-49 are available now to Van Wert Live Members. General Sales begin on Friday, April 7. VWLive Memberships begin as low as $100 and provide 365 days of early buying opportunities and a 10% discount for Van Wert Live events. Memberships and tickets can be purchased at vanwertlive.com or through the Box Office Mon-Fri from 10A to 3P / 419-238-6722.

The Van Wert Area Performing Arts Foundation presenting VWLive events is powered by the Van Wert County Foundation. 2023 Annual sponsors helping keep ticket prices low are Central Insurance, Statewide Ford, and First Federal Bank of Van Wert. The Box Office is located within the Niswonger Performing Arts Center, 10700 SR 118 S, Van Wert.

Join St. Paul’s Country Church and Chatt Methodist Church for their joint Lenten Wednesday Evening Service
Sunday Services at St. Paul’s

The memberships of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH and Chatt United Methodist Church invite you to join them for the Lenten Service at Chatt United Methodist Church with Pastor Mike Husted providing the “Amazing Grace” message at 7 PM on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Community is welcome.

Offering goes to C.A.L.L. Ministries.

Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Based on John 11:1-26, the title is “Do You Believe?”.

Sunday school is at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. We offer Bible based lessons and children’s activities. Snacks included.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

March 16-22, 2023
 

On Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Celina Police, with Walmart loss prevention staff, conducted a surveillance of suspected thieves inside the store.  Officers and employees witnessed two men, 47 year old Colin Bradburn of Portland, Indiana and his son 23 year old Prestin Bradburn of Mercer County, Ohio concealing merchandise and then going to a self-checkout.

Both men left the store and were stopped inside their car on the parking lot.  They obtained nearly $1000 in merchandise without paying.  Both have been banned from Walmart stores in the past.  During the arrest they were found in possession of meth as well as criminal tools.

Both men have been incarcerated in the Mercer Co. Jail pending review by the Mercer County Prosecutor Erin Miner.  Multiple charges are expected which may include drug possession, theft, burglary and possession of criminal tools.

Colin Bradburn also has a warrant for his arrest from Auglaize County and has been denied bond.  Prestin Bradburn is being held on $50,000 bond. 

Ohio Statewide Tornado Drill

Wednesday, March 22nd at 9:50 AM

Western Ohio Civil War Roundtable to Meet
Ike Coate will present the March 23, 2023 program for the Western Ohio Civil War Roundtable. Ike currently serves as Treasurer of our organization. He is probably our most experienced member, having taken many battlefield trips over the years. Often, when he speaks at one of our meetings, it is the voice of experience coming through. Ike is always a good speaker because of his vast wealth of first-hand knowledge. His topic for Thursday evening will be General George Meade, Union Commander at Gettysburg. With only three days to prepare his army for battle, Meade won the victor’s laurels in what is likely the most important battle ever fought in North America. When Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia vacated the Pennsylvania battlefield, there was no doubt that they had been whipped. The military brass in Washington DC were not content to have won the victory, they wanted Lee’s Army destroyed. It seemed like every time there was a fight, Washington set the standard measure of expectation at army annihilation. Yet, it rarely happened. When Lee’s army crossed the Potomac back into Virginia, the military felt a great opportunity was lost. Our March 23 meeting will come to order at 7:15 PM. We will meet at the Richardson Bretz Building in downtown Celina, 119 West Fulton Street. Public invited.

Parkway Local Schools Board of Education will hold a Special Meeting
The Parkway Local Schools Board of Education will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room.  The purpose of the meeting will be to hire personnel, approve the purchase of a school bus and to go into executive session to discuss personnel.  No action will be taken after the executive session.

Mercer County Youth to Youth Retreats Held

The Mercer County Youth to Youth (Y2Y) Retreats were held in February. The Retreat was held February 18th from 9 am – 9 pm (5th-7th grade) and the Mini Retreat was held February 25th  from 9 am-5 pm at St. John Lutheran Church (Purple Door) in Celina. Forty-one 5th-7th grade students and fifty two 2nd-4th grade students attended the Retreats this year!

This year’s theme was “Keep SPACE between you and drugs.” The students had missions to complete with each of their family groups. After completing each mission, they earned a puzzle piece to create each planet in succession closer to Earth. This activated the Rocketship to move closer to Earth and farther from drugs. They all made it safely!

The Retreats were under the direction of Space Captain Laura Sanford, prevention specialist at Foundations Behavioral Health Services and an adult ally for the Mercer County Y2Y group.  These youth-led prevention Retreats were led by sixteen 7th-12th grade students from the Mercer County Y2Y group. Twenty adult volunteers also made these events successful. The Mercer County Y2Y group serves many purposes in Mercer County. Y2Y helps to promote Y2Y’s mission – youth empowering youth – and to educate their peers on the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, along with mental health and suicide awareness. Y2Y teens serve as a link between the youth, their schools, and the community. Y2Y is a place for Mercer County teens to express ideas and opinions while building their leadership skills.

The purpose of these youth-led Retreats is to equip students with skills to be a better leader and positive role model in their schools and communities. Youth were divided into Family Groups and participated in six different escape rooms in which they all worked together as a team to complete their missions. These sessions all taught a positive coping skill including team building and communication, five senses to calm self, exercise/sports, art, music, and positive self-talk. All students also participated in a How To session of their choice to learn a new skill or hobby.

The youth participated in plenty of energizers led by the leaders. Students also participated in an astronaut decorating contest competition among family groups. At the end of the Retreats, the parents/guardians received a presentation about the dangers of vaping and the importance of talking to their teens with conversations that really matter. Then they all joined together and watched a video presentation of the day and each Family Group shared about an escape room they attended to make it back to Earth.

Through supportive small discussion groups, innovative team building, and of course fun, participants gained knowledge, created relationships, and built upon skills that will hopefully last a lifetime. Students are also now more confident in their choice to be drug-free and take charge of their mental health and were encouraged to share this message with others.

A big thank you to Carl Wuebker for being the Disc Jockey at the Retreat and who is also a faithful adult ally of the Mercer County Y2Y group. A thank you to Stage Right Productions for donating sound equipment for us to use at our events. A special thanks to Allison and Megan Baucher who were our photographers and Allison for putting together the video presentations for both Retreats. We are very grateful to Purple Door Church for hosting us again this year. Much appreciation goes to the guidance counselors, principals, and school secretaries for their efforts in recruiting students for the Retreats and collecting applications, the media for advertising the Retreats, and the community for supporting prevention efforts. 

The Retreats would not be a success without the support of the parents/guardians who allow their energetic students to attend, the awesome adult staff, and the talented and dedicated 7th-12th grade Mercer County Y2Y leaders. Those youth leaders include: Celina HS: Destiny Anderson, Hannah Koester; Celina MS: Noah Strombach, Ella Driggs, and Emma Byrne; Coldwater HS: Makenzie Norris, Aiden Norris, Kolton Gehm, Emma Wehnes; Coldwater MS: Alaina Froning; Fort Recovery HS: Tiffany Taft, Bella Taft, Paul Homan, Jose Martinez, Elisa Evers; St. Henry MS: Taylor Schoonover.

A special thanks to Ali Foster who greatly helped with creative ideas for many of the escape rooms and those who led escape rooms or taught How To sessions: AJ Kunk (Fixing Gravity), Paul Homan (Dispersion); Ali Foster and Nevin Sackinger (Captain’s Quarters); Tom Sanford (Operation Positive Talk) and Craig Muhlenkamp for planning this escape room; Shelby Bravo (Repair the Starry Night; Creative Expressions/Sketching and Scribbles), Elena and Elisa Evers (Return to the Rhythm Rocket); Shelly and Doug Moorman (Archery and Backyard Bass); Diamond Long and Beau Koester from Young Guardians MMA (Boxing); Andrea Cahill from Hot Brass Personal Defense (Self-Defense); Candy Hemmelgarn and kids (Take a Bow-Acting); Barb Lockwood from Cakes by Design (Baking with Barb); and Joan Wedd (Old Fashioned Games).

Thanks to the adult leaders of the Family Groups: Carl Wuebker, Lexi Allmandinger, Danielle Williams, Amber Mustard, Ashley Smith, Jen Smith, Julie Krieg, Kaitlyn Sparks, Nevin Sackinger, and Sabrina Downing. 

The Retreats were funded from a generous grant from the Mercer County Civic Foundation and Midwest Electric's Community Connection Fund (Gold Level); Mercer Health, ASSURE (Area Suicide and Support Resources), and Pax Machine Works (Sponsor Level); Preferred Insurance Center, Celina Grand Lake FOE Women’s Auxiliary, McDonald's of Mercer County, Foundations Behavioral Health Services, Grand Lake Health Systems, Mercer County Health District (Mentor Level); Eagle Eye Home Inspections of Ohio, LLC, Renewed Hope Financial Coaching, LLC, Mercer County Prevention Coalition, Cakes By Design, Hot Brass Personal Defense, Arrow N Bows, Young Guardians MMA, and Stage Right Productions (Donor Level).

Our Mercer County Youth to Youth Meetings are held the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month from 6:30-8:30 pm at the Foundations Clubhouse, 221 S. Buckeye Street, Celina. 7th-12th graders invited who want to make a difference.

If you want more information about the Mercer County Youth to Youth group, please contact Laura at lauras@foundationsbhs.org or 419-584-1000, check out our Facebook group, or YouTube channel. Our closing videos of the Retreats as well as our promo video for the Youth to Youth group can all be found on our YouTube channel.

March 9-15, 2023
 

Join St. Paul’s Country Church and Chatt Methodist Church for their joint Lenten Wednesday Evening Service
Sunday Services at St. Paul’s

The memberships of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH and Chatt United Methodist Church invite you to join them for the Lenten Service at St. Paul’s Country Church with Pastor Tom Brunstrup providing the “Amazing Grace” message at 7 PM on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Community is welcome.

Offering goes to C.A.L.L. Ministries.

Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit on Sunday, March 19, 2023. Based on John 9:1-11, the title is “Children of Light”.

Sunday school is at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. We offer Bible based lessons and children’s activities. Snacks included.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

Parkway’s Celebration of National FFA Week
By Amanda Barrett, FFA Reporter

Above: Tractor Drive-in.

Parkway FFA Week National FFA Week is a time for FFA members all around the country to celebrate the organization. The 2023 annual event took place Feb. 18-25, 2023. Parkway had many fun events going on at the school during this exciting week including, a truck and tractor drive-in, pie baking contest, dress-up days, lunch games, ag-related trivia questions, and a petting zoo for the elementary students.

Throughout the week a canned food drive was held in the elementary, middle, and high schools. The total amount of cans collected was 1,682, all of the cans were donated to Helping Hands in Rockford and Call Food Bank in Celina. On Friday the sophomore class was in charge of putting the FFA luncheon together, and provided meat from Green’s Quality Meats in Celina, hot side dishes, desserts, and drinks.

On the last day of FFA week, the officer team put together an assembly for the high school students. FFA members participated in games like barrel racing, straw stacking, and the farmer's race.

Since 1974 FFA has been celebrating the great agricultural workers through FFA week and plans to celebrate for many more years to come.

Above: Pie baking contest
 

Below: Hay Bale Race

March 12, 2023 - Daylight Saving Time Starts

When local standard time is about to reach:

Sunday, March 12, 2023, 2:00:00 am clocks are turned forward 1 hour to
Sunday, March 12, 2023, 3:00:00 am local daylight time instead.

Sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour later on Mar 12, 2023 than the day before. There will be more light in the evening.

Also called Spring Forward, Summer Time, and Daylight Savings Time.

Some states are considering keeping this time permanent, however, Ohio, at this time, plans to Fall Back one hour on November 5, 2023 at 2AM

Harrison Frech sharing the  "Lost Soldier of Chickamauga"

Isaac Van Wart D.A.R. was privileged to have Mr. Harrison Frech, a local historian, speak to our group in February 2023. Mr. Frech shared the story of rediscovering the identity of Hugh Thompson. Mr. Frech became interested in Hugh after reading a short entry about him leaving Van Wert County for the Civil War in a book on Van Wert County History. Hugh fought and was injured in the Battle of Chickamauga during the Civil War. Mr. Thompson developed amnesia after a blow to his head in 1863. Thoughout later years Hugh gradually regained a few memories which helped him recall some of his past. A Veterans Association assisted him in filling in some of the details of his life and finding his family after 20 years. Many of the pension investigators doubted his presumed identity and considered him a fraud. This led to extensive files contained in 3 boxes and 9 folders at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Mr. Frech was able to sort through all the information to confirm Hugh Thompson as a Van Wert Native and a Civil War Veteran.

Anyone interested in learning more about joining the Isaac Van Wart Daughters of the American Revolution is invited to email Mickey McConahay at: mcconahay@watchtv.net.

Farm Focus Inc. Scholarship

By Tony Campbell

Farm Focus Inc. was founded in 1974 to promote agriculture in Van Wert

County and the surrounding area. It is their continued mission to assist Van Wert

County students through a scholarship program that will enable them to pursue a

degree in an agricultural related field.
                                                                                   

Farm Focus Inc. is offering a minimum of two scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000 to high school seniors interested in majoring in an Agricultural related program at a university, college, or technical school.

In addition to seniors, full time students already enrolled in an undergraduate program

in agriculture are also eligible to apply. This also means that a successful applicant  

from previous years can reapply again this year.

The applicant must be a Van Wert County resident. Minimum grade point is 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Scholarship funds will be submitted directly to the educational institution by Farm Focus Inc. upon receipt of proof of enrollment or a copy of a tuition invoice.
 

Scholarship applications have been sent to all nine area high schools where Van Wert

County students may be enrolled, so please contact your High School Guidance

Counselor, or FFA Instructor for your scholarship application. 
 

 The application is available at the OSU Van Wert County Extension office at 1055 South Washington Street, Van Wert OH 45891, or email; FarmFocusScholarship@gmail.com .   Scholarship application is in a PDF file format and can be emailed or put on a jump drive. Questions should be emailed.

All completed applications must be emailed, mailed and postmarked or delivered in person no later than March 31, 2023, to the OSU Van Wert County Extension Office.

6th Annual Empty Bowls Mercer County Dinner & Auction

On Saturday, April 1, 2023, Our Home Family Resource Center will host its 6th Annual Empty Bowls Mercer County Dinner & Auction at the American Legion Post 210 in Celina. The doors will open at 5:30 pm, with the event beginning at 6:00 pm. Tickets are now available for purchase.

A $30 admission ticket includes an artist-made souvenir bowl, salad bar, soup buffet, and dessert, with a cash bar available. Dinner will be followed by a four-flight silent auction featuring various items, such as tickets to regional theme parks, zoos, cultural and sporting events, and gift cards to local businesses. Door prizes and raffles will occur throughout the evening, offering multiple chances to win.

“We are humbled and thankful for the support Empty Bowls receives. The impact on our area is immeasurable. An empty bowl represents an unmet need, and whether we are addressing hunger, broken parent-child relationships, or assisting survivors of domestic and sexual assault, we are filling a bowl with hope during a community member’s time of crisis.” – Jen Yoder, Marketing & Development Coordinator.

Our Home Family Resource Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization helping Mercer County individuals and families survive, rebuild, and overcome for over 25 years. The organization comprises three distinct programs: Family Crisis Network, RAFT Supervised Visitation Center, and Direct Services & Referrals.

The Family Crisis Network provides a 24-hour helpline, emergency safe shelter, and advocacy for domestic violence and/or sexual assault victims. They help victims survive their trauma and build a life free from abuse. The RAFT Supervised Visitation Center monitors visits for children and their non-custodial parents, offering non-custodial parties the opportunity to rebuild relationships with their children in a comfortable, safe, and homelike environment. The Direct Services & Referrals Program offers financial assistance and a food pantry for income-eligible residents. It provides information, resources, and advice to overcome food insecurity and financial shortfalls.

Our Home also coordinates special county-wide projects, including the Mercer County Back-to-School Program, Mercer County Winter Warmth Program, and the Mercer County Angel Tree Program.

To purchase tickets for the Empty Bowls Mercer County event on April 1, 2023, visit Our Home Family Resource Center at 117 W. Fayette St., Celina, or call (419) 586-4663 ext. 1003. You can also visit www.ourhomefrc.com for more information about our programs.

Shanes Crossing Historical Society Resumes Speaker Series

The Shanes Crossing Historical Society is resuming its speaker series with a power point presentation “World War ll and the Rockford-Willshire Area” by Harrison Frech, retired local educator.  The program is about the war including examples of local people’s contributions to winning the greatest conflict in history on battlefields around the world and on the home front.  The Society’s meeting will be held on Monday, March 20th, 2023 at 7 pm at the Rockford Village Office located at 151 E Columbia St.  The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.   

EverHeart Hospice Looking for Volunteers

EverHeart Hospice is recruiting volunteers to help with patients in West Central Ohio and East Central Indiana. There are many ways people can volunteer with Hospice, but we are especially in need of hairdressers and barbers, notaries, and Veterans to honor our Veteran patients.

Other volunteer opportunities may be available depending on your area. EverHeart Hospice cares for patients in Darke, Mercer, Van Wert, Allen, Auglaize, Paulding, and Shelby Counties in Ohio, and Jay, Randolph, and Wayne Counties in Indiana.

To learn more about how you can help patients and their families, please call their office at 800-417-7535 option 5 and ask for the Volunteer Coordinator, Beverly Baltes.

To learn more, visit our website at everhearthospice.org and follow us on social media.

Western Ohio Civil War Round Table to Meet
Western Ohio Civil War Round Table will meet on  March 23, 2023

At 7:15 pm at the Richardson Bretz Building 119 W. Fulton Street Celina, Ohio Ike Coate  will speak about Gen. George Meade: From Hero to Obscurity.

Rockford Carnegie Library March Events

Indoor Scavenger Hunt All Month Long

3/6 Preschool Play Group 10-11am

      Homeschool Program 1:30-3pm

      Book Club @ 2 & 6pm

3/7 Preschool Play Group 10-11am

3/13 Preschool Play Group 10-11am

        Homeschool Program 1:30-3pm

3/14 Preschool Play Group 10-11am

3/16 St. Patrick's Themed Family Program 6:30-7:30pm

3/20 Preschool Play Group 10-11am

        Homeschool Program 1:30-3pm

3/21 Preschool Play Group 10-11am

3/27 Preschool Play Group 10-11am

        Homeschool Program 1:30-3pm

3/28 Preschool Play Group 10-11am

Shultz Huber & Associates, Inc. Promote Two

Shultz Huber & Associates, Inc. is pleased to announce that Alyssa Pluta and Kara Dahlke have been promoted to in-charge accountants. In-charge accountants work directly with clients and oversee staff accountants and accounting assistants.

Pluta joined the firm in 2021. She holds a bachelor’s degree accounting from Spring Arbor University and works in the firm’s Defiance office.

Dahlke holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Ohio Northern University. She joined the firm in 2021 and works in the St. Marys office.

The firm is hiring for a variety of public accounting positions in Archbold, Bryan, Defiance, St. Marys and Van Wert. All experience levels are welcome, including recent graduates with an accounting-related degree. To learn more or to submit a resume, visit sha.cpa/career-opportunities.

Shultz Huber & Associates, Inc. is a full-service accounting, tax and business consulting CPA firm specializing in assisting businesses and their owners plan for their future and achieve their goals in an ever-changing financial and regulatory environment. Offices are located in Archbold, Bryan, Defiance, St. Marys and Van Wert, Ohio, with seven shareholders and 60 employees.

First United Methodist Church invites Families and Children to Preschool Open House

A Preschool Open House will be held at First United Methodist Church on Thursday, March 9 from 6:00-7:30 pm. Parents will also be able to register, tour and meet the teachers.

First Church is located at the corner of Central Avenue and Jefferson Street, across from Fountain Park.

We offer a half-day program from 8:30-11:30am two, three or four days a week. The curriculum is guided by the Ohio Department of Education's Early Learning Standards and incorporates Christian principles daily. We participate in monthly field trips, theme parties, progress monitoring and assessments, weekly Chapel, Christmas and Spring programs and much more. Our goal is to prepare children for kindergarten in a loving Christ-centered environment.

For more information please contact Administrator Marilyn Agler by phone at 419-238-0631 ext. 308, by email marilyn.agler@vanwertfirst.net  or register online at vanwertfirst.net then choose Preschool in the menu area.

LOCAL CELINA ARTIST JAN MIESSE IS FEATURED AT ART SPACE, ST MARY’S

IN A ONE WOMAN SHOW CALLED “WANDERINGS “ JAN MIESSE USES BOLD COLORS IN HER IMPRESSIONIST WORKS. A FORMER BUSINESS WOMAN IN CELINA, SHE STARTED PAINTING FOR EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION. SHE APPROACHES HER PIECES WITH A SPECIFIC EMOTION AND USES PAINT ON LARGE CANVASES TO EXPRESS
HERSELF. ART SPACE IN ST. MARYS OHIO WILL DISPLAY HER WORK
NOW THRU APRIL 13TH.
OPEN WEDNESDAY THRU SATURDAY FROM 10 TO 5PM.

Memories sought of Highland Park

Highland Park in Celina is seeking memories from current and past residents for its 100th anniversary celebration.

The residential area’s committee will prepare a booklet with these stories and memories of life and activities at Highland Park. This booklet will be sold at the Corn Roast for present and past residents on Aug. 6 from noon at the park.

Please send your memories by April 29, 2023 to the Highland Park Committee, 204 Mercer St., Celina 45822 or email virgburroughs@gmail.com.

THE VAN WERT COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN AWARDED NATIONAL ACCREDITATION THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACCREDITATION BOARD

Accreditation through PHAB demonstrates The Van Wert County Health Department's commitment to excellence in serving the community and meeting foundational needs.

Van Wert, Ohio — March 10, 2023 — The Van Wert County Health Department today announced it had been awarded national Accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). Established in 2007, PHAB is the non-profit organization that administers the national accreditation program, which aims to advance and transform public health practice by championing performance improvement, strong infrastructure, and innovation.

"We are so pleased to be recognized by PHAB for achieving national standards that foster effectiveness and promote continuous quality improvement," said Dr. Daryl Dowdy, MA, Ph.D. Van Wert County Health Department Commissioner. "We hope this announcement will reassure our community, partners, funders, and elected officials that the services we provide are as responsive as possible and are meeting the foundational needs of our community."

The national accreditation program, which receives support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sets standards against which the nation's governmental public health departments can continuously improve the quality of their services and performance. Standards emphasize Foundational Capabilities and are aligned with the 10 Essential Public Health Services. As a result, more than 80 percent of the U.S. population now reap the benefits of being served by a health department that has undergone PHAB's rigorous, multi-faceted, peer-reviewed assessment process to ensure it meets quality standards and measures.

“The value of becoming nationally accredited through PHAB extends far beyond the walls of the health department," said PHAB President and CEO Paul Kuehnert, DNP, RN, FAAN. "People living and working in communities served by these health departments can be assured that their health department is strong and has the capacity to protect and promote their health. In addition, just going through the accreditation process helps health departments pinpoint the areas critical to improving the work they do for their communities."

Often called the "backbone" of the public health system, public health departments are on the front lines of communities' efforts to protect and promote health and prevent disease and injury. Across the nation, health departments provide services aimed at promoting healthy behaviors; preventing diseases and injuries; ensuring access to safe food, water, clean air, and life-saving immunizations; and preparing for and responding to public health emergencies.

The Van Wert County Health Department works to promote and protect the health and well-being of the community. Learn more about the Van Wert County Health Department at https://vanwertcountyhealth.org. For more information, please contact Dr. Daryl Dowdy at ddowdy@vanwertcountyhealth.org or 419-238-0808 ext. 114.

Two Drug Arrests Made by Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputies
Celina, OH – Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reports the arrest of two individuals last evening on drug related charges.  On Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 8:45 PM, Mercer County Deputies stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in the area of US 33 and Kuck Rd, in Center Township.  The vehicle was driven by Braden Etgen (20) of Rockford, who had Isaiah Garland (21) of Fort Recovery, as a passenger. 

A Mercer County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit was called to assist with the stop.  The K9 conducted a free air sniff around the vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics.  A search of the vehicle and its occupants, found suspected methamphetamines and fentanyl pills.  Both Etgen and Garland were booked in to the Mercer County Adult Detention Facility for Possession of Drugs, a Felony of the Fifth Degree and are being held without bond. 

The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by members of the Grand Lake Drug Task Force and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.  The case will be turned over to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office for review of additional charges.

Rockford Village Council Meets on March 7, 2023
Click here for minutes by Fiscal Agent Lisa Kuhn

Rockford Community Announcements and events:

St. Teresa Family Fun Night / Talent Show -    March 11th – Rockford Community Building.  Talent acts may include instrumentals, singing, dancing or any other talent one would like to share with the community!

Please text 419-852-7954 or email stteresachurch@bright.net.

Shanes Crossing Historical Society Speaker Series  –“World War ll and the Rockford- Willshire Area” presentation by Harrison Frech –  March 20th –

7 pm – Village Office.

Village Office closed – March 28th and 29th -   Online Continue education.

Lions Club Quarter Auction – April 1st – Rockford Community Building

Rockford Fire Department – April 8th - Pancake & Sausage – 6 am – 1 pm

Shanes Park – Easter Egg Hunt – April 8th  -  1 pm

Rockford Chamber – April 15 - Spring Fling –– Main Street – 10 am – 3 pm

Accepting Groups / organizations to participate in 2023 Community Days –

June 16 & 17.   Contact Amy Joseph at 419-953-7874 or

Crystol Rasbach – 702-480-9146

**Proceeds to new shelter house at Shanes Park Pond.**

Stateline Writers Club to Meet
Stateline Writers Club is welcoming prospective members to the club's new year. The first meeting will be Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 10 a.m. at the Mercer County District Memorial Library in Celina.

The meeting room will be used.

Members will not be writing a story since this is a re-organizational meeting. New officers will be elected. 

Drug Arrest by Mercer County Deputy
Celina, OH - Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reports the arrest of an individual on drug related charges.  Just after 3:30 PM, on Saturday, March 4,  Deputy Spencer Heinl of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office was on patrol when he observed suspicious activity in a parking lot in the area of Logan St and Walnut St in Celina.  Shortly after, a traffic stop was conducted on Morton St with one of the involved vehicles for traffic violations.  Stopped was Aaron P. Chapman, age 35, Celina, who was operating a gray electric powered bicycle.    

Deputy Heinl’s K9 partner, Hex, then conducted a free air sniff around the vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics.  Prior to a search, Chapman took off running from the scene through residential yards and deputies were then in foot pursuit.  As he was fleeing, he was seen throwing a baggie that was later recovered.  Deputies Chase Kuhlman and Spencer Heinl caught up to him and took him in to custody in the area of Portland St, North of Logan St, in a parking lot.   A search of the bicycle, its contents, and the recovered baggie found suspected drugs that preliminarily test presumptive positive for methamphetamines. 

Chapman was transported to the Mercer County Adult Detention Center where he was booked in for Possession of Methamphetamines a Felony of the Fifth Degree and is being held without bond.  

The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Celina Police Department and the Mercer County Prosecutor Erin Minor.  The case will be forwarded to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office for review of any additional charges.

Jeff Grey

Sheriff

Calvary Evangelical Church Calendar

March 1-8, 2023
Serving the Rockford, Willshire and Mendon Communities for 18 years!
 

Keeping Care Local
Van Wert Health Joins OhioHealth as 14th Full Member Hospital

Above l to r: President and CEO of OhioHealth, Steve Markovich, MD, new interim president for OhioHealth Van Wert Health Joy Bischoff, and Jon Bagley, former Interim president of Van Wert Health.

VAN WERT, Ohio — OhioHealth and Van Wert Health announced on March 1, 2023, at a welcoming ceremony, that the board of directors of both organizations voted on December 14, 2022 to enter into a membership agreement that makes Van Wert Health a full member of the OhioHealth system. 

Van Wert Health became OhioHealth’s 14th full member hospital and places OhioHealth in 49 of the 88 counties in Ohio.

Above: Interim president for OhioHealth Van Wert Health Joy Bischoff - OhioHealth is committed to Keeping Care Local.

Jon Bagley, interim president and CEO of VWH opened the welcoming ceremony by explaining that Van Wert Health has been a local hospital since its inception in 1950. Working with the Van Wert Health Board of Trustees since June of 2022, he said they were looking together for a partner that would keep healthcare local but could also provide an investor who would assume the hospital’s assets; a partner that could provide advanced technologies like records online, robotics and tele-health; and a partner with exceptional leadership. Bagley was pleased to announce they had found this all in OhioHealth “At our core, we are here to care for the people in our communities,” said Bagley. “Healthcare is broader than just what happens within the walls of a single facility. This affiliation provides the organizational scale and leadership talent needed to deliver exceptional patient care and to strengthen local access to services.”

Above: Clap-in Ohio Health Van Wert Health

Tom Turnwald, chairman of the Van Wert Health Board of Trustees, stepped in and thanked his board for working tirelessly over these many years in building the North Branch Hospital, building the new Hospital on site, and managing all of it through the COVID epidemic. “OhioHealth is the best partner to deepen our commitment to patient safety, quality, and patient experience. We approached our discussions with them very purposefully, and we ultimately selected OhioHealth because they provide the greatest long-term financial stability along with their unwavering commitment to delivering healthcare locally,” said Turnwald. 

President and CEO of OhioHealth, Steve Markovich, MD, was introduced and said he was impressed with the culture and family atmosphere of Van Wert Health – how they embraced their mission and take care of people.”

Above: Welcoming ceremony guests.

All OhioHealth Van Wert Health photography courtesy of shelleefisher.com

LAAG MARCH ART CLASSES OFFERED

The Lake Area Arts Group will have its members meeting March 8th,
Wednesday, at 6 pm at the art gallery on South Main St., Celina.
Artist Molly Rose, guest speaker will give an overview of the March
classes she will be instructing on watercolor and colored pencil.
Information on times and costs as well as other classes in March is
available on LAAG ‘s FB page. ( lakeareaartsgroup)

March 12, 2023 - Daylight Saving Time Starts

When local standard time is about to reach:

Sunday, March 12, 2023, 2:00:00 am clocks are turned forward 1 hour to
Sunday, March 12, 2023, 3:00:00 am local daylight time instead.

Sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour later on Mar 12, 2023 than the day before. There will be more light in the evening.

Also called Spring Forward, Summer Time, and Daylight Savings Time.

Some states are considering keeping this time permanent, however, Ohio, at this time, plans to Fall Back one hour on November 5, 2023 at 2AM

Join St. Paul’s Country Church and Chatt Methodist Church for their joint Lenten Wednesday Evening Service
Sunday Services at St. Paul’s

The memberships of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH and Chatt United Methodist Church invite you to join them for the Lenten Service at Chatt United Methodist in Chatt with Pastor Mike Husted providing the message at 7 PM on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. "Amazing Grace" is the series. Community is welcome.

Offering goes to C.A.L.L. Ministries.

 Sunday Worship

Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit on Sunday, March 12, 2023. Based on Exodus 17:1-7, the title is “Are We There Yet?”.

Sunday school is at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. We offer Bible based lessons and children’s activities. Snacks included.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

21^st Century Club Meets In February

The Twenty First Century Club met on February 27, 2023 at the Rockford United Methodist Church Café for a regular meeting. President Janet Steffy called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone with a report on Laughing Until You Cry; the science of the laugh. Roll-Call by Secretary Kim Carr was completed with everyone naming one’s favorite comic strip. The treasurer’s report was given by Valerie Frizinger. The balance is $318.92.

Minutes from the January meeting were read and approved. Janet Steffy reported that a yellow fugi mum, our club flower, was presented to Honorary Member Barb Painter in memory of her husband, Chuck, who recently passed. A book, The Giving Tree by Shel Sliverstein, was also presented to the Rockford Library. Karla Butler thanked the members for soup donations to Helping Hands and requested small jars of peanut butter for the next club meeting.

“Funny Girl – Funny Guy” the theme for the year was continued as Rozann Maurer presented her program on comedien and actor Tim Conway who was a true Ohioan born & raised in Ohio on December 15, 1933 in Willoughby, OH. His father spoke Irish and mother spoke Rumanian. Tim was named Toma, but later changed his name to Thomas and then settled on the name Tim.  He was an only child in a quiet household where his parents did not learn the other’s language well. Tim taught his mother English. He wrote the tales of his life in later years called, What’s So Funny? which is a hilarious look at his childhood. He graduated from high school in Chagrin Falls, OH and later Bowling Green State University after serving in the U.S. Army. He got his start in radio in Cleveland, and it was there that Rose Marie from the Dick Van Dyke Show heard him and got him on the Steve Allen Variety Show. He was on television on McHale’s Navy, the Carol Burnett Show and had his own Tim Conway Show. He often portrayed inept characters or old men. He won 4 Emmy awards for work on The Carol Burnett Show. He was good with the ad lib and so was a fellow actor and good friend Harvey Korman.

Cindy Canary continued the evening program with her funny entertainer Phyllis Diller who hails from Lima Ohio. She never changed her name. Born in 1917 and living 95 years, she died in 2012. Cindy commented that Phyllis started her acting career later at age 37, wore outrageous outfits and wild wigs.  She did radio copyrighting in San Francisco when she decided to try stand-up comedy. Her humor was self-deprecating and she had a cackling laugh that she attributed to nerves. Bob Hope was her mentor in the early years and she traveled with his USO show in 1966 to Viet Nam. She was on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-in and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She is known for bringing plastic surgery out of the closet. Proudest of all, she delighted in being a record holder in The Guinness Book of World Records for getting 12 laughs at jokes in one minute.

Delicious refreshments were served by Ann Gage and Kim Carr.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Program leaders are Susan Coburn and Twyla Hayes. Cindy Canary and Melanie Shindeldecker will be hostesses.

Above: Large Backhoe shown digging out hotspots in the debris at Wildfire Bar and Grill while a Rockford fireman in their ladder truck (from above) continues to douse water. Below: See picture looking south on Main St. and the Rockford ladder truck spraying water.

Click on smaller thumbnails below to enlarge the pictures.

Mercer County PERI Chapter #13 to Meet
Mercer County PERI Chapter #13 will have its next meeting on Tuesday, March 14th.  The chapter will meet at 10:00 AM at the Hopewell Grange Hall on the Mercer County Fairgrounds.  Coffee, juice, and doughnuts will be available beginning at 9:30 AM.

Guest speaker will be Jennifer Overholzer, Marketing Specialist from Everheart Hospice.  Ms. Overholzer will address how the Hospice team of skilled professionals work together to assist patients and families with end-of-life needs.  Also, Everheart Hospice nurse practitioner, Elaine Post, will offer information about completing various Advance Directive forms, such as the Living Will and the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and others.  Members are encouraged to bring guests that might benefit from this presentation.  

Annual dues paying members are encouraged to pay their 2023 dues of $10.00 at the meeting or send to Treasurer Mary Wright at 809 Ivy Lane Celina, Ohio 45822.

by Sharon Heitbrink, Secretary

FLOWER / VEGETABLE SALES FUNDRAISER

First United Methodist Church Youth Group, located at 113 W Central Avenue in Van Wert, are selling flowers and vegetables for their upcoming Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic later this year. Orders and money are due March 12. Pick up will be at the fairgrounds on May 2 which will also offer Cash & Carry items.  The exact location is to be determined.

These are the same great quality plants that have been sold by the Cougar Boosters in the past. Consider this an open invitation to support First United Methodist Youth Missions and pick up a beautiful plant or two! Order forms and descriptions can be found at https://www.vanwertfirst.net/ - scroll to the bottom of the Welcome / Landing page.  For more information, please phone 419-238-0631 ext 307.

MERCER COUNTY ENGINEER DITCH MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES

Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart is announcing that over the upcoming construction season that engineer inspection and maintenance personnel will be on-site on many of the 111 miles of Mercer County maintained open drainage ditches and 76 miles of tile throughout Mercer County.

Easements exist along specific drainage infrastructure attributes that allow the necessary evaluation and maintenance of these important drainage elements.  Such things as ditch inspection, spraying for noxious weeds and erosion repairs will occur throughout the year.  “Many people may think that a ditch or tile is solely on private property, but all of Mercer County’s ditch and tile maintenance infrastructure attributes have a maintenance easement on and around the drainage feature.  A fraction of the open ditches and tile in the unincorporated areas are on county maintenance.”  Wiechart stated.

A set of buildings on the west side of Main Street in downtown Rockford remain on fire at 9:13 AM at the time of this story. The text to avoid the area came in from Mercer County Sheriff's Department at 5:41 AM. The alarm reportedly came in at 1:45 AM. Ten local fire departments are on the scene including: Rockford; Chatt; Chickasaw; St. Henry; Coldwater; Celina; Mendon; Willshire; Van Wert; and Ohio City. An eye witness reported that Frankie Joe's old restaurant building (now known as Wildfire Bar and Grill, but it was closed down) and DJ's car repair business (and car storage) were both engulfed in flames at this time, too. DJ's is formerly the Riley Chevrolet building. Both water towers have reportedly been drained, and the departments are pumping from the river and carting from area ponds to keep the flames from spreading further. Rob Belna is the Rockford Fire Chief.

Thank you to Todd Henkle of Henkle Insurance for photos and updates!

Parkway Schools are on a
2 hour delay
for Wednesday, March 1, 2023.
The school reports no water or electricity due to a fire in Rockford.

Buses will be running late, especially Bus 18,
due to closed roads.

Sheriff Jeff Grey reported at 5:41 AM that a structure fire was active
in the Rockford village area, and drivers are being asked to avoid
State Route 118 and U.S. Route 33 in and out of the village.

St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford
2023 Wednesday Evening Lenten Series “Amazing Grace”
Planned with Chatt United Methodist Church
All services start at 7 PM

The Chatt Valley Ministerium, including St. Paul’s Country Church on Oregon Road  west of Rockford and Chatt United Methodist in Chattanooga have released their joint Lenten Service Schedule with locations.

Amazing Grace

March 1st   -    at St. Paul's Country Church – Pastor Tom Brunstrup

March 8th -      at Chatt UMC – Pastor Mike Husted

March 15th -    at St. Paul's Country Church – Pastor Tom Brunstrup

March 22th -    at Chatt UMC – Pastor Mike Husted

March 29th -    at St. Paul's Country Church – Pastor Tom Brunstrup

The offering from the combined Lenten services above goes to C.A.L.L. Ministries.

Maundy Thursday, April 6^th at St. Paul’s Country Church, 7 PM – Communion served.

 

Good Friday is a Combined Service on April 7^th and will be held at St. Paul’s Country Church with Pastor Adam Poe from Zion Lutheran Chatt, Pastor Tom Brunstrup from Chatt United Methodist and Pastor Mike Husted from St. Paul’s Country Church leading the service.

Easter Sunrise Service (Children’s Program) is at 8 AM on Sunday, April 9, 2023 followed by breakfast at St. Paul’s Country Church followed by Sunday School at 9:15 AM

Easter Service on Sunday, April 9, 2023 at St. Paul’s Country Church begins at 10 AM. Communion served.

Parkway School Board Agenda for a Regular Meeting on Wednesday March 1, 2023 7:00 PM
in the Community Room - Note this is a changed date 
by Sally Cox

Parkway March 2023 Printable Breakfast and Lunch Menus by Pam Smith

Join St. Paul’s Country Church and Chatt Methodist for their joint Lenten Wednesday Service
Women’s Week Sunday Services at St. Paul’s

The memberships of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH and Chatt United Methodist invite you to join them for the Lenten Service at St. Paul’s Church with Reverend Tom Brunstrup providing the message at 7 PM on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Community is welcome.

Women’s Week is being celebrated this week, and Becky Jo Shope will present the morning message titled “Blessings, Always Blessings” based on Matthew 5:1-12 at St. Paul’s Country Church on Sunday, March 5, 2023.

Sunday school is at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. We offer Bible based lessons and children’s activities. Snacks included.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

February 22-28, 2023
 

Parkway Schools are  CLOSED for Thursday, February 23, 2023
due to the continued dense fog in the area.
Please NOTE: This is Parkway's first E (Electronic) day
beginning at 10 AM.

Parkway Schools are on a
2 hour fog delay
for Thursday, February 23, 2023.

St. Paul’s Country Church for Ash Wednesday and Sunday

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to join them for an Ash Wednesday Reflection/Prayer, Ashes and Communion time with Pastor Mike Husted from 8-10  AM and 6-8 PM on Wednesday, February 22, 2023. Come at any of these times, hear the message, pray and have communion with him. Community is welcome.

Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit on Sunday, February 26, 2023. Based on Matthew 4:1-11, the title is “Confronting Temptation”.

Sunday school is at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. We offer Bible based lessons and children’s activities. Snacks included.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

February 15-21, 2023
 

Lady Panthers Basketball Team Win MAC with Marion Local

CONGRATULATIONS to our Lady Panther Basketball team for winning their 1st MAC Championship in school history!!! They share the title with Marion Local who also finished with a 8-1 conference record. The Panthers wrapped up their regular season with a 20-2 overall record and begin tournament action on Wednesday, February 15 at Lincolnview taking on Wayne Trace in the second game of the night scheduled to start at 7:30.

Pictured kneeling with trophy are seniors Allison Hughes, Gabrielle Stober, Emiree Knittle.

Middle Row: Cali Bollenbacher, Emree Temple, Avery White, Audrey Nichols, Frankie Steinbrunner, Adria Miller, Bryn Schoenleben, Brittyn Bruns, Alexis Berry, Paige Williamson, Head Coach Dan Williamson, Statistician Brady McKee

Back Row: Assistant Coach Deb Kirby, JV Coach Gina Jacobs, Assistant Coach Tyler Deitsch

Coach Mark Esselstein Honored into the Parkway Athletic Hall of Fame

Coach Mark Esselstein was inducted into the Parkway Athletic Hall of Fame in a recent ceremony. Coach Esselstein was the first Head Softball coach in Parkway High School history. Over a 33-year span, he guided the Panthers to an overall record of 551-172. He is the winningest Softball coach in Parkway and Midwest Athletic Conference (MAC) history. During his tenure, the Panthers never had a losing season. Coach Esselstein guided

the Panthers to 13 MAC titles and had an overall MAC record of 128-27. For his career, Coach Esselstein led the Panthers to 13 District titles, 3 Regional titles and 3 appearances in the State Final Four. He was named the Northwest District Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association (NWDFSCA) coach of the year 3 separate times. He was also inducted into the Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association (OHSFSCA) in 2008.

Parkway Boys' Varsity Bowling Team Takes 7^th Place in the MAC Tournament

Parkway Boys' Varsity Bowling team finished in 7th place at Saturday's MAC Tournament. The team begins Sectional Tournament action on Friday, February 17 at 10:00 at Community Lanes in Minster.

Parkway Girls' Varsity Bowling Team Takes 3rd Place in the MAC Tournament and in the Regular Season

Congratulations to our Girls' Varsity Bowling team who finished in 3rd place at yesterday's MAC Tournament! The team also finished in 3rd place in the MAC regular season standings! The team begins Sectional Tournament action on Thursday, February 16 at 10:00 at Community Lanes in Minster.

Pastor Michael Husted at St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to their worship service at 10 AM on Sunday, February 19, 2023. Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit with a sermon straight from the Bible. Based on Exodus 24:12-18, the title is “An Appointment With God”.

Sunday school is now beginning at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is now every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Bible based lessons and children’s activities taught. Snacks.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

February 8-14, 2023
The Parkway Independent is 18 years old!
 

Allison Hughes to Play Basketball at Edison State

Parkway senior Allison Hughes is shown signing her Letter of Intent to play basketball at Edison State Community College. Seated with Allison are her parents, Lynn and Doug Hughes. Standing are Edison State Girls' Basketball coaches Tim McMahon and Doug Martin. 

Eddie Nichols to Play Football at Walsh University

Parkway senior Eddie Nichols is shown signing his Letter of Intent to play football at Walsh University. Seated with Eddie are his parents, Cheryl and Les. In the back row are his sisters, Lindsey, Megan, Kelsey, and Audrey, and his high school football coach, Joel Henkle. 

FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Sponsored by St Teresa Parish, Rockford, Ohio
Saturday, March 11, 2023

Dinner / DJ beginning at 5:30pm at Rockford Community Building

Wedding Style Dinner– PRESALE TICKETS ONLY contact the church office at 419-363-2633 before March 11st

Many great prizes to win for adults and children
Games of chance throughout the evening
Open to the public

Pastor Michael Husted at St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to their worship service at 10 AM on Sunday, February 12, 2023. Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit with a sermon straight from the Bible. Based on Matthew 5:21-26, the title is “Anger”.

Sunday school is now beginning at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is now every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Bible based lessons and children’s activities taught. Snacks.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

2023 Beginning Beekeeping Class

Are you interested in learning about honey bees and beekeeping? If so, then you are invited to attend Greater Grand Lake Beekeepers Association’s (GGLBA) 9th annual Beginning Beekeeping Class on March 11, 2023 at the Richardson-Bretz Building in Celina, Ohio. The class will begin at 8:00 AM and last until 5:00 PM. Participants will learn everything they need to know to begin keeping bees themselves. Topics will cover all aspects of beekeeping and is designed for the “new-bee” as well as those with some knowledge or experience with honey bees.. Classroom demonstrations will show attendees how to assemble hives and frames and install foundation. Cost of the class is $50 per person in advance and includes the book “Bee-Sentials: A Field Guide” (a $28 value). A child or spouse can also register in advance for $25 per person (no book). Walk-in registration will be $60 per person ($30 for a child or spouse). Each person registered will receive a one-year membership in Greater Grand Lake Beekeepers Association ($15 value), a one-year membership in the Ohio State Beekeepers Association ($20 value) and the chance to win one of several beekeeping-related door prizes. Beekeeping supply catalogs, literature, and other handouts will also be available. Attendees can order hives and locally produced honey bee nucleus hives (nucs) on the day of the class. A cash or check deposit of $100 per nuc and $75 per hive kit ordered is required on the day of the class. Instructors will include GGLBA members along with Dwight Wells, a recognized speaker and researcher in the field of honey bees. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and class size is limited to 35 people. To enroll or for more information, go to gglba.ohiostatebeekeepers.org or contact Ty Shelby (419) 236-3734 or Scott Cohen (937) 470-2866. The Richardson-Bretz building is located at 119 W. Fulton Street in Celina (just behind the Mercer County Library). Coffee, doughnuts, and refreshments are included. Lunch will be on your own. Greater Grand Lake Beekeepers Association (GGLBA) meets monthly on the second Tuesday of the month at the St. Marys Community Public Library. Please consult our website or Facebook page for more information. Meetings run from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM and are open to the public. January 17, 2023

2023 Mercer County Board of Health Meeting Dates

Meeting time: 8:00 a.m. Second Wednesday of each month unless noted

220 W. Livingston Street, Celina, OH 45822 – B195 Conference Room

January 11, 2023:  Adopt 2023 Appropriations

February 8, 2023: Regular BOH Session

March 8, 2023: Regular BOH Session

March 20, 2023: District Advisory Council (DAC) Annual Meeting @ 7:00pm.  The DAC will appoint a candidate / Incumbent to the Board of Health.

April 12, 2023: Board approves tentative General Fund Budget for 2024

 

May 10, 2023: Regular BOH Session

June 14, 2023: Approve County School Screening Contracts for Public Health Services

July 12, 2023: Regular BOH Session

August 16, 2023: Regular BOH Session

September 13, 2023: Regular BOH Session

October 11, 2023: Regular BOH Session

November 8, 2023: Regular BOH session

December 13, 2023: Regular BOH Session

January 10, 2024: Adopt 2024 Appropriations

Bridge Closing

The Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart, is planning to close Rauh Road between St. Anthony Road and Pine Road in Washington Township for a bridge replacement.  This road will be closed tentatively on February 13, 2023 and is scheduled to reopen in approximately 4-5 weeks, depending on the weather conditions.

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

Mercer Health Medical Group at Mendon Now Scheduling Patients

Mercer Health is excited to announce the opening of Mercer Health Medical Group at Mendon, 128 Drake Street. Patients of all ages can schedule appointments now with Lindsey Lamm, CNP. Services provided include: wellness visits, acute illness treatment, routine screenings, orders for lab & imaging tests, management of chronic conditions and more.  To schedule an appointment, call: 419-795-2050.

Western Ohio Civil War Round Table to Meet
A good friend of the Roundtable and fellow member John Hyter will be the speaker for the February meeting. He will discuss the Joint Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War. Just what President Lincoln needed, a bunch of snoopy Radicals to try to second guess him as he carried out his Constitutional responsibilities as commander in chief. 

John has an interesting story to tell, and he's certain to do a good job presenting it. The date is Thursday, February 23  (2/23/23). Meeting comes to order at 7:15 PM. Our meetings are open to the public at the Richardson-Bretz Memorial. Feel free to bring a friend!

by Tom Thompson

Calvary Evangelical Church Calendar

Honor Flight Confirms Purple Heart Flight Date

Honor Flight Northeast Indiana (HFNEI) is proud to announce the date for a special Purple Heart Flight slated for 2023. The Flight will fall on National Purple Heart Day, which is celebrated on August 7, 2023.  This previously announced flight will be a 5th flight for the HFNEI 2023 flying season and marks the largest Honor Flight nationwide flight dedicated to Purple Heart recipients.  

Northeast Indiana Honor Flight Staff are excited to be able to take approximately 85 Veterans who have been awarded a Purple Heart in service to our country to see the memorials built in their honor in Washington DC.

Honor Flight Northeast Indiana was the recipient of the annual 2022 Penny Pitch Fundraiser by Fort Wayne radio station WOWO.  Each year, a charitable organization is chosen to receive the funds raised by the WOWO staff with the support of area residents and volunteers from the organization. Honor Flight Northeast Indiana determined that all funds accumulated from the Penny Pitch efforts would go toward paying for this special flight to honor those wounded in military service.  

Planning for the special Purple Heart Flight is on-going and will require many hours of preparation to accommodate the extra activities that will take place to give special honor to those who have sacrificed so much. Veterans who have not yet been on an Honor Flight and who have been awarded a purple heart are invited to apply through the website for Honor Flight Northeast Indiana www.hfnei.org.

February 1 - 7, 2023
 

Coach Donnie Miller Honored for 50 years
Coach Donnie Miller was honored for his 50 years of coaching at Parkway Schools between games at a recent Boys' JV / Varsity Basketball game. Also honored was his wife, Susie, who has been his main support throughout the years. Coach Miller is currently coaching junior high boys' basketball and baseball. Thank you, Coach Miller and Susie, for your dedication to Parkway Athletics!

Parkway Winter Homecoming 2023 Queen Emree and Court
Miss Emree Sinning was recently crowned the 2023 Winter Homecoming Queen. Pictured below are Emree and her court (L to R): Sophomore Emerson Esselstein, Senior Abby Baltzell, Queen Emree Sinning, Senior Aaliyah Baxter, Junior Frankie Steinbrunner, Freshman Jordyn Schaefer. 

Second Fatal Crash of 2023
Celina, OH-Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reports that his office is investigating the second fatal traffic crash in Mercer County this year. Mercer County Central Dispatch received a call 9-1-1 call at 6:14 AM on February 1, 2023 of a traffic crash on US Rte 127, south of Fort Recovery Minster Rd in Granville Township.

The investigation revealed that Kevin Brunswick (61) of Piqua, was driving a 2020 white Chevy sedan, traveling north on US Rte 127.  Todd Penhorwood (54) of Mt Victory, was traveling southbound in a 2020 white International semi-tractor and trailer.  For an unknown reason, Brunswick traveled left of center, striking Penhorwood.  Mr. Brunswick was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Assisting at the scene were members of the St. Henry Fire Department, Burkettsville Fire Department, Southern Mercer County Joint Ambulance District, MCERV, Ohio Motor Carrier Enforcement and Mercer County Prosecutor Erin Minor.    

The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Team was called to the scene.  This crash remains under investigation at this time and will be forwarded to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office for review once it is completed. 

Parkway School Board Agenda for a Regular Meeting on Wednesday February 8, 2023 6:30 PM
in the High School Library 
by Sally Cox

Update from Secretary Sally Cox

Parkway Local School District
 PARKWAY BOARD OF EDUCATION Meetings
The board meetings are now scheduled for the 2^nd Wednesday of the month, 6:30 p.m. in the community room.

Parkway February 2023 Printable Breakfast and Lunch Menus by Pam Smith

Valentine theme classes at Celina LAAG art gallery

The Lake Area Arts Group will feature February beginner classes in
jewelry making, 3D painting, cookie decorating, and miniature tree
wire sculptures. All these projects are perfect for Valentine gifting.
Classes are $25 or $20 for LAAG members.
On Tues, February 7th from 11-1 pm. A polished stone macrame pendant
class will be led by author and Celestial Crystal Creations owner Lori
Yaney. Class includes all supplies and choice of stone.
On Thursday, February 9th , 6-8pm, LAAG will sponsor a Valentines sip
and paint class led by Billy Kay Marsee. Participants will paint a 4x6
3D canvas with a Valentine theme to take home. All supplies included
plus an easel for displaying painting. Snacks provided with cash bar
available.
On Saturday, February 11, 10-11AM. A valentine cookie decorating class
will be offered by Sharon Green. Participants will decorate two
valentine theme cookies for taking home. Class is limited to 8 (ages
14 and older )with cost for the one hour class $15 ($10 for members,
coffee and donuts provided.
The following Saturday, February 18, 10-12am. Sherry Chandler will
lead participants in making a miniature wire/bead tree sculpture.
Chandlers tree sculptures can be seen at Brew Nation in LAAG’S glass
consignment cabinet. Class limited to 8 ( ages 14 and older).
All the classes are at the LAAG gallery in Brew Nation. 108 S. Main
St.,Celina. Sign up soon for classes at lakeareaartsgroup @gmail.com.
submitting name, email and phone number. Also sign up at the First
Friday Chocolate Walk on Friday, February 3rd. at the gallery at Brew
>  Nation, Celina. Pick up a hand made chocolate and see the art.

Pastor Michael Husted at St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to their worship service at 10 AM on Sunday, February 5, 2023. Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit with a sermon straight from the Bible. Continuing in 1 Corinthians 2:11-16, the title is “The Modus Operandi of Evangelism”.

Sunday school is now beginning at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is now every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Bible based lessons and children’s activities taught. Snacks.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

VWHS THEATRE ANNOUNCES 2023 SPRING MUSICAL

Van Wert High School Theatre Department is excited to announce our 2023 spring musical production. On April 13, 14, and 15, join Van Wert High School Theatre as we present The Wizard of Oz at 7pm at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. The Wizard of Oz is by L. Frank Baum with Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg, Background Music by Herbert Stothart, Dance and Vocal Arrangements by Peter Howard, and Orchestration by Larry Wilcox. Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Wizard of Oz is based upon the Classic Motion Picture owned by Turner Entertainment Co. and distributed in all media by Warner Bros. Join us as we travel down the yellow brick road with Dorothy and her friends, Scarecrow, Lion, and Tin Man. Our talented high school and middle school cast and crew will bring Oz to life! Ticket purchasing information can be found at our website, VWHSTheatre.weebly.com. Tickets go on sale through our website to the general public starting March 6th. THE WIZARD OF OZ is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. www.concordtheatricals.com. VWHS Theatre continues to create, perform, and inspire the Van Wert community through the theatrical arts.

January 24-31, 2023
 

Parkway March 2023 Printable Breakfast and Lunch Menus by Pam Smith

Overactive Bladder Webinar with Dr. Scott Shie

Van Wert, OH – On Tuesday, February 7, 2023 the Van Wert Health Center for Urology, in partnership with Medtronic, will host a free educational webinar on overactive bladder symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. The webinar will be presented by Scott Shie, MD, Board Certified Urologist.

When a person experiences sudden and involuntary contractions of their bladder muscles and continually feels the need to urinate, this is a condition known as overactive bladder. Symptoms of overactive bladder include uncontrollable urges to go to the bathroom, frequent accidents, and getting up multiple times at night. Overactive bladder condition affects millions of men and women daily.

“Issues related to the bladder can be a sensitive subject. Many who suffer from overactive bladders opt to avoid the issue, negatively impacting their overall quality of life,” shared Dr. Shie. “What we are doing with this sort of event is normalizing the discussion, offering a space free of judgment for people to learn and ask questions.”

The free event begins at 6:30 PM, will last for one hour, including time for questions. Register online: www.vanwerthealth.org/bladder-info

About Dr. Shie:

Scott Shie, MD, earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has 17 years of surgical and urological experience and has practiced in Ohio and Indiana. Dr. Shie is a member of the American Urological Association, Ohio Urological Society and American Association of Clinical Urologists. Dr. Shie has been published in the Journal of Endourology and given presentations for the American Urological Association.

Parkway Schools are  CLOSED for Friday, January 27, 2023

Mercer County Sheriff's Department

Alert: At 8:23 am Friday, January 27, 2023, Sheriff Jeff Grey canceled the Level One snow emergency for Mercer County. Continue to use caution while driving.

Parkway Schools are on a
2 hour delay
for Friday, January 27, 2023.
 

Mercer County Sheriff's Department

Alert: At 8:01 pm Thursday, January 26, 2023, Sheriff Jeff Grey issued a Level One snow emergency for Mercer County. Roadways are slick and there is blowing and drifting snow.

Instructions:

Use extreme caution while traveling due to icy road conditions.

21^st Century Club Meets In January

The Twenty First Century Club met on January 24, 2023 at the Rockford United Methodist Church Café for a regular meeting. President Janet Steffy called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone with a report on Laffy Taffy, candy with a joke in every wrapper. Roll-Call by Secretary Kim Carr was completed with everyone naming one’s favorite movie that makes them laugh. The treasurer’s report was given by Valerie Frizinger. The balance is $335.09.

Minutes were read and approved. The outing to Van Wert in November 2022 for the comedy play, Exit Laughing, at the Van Wert Civic Theater was enjoyed by members.

“Funny Girl – Funny Guy” the theme for the year was continued as Julia Henkle presented her program on comedienne and actress Rachel Harris who was born in 1968 in Worthington, OH. She received a Fine Arts in Theater from Otterbein College. Rachel moved to NYC with her new husband where she made her debut on the show Seaquest. Later she acted in the Star Trek Voyager series. She starred as the mom in the popular Winpy Kids series of movies, acted on West Wing and Desparate Housewives. She is now divorced and has two children. She continues to act and is often seen in commercials.

Ann Gage continued the evening program with her funny entertainer Steve Harvey. His full name is Broderick Stephen Harvey, Sr., and he was born in Welch West Virginia in 1957. His claim to Ohio comes from his college years at Kent State in Ohio. Steve is 6 ft. 1 in tall and is most noted for his success with the game show Family Feud. He has won 7 daytime Emmy awards. Steve is a clothes horse, wears a different suit on each show, and owns his own line of suits and owns a clothes warehouse. He is not only a comedian, but is also an actor, producer and owns several of his own shows including a popular morning talk show. He’s a motivational speaker, was once homeless, loved producing Kids Say the Funniest Things, and is a Christian, faith-driven man, who goes out of his way to help people and especially entrepreneurs. He is a published author and has recovered from cancer.  At 66, he is busy with his 7 children from three marriages and continues in the entertainment field.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 28, 2020. Program leaders are Rozann Maurer and Cindy Canary. Kim Carr and Ann Gage will be hostesses.

Parkway Schools are  CLOSED for Wednesday, January 25, 2023.
Winter Storm Kassandra causing Wintry Conditions.

3-5 inches of snow expected today in this part of Ohio.

Thank you to Todd Henkle of Henkle Insurance for this early morning look
at the start of the snowstorm!

Timmerman Announces Run for Mercer County Sheriff
Mercer County Chief Deputy, Doug Timmerman, today formally announces his intention to seek the Republican nomination for Sheriff and is proud to have the endorsement of retiring Sheriff Jeff Grey.

Timmerman is a 29-year veteran of the office and has served in every division. His qualifications include being a 911 Dispatcher, Road Patrol Deputy, Detective, Detective Sergeant, Enforcement Captain, Corrections Captain, and he now serves as Chief Deputy.

Professionally, Timmerman is a member of the Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association (BSSA), where he currently serves on the Legislative and Awards Committees.  He is also a member of the National Sheriff’s Association (NSA), and has graduated from FBI LEEDA (Law Enforcement Executive Development Association). 

Timmerman is a lifelong resident of Mercer County, and lives in Coldwater with his lovely wife of 25 years, Jill (Bruns), and their two daughters, Sammi and Siera.

Timmerman’s motto is “To Serve and Protect with Respect” and he looks forward to serving as your next Mercer County Sheriff.  

Due to the predicted winter storm, the Van Wert County Health Department will be closed on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. In case of an emergency involving the health department, please contact the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Department at 419-238-3866 and they will contact health department staff.

Win on the Wabash Super Raffle Senior Scholarships

The Win on the Wabash Super Raffle, sponsored by the Fort Recovery Athletic Boosters, will be awarding 22 Seniors this year from the local area with $500 scholarships. The success of our event over the past four years wouldn’t be possible without the support of our local and surrounding communities, as well as without the help of countless volunteers. These scholarships are just one way of saying THANK YOU to those communities and are also a way of rewarding those Seniors who are active in their community.

Two Seniors from each of these schools: Fort Recovery; Coldwater; St. Henry; Marion Local; Versailles; Fort Loramie; Parkway; New Bremen; Minster; New Knoxville; and Jay County (IN) will each be awarded with a $500 scholarship. Applications can be submitted online by filling out this Google Form. The application link can also be found pinned on the top of the ‘WoW Super Raffle’ Facebook page and online at www.wowraffle.com/scholarships/. Any questions regarding the application process can be sent to scholarships@wowraffle.com.

The application deadline is March 31st, 2023. Students awarded with a scholarship will be notified by April 30th, 2023.

The requirements for eligibility are as follows:

Must be a U.S. Citizen

Must be enrolled in school at Ft. Recovery, Coldwater, St. Henry, Marion Local, Minster, Versailles, Fort Loramie, Parkway, New Bremen, New Knoxville, or Jay County (IN)

Must currently be in your Senior year of high school

Must be supportive of, volunteering, or active within your community

Must fully complete the application through Google Forms

Application must include a typed, in 12 pt. font, 300-word maximum essay. Please include your name on the essay. The subject of the essay is: As you complete your high school years, how have you supported, volunteered, or been active in your community?

Application must also include a letter of recommendation from a non-related community member or school employee detailing community service you have performed.

Van Wert County Agricultural Society Announces Reverse Raffle Fundraiser

Van Wert, OH | The Van Wert County Agricultural Society will be hosting the 7th Annual Reverse Raffle on March 25, 2023 at the Junior Fair Building on The Van Wert County Fairgrounds. Doors open at 5:00 pm with dinner served at 6:00 pm. This annual fundraiser event includes multiple opportunities to win prizes, a 50/50 drawing, silent and live auction items and more. The last ticket drawn will receive $7,000, with the 2nd to last ticket receiving $3,500, the 3rd to last ticket receiving $1,500 and the 4th to last ticket receiving $750. The event will be catered by Gibson’s Barnyard BBQ. Raffle tickets are $100 each and dinner tickets are $25 each.Only 300 raffle tickets will be sold. Both tickets include a catered meal, complimentary drinks and the ability to participate in the various activities held during the event. Tickets for the event are available through the Van Wert County Fair office located at 1055 S. Washington St. in Van Wert, OH or by contacting any Fair Board Director.

Calvary Evangelical Church Calendar

Rockford Village Council Meets on January 17, 2023
Click here for minutes by Fiscal Agent Lisa Kuhn
and Community Announcements and events:

More discussion on rates at Shanes Park Community Building; discussion on a Tree Commission; lots are all sold in Phase one of the new subdivision - Phase 2 will begin.

Events:

Dog Tags available at the Village office until January 31st – 4 pm.

St. Teresa Family Fun Night / Talent Show -    March 11th – Rockford Community Building.  Talent acts may include instrumentals, singing, dancing or any other talent one would like to share with the community!

Lions Club Quarter Auction – April 1st – Rockford Community Building

Rockford Chamber -  Spring Fling –– Main Street

Rules Committee:    Marcas Heitkamp reported:

•           Community Building Research – given out earlier for council review.

•           Proposed Employee Handbook updates 01/2023 – please review for approval at the next meeting. Many changes - click link above to read them.

BICENTENNIAL ARTICLES - CLICK HERE

Pastor Michael Husted at St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to their worship service at 10 AM on Sunday, January 29, 2023. Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit with a sermon straight from the Bible. Based on 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, the title is “Send in the Clowns”.

Sunday school is now beginning at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is now every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Bible based lessons and children’s activities taught. Snacks.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH recently made a generous donation to C.A.L.L Ministries to benefit the Parkway and Celina Back Pack Programs as well as the Food Pantry. Director for C.A.L.L Ministries Homer Burnett accepted the check from church member Sheila Baltzell-Linn.

 

Donation to Kingdom Harvest Ministries

St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH recently made a generous donation to Kingdom Harvest Ministries. Tom Sanford (right), director of the program and lead Pastor Ken Myer (left) of New Horizon Church accepted the check from member Sheila Baltzell-Linn.

KHM teaches Bible classes at off-site locations, during the school day, to interested students at Celina and Parkway Schools. They are the first program to also offer college credit for the classes.

Shown below are two photos of the inside of the new addition to New Horizon Church, where students attend pull-out classes during their regular school day at Parkway. At left is a lounge with the hand-carved cross made by member Tom Pryer many years ago. At the right is the new coffee gathering station. The expansion at New Horizon Community Church has enabled Kingdom Harvest Ministries to expand their classroom sizes.

Donation to Local Couple to Help with Medical Costs from Accident
The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH recently made a generous donation to Thomas and Jenna Snell at a Benefit held in their honor on January 8, 2023 at the Shanes Park Community Building in Rockford.  Thomas was driving a semi-tractor which was involved in a two vehicle accident in Paulding County in November 2022. The truck he was driving flipped over and caught fire. Thomas Snell suffered serious burns as a result of the fire and was flown by Mercy Life Flight to St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio. Today he is home and healing well. Thomas and wife Jenna are shown above after accepting the check from Barb Baker, member of St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford.

Parkway High School 2nd Quarter Honor Roll 

By Lisa Miller, HS Secretary

SENIORS

Highest Honors: (4.0 and above) 

Colby Bentz, Aaron Cron, Trenton Garwood, Madison Gile, Carter Hellwarth, Allison Hughes, Emiree Knittle, Jackson Kraner, Edin Nichols, Corban Rich, Hutch Ridenour, Emily Schaefer, Nevaeh Seals, Derek Smith, Brooke Stephenson, Gabrielle Stober

High Honors: (3.99 - 3.626)

Aaliyah Baxter, Gavin Dicke, Desiree Hague, Caden Heindel, Allison Heitkamp, Madison Jacobs, Adrienne Joseph, Roman Leszinske, Alivia Osborne, Deegan Rager, Alison Rowen, Emree Sinning, Andrew Wagner, Robert (Jack) Wagner, Jocie Waters, Alyxandra Yoder

Honors: (3.625-3.25)

Macy Johnson

JUNIORS

Highest Honors: (4.0 and above) 

Alexis Berry, Breanna Berry, Meg Henkle, Ashley Jackson, Addysin Leighner, Madison Louth, Audrey Nichols, Tyler Rowen, Francesca Steinbrunner, Paige Stephenson, Woodrow Tinkham, Paige Williamson, Jacob Winget 

High Honors: (3.99 - 3.626)

Ben Bates, Ruby Bennett, Logan Green, Harli Grunden, Trent Rollins, Abigail Sheets, Julia Sheets, Sarah Sheppard, Fletcher Smith, Apollo Thomas, Avery White

Honors: (3.625-3.25)

Morgan Bollenbacher, Caleb Nusbaum, Justin Parsons, Nathan Perry, Ellie Prichard, Emma Prichard, Kathryn Trisel

SOPHOMORES

Highest Honors: (4.0 and above) 

Amanda Barrett, Cali Bollenbacher, Shay Boroff, Brayden Bruns, Zoey Henning, Evan Kimmel, Adria Miller, Ashton Minnich, Alexavier Samples, Cora Schumm

High Honors: (3.99 - 3.626)

Riley Bolton, Noah Connolly, Gabriel Cross, Emerson Esselstein, Gaven Garwood, Creeden Knittle, Scarlett Laux, Grace Pontsler, Kailyn Regedanz, Helana Sinning, Elizabeth Winget

Honors: (3.625-3.25)

Matthias Byer, Braedn Conn, Jersie Evans, Ethan Fireoved, Zachery Glosser, Abby Hague, Lucas Hileman, Douglas Hughes, Mackenzie Kellermeyer, McKenzie Mathewson, Elias Poe, Kaitlyn Rager, Matthew Roberts, Wyatt Seals, Melanie Severt, Trevor Stearns, Meah Suzuki, Andrew Taylor, Isabella Thornsberry, Ethan Tuttle, Derik Vann

FRESHMEN

Highest Honors: (4.0 and above) 

Carlee Barna, Meagan Boroff, Brittyn Bruns, Olivia Clifford, Lola Dailey, Taylor Minnich, Natalie Moeller, Madison Mosier, Ella Putman, Nathaniel Stolly, Emmery Temple, Christina Tong

High Honors: (3.99 - 3.626)

Payton Frese, Trevor Heitkamp, Carson Kirby, Rylan Lyons, Taylor Muhlenkamp, Megan Nichols, Milee Peel, Haley Perry, Ava Pond, Ethan Pond, Gabryelle Sill, Kyndra Thornsberry, Lucian Winters, John Yoder

Honors: (3.625-3.25)

Lennox Boroff, Hayden Castleman, Miley Crouch, Addison Fisher, Kaleb Gilliland, Parker Lyons, Addison Reigle, Eli Schumm, Alexander Strickland, Gabriel Welling

Our Old Bookcase, sent Nov. 3, 2022, Oldest Post Office, for Nov. 10, 2022

OUR OLD BOOK CASE by Joyce L. Alig, President, Mercer County Historical Society.

Photo Caption:  Shanes Crossing U.S. Post Office was the oldest U.S. Post Office in Mercer County, as of Oct. 4, 1823. 

A copy of this Post Card will be displayed at the 22nd Annual Exhibit of Post Cards, Post Marks, and Post Offices held November 13, 2022, Sunday afternoon, 1:00 – 4:00 at the Mercer County  Historical Museum, the Riley Home, 130 East Market, Celina, Ohio.  A copy of this Post Card is found in the book, “Our Post Card Past, Rockford, Ohio,” published the Shanes Crossing Historical Society and the Mercer County Historical Society in 2001.

Anthony Shane was the Founder of Shanesville, in 1820, on the St. Marys River, known as “Halfway Cross,” on John Mitchell’s 1755 Map of America.  This river crossing was about half way between the Indian village (at the site of Fort Wayne today) and the village of Pickawillany (near present day Piqua, Ohio).  For more information, see the book, “Mercer County, Ohio; History of the land between the Saint Marys & Wabash River Valleys, 1755-2000.”  In 1823, the United States Post Office was established in Anthony Shane’s Log House which was moved to Shanes park and dedicated in July 2001.

This 1823 Post Office was continued under this name Shanes Crossing U.S. Post Office until July 8, 1890, when the name of the Post office was changed to Rockford Post Office by the U.S. Post Office. 

This exhibit of Post Cards, Post Marks, and Post Offices in Mercer County, will be the most detailed exhibit ever held, not only in Mercer County, but also in Ohio.  Nearly forty Post Offices existed in Mercer County, between 1823 and 1900.  As of 1900, Rural Free Delivery was planned and implemented in Mercer County, and mail boxes were placed at the rural homes.  The Rural Delivery Mailmen delivered the mail to the rural homes of Mercer County.  The small Post Offices in the rural villages were closed.

And now, for the first time, the Mercer County Historical Society is hosting a display of Fourteen Notebooks of the Fourteen Townships, containing copies of the Federal Government’s U.S. Post Office establishing the official U.S. Post Offices in the rural villages.  This display includes copies of Government documents, Newspaper confirmations, photographs, post marks, post cards, and envelopes. 

Dale Poeppelman will have his extensive collection of Post Cards on exhibit, Sunday afternoon, November 13. 2022.  Dale’s Collection of postcards consist of examples from Mercer, Darke, Shelby, and Auglaize Counties.  Dale is interested in a radius around Maria Stein.  His cards are all separated by county in binders.

This Post Card Exhibit will be the last exhibit at the Mercer County Historical Museum for the year 2022.    Stop in and say hello if you have not visited lately.

Mercer County Historical Society President Joyce Alig may be contacted at 3054 Burk-St. Henry Road, Saint Henry, Ohio 45883, histalig@bright.net  or 419-852-0092.

Free Movie For Senior Citizens

Senior Citizens ages 55+ are invited to spend an afternoon at the Movies on Friday, February 10, 2023 at Celina Cinema 5 for a showing of “The Notebook” at 1:00 pm. The first 100 guests will receive free admission. After that, the price per ticket is $5.00 each.

“The Notebook” is a 2004 film about true love that is sure to bring a smile- and certainly a few tears. It’s the perfect film to watch with Valentine’s Day right around the corner.

Celina Cinema 5 is located at 116 N Main St. Celina, OH. Doors for this event will open at 12:30 pm and the movie will start at 1:00 pm. Be sure to arrive early- only the first 100 seniors will receive free admission!

All attendees will be entered for a chance to win free door prizes. Snacks will be available for purchase at the theater.

This event is made possible thanks to Celina Manor, EverHeart Hospice, Heritage Home Health, and Miller Place Assisted Living.

Van Wert Civic Theater Upcoming Show
Van Wert Civic Theatre is set to present the delightfully witty drama The Lion in Winter by James Goldman. Under the direction of Sarah Glover, the cast consists of Doug Norton in the title role as King Henry II of England. Making her long awaited return to the stage is Sheila Chilcote-Collins as his Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Henry and Eleanor’s sons are played by Alexander Blubaugh as Richard (of Lionheart fame), Josey Darrow as brilliant but scheming Geoffrey, and Nick Patton as adorable yet foolish John. Abby Delong will be playing Princess Alias of France, while VWCT returner Evan Joseph plays King Philip of France with startling charisma. The Lion in Winter, a bold tale set in Castle Chinon, Christmas 1183. King Henry plans to announce his successor to the throne from among his three sons. First however he must outwit his brilliant but rebellious wife Queen Eleanor, whom he has just let out of jail, “only for the holidays.” Henry wants John. Eleanor wants Richard. But what about Geoffrey? And now the King of France has arrived demanding his sister’s wedding to the heir, or war. His sister-who is also Henry’s mistress. Well. What family doesn’t have its ups and downs? This show offers humor with gripping drama, à la Game of Thrones. The Lion In Winter runs 2023 February 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 at 8:00 PM, and Sundays February 12 and 19 at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $16. A senior discount ticket at $14 is available for advanced reservations only. Call 419-238-9689 to leave a voicemail or visit: vwct.org to buy.

Three Arrested by HIT Team
Celina, OH - Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reports the arrest of 3 individuals on drug related charges during a HIT Operation (Heroin Interdiction Team), on Thursday, January 12th.  The HIT Team is made up of members of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office and the Celina Police Department.  St. Henry Police Department also assisted.

The HIT Team made 6 traffic stops, issued 5 written warnings, and 2 traffic citations. 

The following people were also taken into custody on drug related charges:

Katie N Schlarman, 31, 1517 Mary Lane Celina.  Schlarman was arrested for Possession of a Drug Abuse Instrument a Misdemeanor of the First Degree.

Darryl H Mann, 62,  537 Touvelle Street Lot 62 Celina.  Mann was arrested for Possession of Drugs and Felony of the Fifth Degree. 

Tyler M Franklin,  22, 310 W Wayne Street Celina.  Franklin was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine a Felony of the Fifth Degree. 

All were incarcerated at the Mercer County Adult Detention Facility.  The cases have been forwarded to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office for review and filing of formal charges.

LeAnn Rimes: the story… so far tour comes to Van Wert

(Van Wert, OH) - Van Wert Live and Presenting Sponsor, Mercy Health, along with Supporting Sponsor, Gary Taylor, is pleased to announce  LeAnn Rimes the story… so far tour is coming to The Niswonger in Van Wert on Sunday, May 7 at 7:00 PM. The concert tour is a celebration of the past 25 years of LeAnn Rimes career hits, from her first release, "Blue", to her brand new album, "god's work". 

LeAnn Rimes is an international multi-platinum-selling acclaimed singer and ASCAP award-winning songwriter. She has sold more than 48 million units globally, and won 2 Grammy® Awards; 12 Billboard Music Awards; 2 World Music Awards; 3 Academy of Country Music Awards; 2 Country Music Association Awards, and one Dove Award. At 14, Rimes won "Best New Artist” making her the youngest solo artist to take home a Grammy® Award, and at 15, she became the first country artist to win “Artist of the Year” at the Billboard Music Awards.

Tickets from $49 - 119 are available now to Van Wert Live Members and release to the public on Tuesday, January 24. VWLive Memberships begin as low as $100 and provide 365 days of early buying opportunities and a 10% discount for Van Wert Live events. Memberships and tickets can be purchased at vanwertlive.com or through the Box Office Mon-Fri from 10A to 3P / 419-238-6722.

January 16-23, 2023
 

Parkway Schools are on a
3 hour delay
for Monday, January 23, 2023

Parkway Schools are on a
2 hour delay
for Monday, January 23, 2023

Snow overnight; slick roads. 

Alumni Music Night Slated

This Saturday, January 21st will be Alumni Music Night at Parkway. The alumni pep band will rehearse from 4-5:15, followed by a carry-in for all participating alumni. After the carry-in, the alumni choir (who will be singing the Star Spangled Banner and the Alma Mater) will rehearse.

All former Rockford, Willshire, Mendon and Parkway band and choir members are invited to participate. Also invited are those who live in the Parkway district and participated in another school’s band or choir. All instruments and voices are needed to help make this evening a success.

You may contact Shannon Wagner (wagners@parkwayschools.org) or Kim Trisel (419-302-7030) if you have any questions about Alumni Music Night or would like to participate.

Please plan to join us for this fun evening!!

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 16, 2023

OFFICER’S “HEROIC” ACTIONS SAVE WOMAN’S LIFE

The Warwick, Rhode Island Police Department bestowed its prestigious “Life Saving Award” upon Patrol Officer Stephanie Pabis at a city hall ceremony on Monday, January 9, 2023 for providing emergency medical care to a young woman who had been ejected from a vehicle during a violent crash.

Officer Pabis was the first officer to respond to the serious accident on September 10, 2022 on Warwick Avenue in Warwick.  Upon arrival, she faced a chaotic scene and ran toward a crowd which had gathered around a victim, ejected from an SUV, lying on the sidewalk with a severe laceration to the leg, bleeding profusely.

Without hesitation, as the woman began drifting into unconsciousness, Officer Pabis precisely applied a tourniquet to the leg and stopped the bleeding until EMT’s arrived and transported the young mother of two to Rhode Island Hospital where she survived after multiple operations.

“The heroic actions Officer Pabis took on this day undoubtedly saved the life of this citizen,” said Lieutenant Matthew Higgins as the award was presented.

Hundreds of people in the packed auditorium gave the young policewoman a standing ovation.

“It was a team effort and any of my fellow officers would have taken the same action,” said Officer Pabis, giving credit to EMT’s, surgeons and an unidentified passer-by who assisted her at the scene.  “I’m just glad my training at the Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy kicked in and we were able to send this woman back home to her family.”

“All of our officers do an excellent job and when we have heroic acts like that, it’s important to bring them in front of the public to show what quality work our men and women do,” said Colonel Bradford Connor, Warwick Chief of Police.

Officer Pabis was one of two officers receiving the Warwick Police Life Saving Award. The other was Officer Thomas Greene who administered Narcan to a person overdosing in a vehicle on busy Interstate 95.

Officer Pabis now serves in the Dover, New Hampshire Police Department.

She is the daughter of Paul Pabis and Holly Patrice Wood (formerly of Rockford, Ohio) and niece of Sheila Baltzell-Linn and Mark Linn of Celina, Ohio and Colleen and Wally O’Steen of Huntsville, Alabama.

Above picture: Officer Pabis with Colonel Bradford Connor, Warwick, RI Police Chief, photo courtesy of the Warwick PD.

Below picture: Officer Stephanie Pabis with Warwick, RI Mayor Frank Picozzi

2022 Drug Stats in Mercer County

CELINA, OH - Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey today released Mercer County drug arrest statistics for 2022.  “We feel like we are making progress in the drug problems throughout the county, but there is still a lot of work to be done to stay on top of it,” stated Grey.

In 2022 the Sheriff’s Office served drug related indictments on 74 different people.  These 74 people were charged with a total of 210 felony drug violations.  The majority of the drugs involved were methamphetamines, with fentanyl and heroin also found frequently.

Of the 74 people arrested throughout Mercer County, 11 were female and 30 were male between the ages of 18-35, 9 were female and 19 were male between the ages of 36-55, and 5 were males over the age of 55.

Investigations by the Sheriff’s Office accounted for 39 of the 74 people on 111 charges. Investigations by police departments throughout the county accounted for 35 of the 74 people and 99 charges.  The Grand Lake Drug Task Force and the Heroin Interdiction Team assisted with 36 people and 123 of the charges.

The Grand Lake Drug Task Force is made up of officers and deputies from Mercer and Auglaize Counties.  Officers are sworn in by both County Sheriffs to have countywide jurisdiction in each county when working a task force detail.  The Heroin Interdiction Team is made up of Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputies, Celina Police Officers, and Coldwater Police Officers.  All are sworn in by the Mercer County Sheriff to have county wide jurisdiction when working a Heroin Interdiction Team detail.

“Law enforcement agencies in both counties are working well together, these statistics show the combined effort of Mercer County Law Enforcement to combat this community problem,” stated Sheriff Grey, “We will continue to aggressively pursue drug offenses throughout the county.”

The three pronged approach of aggressive enforcement, treatment, and education, seem to making an impact.  “Several people who we have arrested in the past, have taken advantage of the opportunities given to them while incarcerated in the Mercer County jail to get themselves into recovery.  The partnership between the jail, the courts, the Houses of Hope and Brianna’s Hope are making a difference.  I am very proud when I see people in the community, living a good life, drug free after fighting addiction, I feel like the Sheriff’s Office, jail, and other law enforcement has had a positive impact on their lives.  It isn’t easy for them, but it is possible if they take advantage of opportunities given to them.  Several have and they are proof that those with addiction problems can turn their life around,” stated Sheriff Grey.

Jeff Grey

Sheriff

Western Ohio Civil War Roundtable to Meet

Coming up on Thursday, January 26, 2023, the Western Ohio Civil War Roundtable, we will be discussing Civil War Time Period money - the kind of everyday money that citizens carried with them as a medium of exchange. There was a shortage of metals, and some coinage was halted and replaced with paper money...right, a dime could be folded up and concealed inside the lining of a shirt or under a hatband. 

The evening speaker will be John Sacher, a coin expert from Celina. John is a practicing attorney. He says, "I'm not a Civil War expert, My expertise lies in the study of currency, old coins and bills."  Join the club on Thursday evening, January 26.  The meeting comes to order at 7:15 PM.

Calvary Evangelical Church Calendar

Pastor Michael Husted at St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to their worship service at 10 AM on Sunday, January 22, 2023. Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit with a sermon straight from the Bible. Based on Matthew 4:17-23, the title is “It’s About Time”.

Sunday school is now beginning at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is now every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Bible based lessons and children’s activities taught. Snacks.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

January 9-15, 2023
 

Bridge Inspection

Mercer County Engineer Jim Wiechart announced recently that the yearly bridge inspections of Mercer County’s 379 bridges on township and county roads have been completed.  Engineer Wiechart completed the inspections before the end of 2022.

 “Bridge inspection is completed annually for several very important reasons.  First our bridge maintenance/work orders are generated directly from our yearly inspections.  Secondly, decisions on future bridge replacements/rehabilitations are made as a result of the condition ratings garnered from the inspection.  Third and most importantly, we inspect them to protect the public that uses them each day,” said Weichart.  In Ohio, the professionally licensed and elected County Engineer manages and oversees bridge inspections on township and county roadways.  Any questions, concerns about bridges may be directed to the engineer’s office.

Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey to Retire in 2025 - New Sheriff to be elected in 2024

Celina, OH - Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey announced today his intention to retire at the conclusion of this term.  It is important to announce now as 2023 is preparation year for a 2024 election cycle.  The primary election is in March, 2024.  Ohio moves it primary from May to March during Presidential Election years, so qualification deadlines and filing deadlines are in 2023.

Sheriff Grey started in law enforcement in 1980 and was first elected Sheriff in 2000, beginning his tenure as Sheriff on January 1, 2001.  He is finishing his 6th term, which will end on January 5, 2025. 

It has been a real pleasure to serve the people of Mercer County and I thank them for the privilege of serving as their sheriff.  I also want thank the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office who have worked tirelessly for the people of Mercer County and who have made my career successful.  Without them, I could not have succeeded.  Finally, I thank my wife, Kay, and my sons and their families who have been supportive of my law enforcement career.  I’m looking forward to spending more time with them.

I have been contemplating retirement for a couple of years and have been working closely with a current member of my command to staff to help prepare him to become the next sheriff.  At the conclusion of this term, the Sheriff’s Office will be in capable hands.  I won’t release his name, I’ll allow him to make his announcement when he feels the time is right.

I have 6 wonderful grandchildren and I look forward to spending more time with family, spoiling the grandkids, and doing some travel with Kay.  I have two years to go, I plan to finish strong and continue to work hard for the final two years of this chapter of my life.

Sheriff Jeff Grey
Mercer County Sheriff’s Office

Lions Clubs Support Parkway Eighth Grade Class Trip

Rockford Lion Club member Dennis Hecht presents a check for $2500 to Parkway Middle School principal Brian Woods. Also present (L to R) are Matt Grunden of the Mendon Lions Club and Kevin Krall of the Willshire Lions Club. The funds raised were a joint effort of the three Lions clubs and will support the Parkway Eighth Grade Class Trip in the Spring of 2023.

Ethel Pontsler, Rockford Artist Passed Away on December 30, 2022

The beautiful artistry of Ethel Pontsler in "The Angel House"
Angel House Murals -- photographed by Lisa Kuhn

These were located in the former Nazarene Church (formerly Ethel's art studio for a number of years) at the corner of Market St and Franklin St that is was razed in July 2020 in Rockford.

Church Directory Updates on Openings and Services
for St. Paul's UCC and Rockford United Methodist

Pastor Michael Husted at St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to their worship service at 10 AM on Sunday, January 15th, 2023. Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit with a sermon straight from the Bible. Based on I Corinthians 1:1-9, the title is “Work Left to be Done”.

Sunday school is now beginning at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is now every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Bible based lessons and children’s activities taught. Snacks.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

January 1-8, 2023
 

Winter Homecoming 2023 Planned at Parkway

The Parkway Student Government is pleased to invite all community members and alumni to the annual winter homecoming festivities. This year’s homecoming game, which sees the Parkway basketball team facing off against Coldwater, will be held on January 20th starting at 6:00pm. The homecoming festivities will be held after the J.V game beginning at approximately 7:15pm. This year, the lovely attendants of Parkway’s Homecoming Court include Freshman Jordyn Schafer, Sophomore Emerson Esselstein, and Junior Frankie Steinbrunner. The three Senior candidates for Homecoming Queen are Abby Baltzell, Aaliyah Baxter, & Emree Sinning. Come and enjoy the efforts of the Parkway basketball team, pep band, and student government, and find out which lucky lady is crowned Homecoming Queen!

The Shanes Park link at the top of this page Shanes Park (Rockford Alive website) has all of the details on how you can plan your own event in Rockford. There are details on the park, the buildings, rental forms, costs and contact information. Give the link a try and look at the Google Calendar month by month. Amy Joseph is in charge of rentals.

 First Baby Born at Van Wert Health in 2023

The first baby born in the year 2023 was top proud parents: Jarrett Hornish (dad) and Alexa Campbell (mom). The baby was name John Hornish, born on January 1 at 8:44 PM and weighing in at 7 lbs, 10 ounces.

The new parents received a large give basket from Van Wert Health to celebrate the New Year's birth, which included board books, wipes, toys, bath supplies, a diaper caddy, and gift card.

ART GROUP STARTS THE NEW YEAR 
The Lake Area Arts Group welcomes 2023 for members and new members on
Wednesday, January 11, 6pm at their gallery, 108 S MaIn St.,Celina at Brew Nation. The community can also participate in 2023 classes to be
offered in jewelry, 3D art, beaded wire tree sculptures, macramé
crystal pendants, as well as various paint media.
Speaker for this months meeting will be artist Jan Miesse who uses
acrylic paint in beautiful large canvases displayed in many area
businesses. Miesse has a self taught abstract style where she lets her  feelings comes to the canvas in vivid colors. She has been a business
woman in Celina for many years and painting became a relaxing creative
outlet for her.
Any artist can share their art at the meeting and you need not be a
member to attend the meeting.

Culvert Replacement in Marion Township
The Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart, is planning to close St. Johns Road between Ft. Recovery Minster Road and Huwer Road in Marion Township for a culvert replacement.  This road will be closed tentatively on January 9, 2023 and is scheduled to reopen in approximately 2 weeks, depending on the weather conditions.

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

 Parkway School Board Agenda for Organizational and Regular Meetings
 on January 9, 2023 at 6:00 pm

Rockford Carnegie Library Board to Meet

The Rockford Carnegie Library will meet in regular session in the library basement meeting room at 4 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.  The public is welcome to attend.

Pastor Michael Husted at St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to their worship service at 10 AM on Sunday, January 8, 2023. Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit with a sermon straight from the Bible. Based on Isaiah 43:16-21, the title is “New Horizons”.

Sunday school is now beginning at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is now every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Bible based lessons and children’s activities taught. Snacks.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

Together on Christmas 2022

Rockford area churches combined this year to serve the community with a free meal, Together on Christmas.  In the beautifully decorated Rockford Community Building, a delicious meal of chicken in gravy, baked pork chop, mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade stuffing, green beans, roll and a dessert was provided for dine in/sit down or as takeout.  More than 100 servants worked to provide this labor of love, along with 45 dessert bakers.  Approximately 560 meals were served on Christmas Day 2022.

January 4, 2023 Common Please Court News Van Wert County
By Kim K. Pollock, Court Reporter

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

JUDGE MARTIN D. BURCHFIELD

INTERVENTION IN LIEU/BOND VIOLATION

James Jewell, 40, Van Wert, admitted violating his bond and intervention in lieu by consuming intoxicants.  Court sets new bond at $10,000 cash or commercial surety;  sentencing set for February 8, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.

Korbin Taylor, 24, Van Wert, admitted violating his bond by failure to report to his Court hearing and for not appearing for electronic house arrest.  Court sets new bond at $10,000 cash or commercial surety; sentencing set for 1/4/23 @ 8:30 a.m.

SENTENCING

Colby Black, 39, Van Wert, Aggravated Possession of Drugs, F5 – sentenced to 12 months prison with credit for 30 days time already served; Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound, F5 – sentenced to 12 months prison with credit for 30 days time; Trespass in a Habitation where a Person is Present or Likely to be Present, F5 – sentenced to 16 months prison with credit for 30 days time already served.  All 3 sentences to be served concurrent; also ordered to pay partial appointed counsel fees and court costs.

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

JUDGE MARTIN D. BURCHFIELD

SENTENCING

Korbin Taylor, 24, Van Wert, Theft from a Person in a Protected Class, F5 – sentenced to 180 days jail with credit for 28 days time already served, $175 restitution, partial appointed counsel fees and court costs.

Revival Spa Under New Ownership

Rehabilitative Services Inc. and Simply Holistic , LLC announce the sale of the Revival Spa at the Galleria business operation effective January 1, 2023. New owners of the business are Amber Evers and Michelle Kahlig of Simply Holistic, LLC, whose current business operation is located at 120 W Main St. in Coldwater.  They plan to continue to operate in their Coldwater location and the Revival Spa location in the Galleria will be their new location in Celina.  

The Revival Spa was first opened in 2005 in the Breakaway RecPlex and later moved to its current location in the Galleria in 2009.  The Revival Spa has provided massage therapy services as well as skin care and nail services to the community for the past eighteen years.  

Bob Hibner commented that “We want to thank all of our clients over the years for their loyal patronage and support. It has been a well-received service that has helped us meet our mission statement of enhancing client’s health and well-being.”  As Manager of the Revival Spa Sharon Hibner said “it has been a pleasure to serve our clients and meet their health and well-being needs!  We have been blessed by a dedicated staff of massage therapists and other health care specialists over the years!” 

Sharon and Bob are happy to welcome the owners and employees of Simply Holistic and they feel they will continue to provide quality services to our area and they encourage the community to patronize the new business owners.   All gift certificates sold by the Revival Spa will still be valid and honored by the new ownership up until their original expiration date including those just sold during this holiday season.

For the ongoing future, Rehabilitative Services Inc. will continue to operate its other business entities including the Community Sports and Therapy Center which provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, and athletic training services in multiple settings including schools, hospitals, and industries in West-central Ohio.  The Community Sports and Therapy Center also looks forward to several new ventures coming in 2023! 

Pictured: Bob and Sharon Hibner of Rehabilitative Services Inc. and Amber Evers and Michelle Kahlig of Simply Holistic, LLC.

Mercer County Community Hospital welcomes First Baby of 2023

Mercer Health’s Mercer County Community Hospital’s first baby of the year was born on Monday, January 2, 2023. Noel Spencer, daughter of Cody and Suzanne Spencer of Ansonia, was born at 8:16 p.m., weighing 7 pounds, 9.2 ounces and measuring 18.5 inches. Noel was welcomed by her parents and three-year old brother Maverick.

The family received a blanket and gift card from The Gift Shop at Mercer Health among other gifts.

January 16th – Village office closed -     Martin Luther King Jr. Day                                 

Dog Tags available at the Village office until January 31st – 4 pm.

Discussion over the increase from $175 to $350 per day for Shanes Park community building rental.
Thank you to those who helped with Christmas Activities, which were a success.

Shanes Park Building Rental - Contact: Mayor Amy Joseph
(419) 771-6893
shanesparkrentals@gmail.com

BICENTENNIAL ARTICLES - CLICK HERE

Free Bowling for Seniors Citizens

The Celina Circle of Care invites seniors ages 55+ for a free day of bowling on January 26th. You must RSVP in advance to participate due to limited space. Bowling will take place from 12-2:00 pm on January 26th at Plaza Lanes in Celina located at 114 E. Forest St. Celina, OH 45822.

To register for this event, please call 1-800-417-7535 option 6 during regular business hours. You must register in advance for this event due to limited space. A fried chicken lunch special will be available to purchase from the bowling alley for you to enjoy before, during, or after the bowling session.

Door prizes and a highest score prize will be awarded at the event.

The Celina Circle of Care is a collaboration between organizations offering care to senior citizens in Celina. The group consists of Celina Manor, CHP, EverHeart Hospice, Heritage Healthcare, Miller Place, and the Gardens at Celina.

VWCT presents Annie Jr.

The Sun’ll Come Out Tomorrow, we hope.  But it definitely will be coming out when Van Wert Civic Theatre presents the youth production of Annie Jr. on the Niswonger Performing Arts Center stage on January 21 at 7:30 PM and January 22 at 2 PM.  This show, presented in collaboration with Van Wert Live, is suitable for all ages and will provide a Broadway experience at an affordable price.  

Over 50 Van Wert area youth under the direction of Doug Grooms bring a one-hour version of this musical to life.  Emily Foudy as Annie is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan.  Annie foils the evil schemes of Tess Vonderwell as Miss Hannigan, Katelyn Knepper as Lily St. Regis, and Dante’ Lippi as Rooster to begin her life in a new home and family with billionaire Oliver Warbucks and his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, portrayed by Evan Falk and Rachael Ryan.  

Other cast and crew members include Alexis Ardner, Brooklyn Arnett, Olivia Ashbaugh, Bowen Ayers, Grayson Baker, Grant Bonifas, Noelle Byrum, Rachel Cluts, Abby Dannenfelser, Owen Dannenfelser, Ryker DeVelvis, Kendal Ellerbrock, Elijah Foudy, Aubrey Friedrich, Beth Garrett, Natalie Goewert, Gwen Goins, Hadley Goins, Parker Goins, Addison Gonzalez, Meadow Hamilton, Alivia Hines, Whitney Holliday, Reese Horstman, Haven Hunt, Colin Ketchum, Beth Keysor, Claire Keysor, Ivy Lippi, Abbie Mengerink, Ferrous Nihiser, Logan Nihiser, Alison Owens, Evelyn Petrie, Bingham Rammel, Jettie Rammel, Sydney Rauch, Mara Ryan, Jasleen Sharma, Mox Sinn, Kennedy Sites, Kimberly Sites, Larissa Sterrett, Eden Stoller, Faith Stoller, Sophia Stoller, Gabby Thomas, Liam Webb, Kylara Wilhelm, and Ash Zapata. 

Tickets are $12 for a limited number of reserved seating and $10 for general admission seating with an additional $5 fee per ticket.  Purchase tickets at vanwertlive.com, in person at the NPAC, or call at 419-238-6722. The NPAC is located at 10700 State Route 118 South in Van Wert.  Van Wert Live box office hours are Monday - Friday 10 AM to 3 PM.  Tickets will also be available for purchase before each performance.  If you have questions, please contact VWCT at 419-238-9689.

PWMS 2nd Quarter Honor Roll

By Kristi Dodds
Parkway Middle School Secretary

5th Grade 

Highest Honor Roll

Gibbons, Lydia 

Menchhofer, Bailee 

Molloy, Adelaide 

Trent, Cameo 

5th Grade

High Honor Roll

Art, Autumn 

Baker, Chloe 

Bransteter, Hunter 

Bransteter, Kallee 

Burtch, Althea 

Clay, Hudsen 

England, Jackson 

England, Madilyn 

Flory, Caile 

Gage, Kolten 

Gruss, Kinlee 

Harvey, Annabelle 

Hays, Meadow 

Heiser, Landyn 

Houser, Frank 

Keeran, Emily 

Knapke, Ryder 

Long, Ainsley 

Moorman, Holly 

Norris, Kenlee 

Pond, Jenna 

Shirk, Elijah 

Sill, Oliver 

Sipe, Sophie 

Snell, Claire 

Snell, Paige 

Tickle, Savannah 

Vannette, Waylon 

Wannemacher, Avah 

Young, Briar

5th Grade

Honor Roll

Abromavich, Carter 

Abromavich, Meah

Bash, Isabella 

Gray, Trinity 

Hague, Jasmine 

Hogg, Warren 

Long, Braylin 

Shellabarger, Elliot 

Tawoj, Julien 

Taylor, Dexter 

Twigg, Hayden 

Whitaker, Cooper

6th Grade 

Highest Honor Roll

Brehm, Kallie 

Cottman, Lydia 

Knapke, Isabelle 

Korte, Bosten 

Korte, Cohen 

Sipe, Abigail 

Stover, Hadley 

Stover, Jaxson 

Triplett, Savada 

6th Grade

High Honor Roll

Burtch, Brooklyn 

Eller, Kade 

Ford, Kayliann 

Hays, Ella 

Hileman, Maxton 

Imwalle, Allison 

Jacobs, Aubrey 

Laux, Ezekiel (Zeke) 

Louth, Chase 

Nichols, Lindsay 

Orick, James 

Piper, Michael 

Severt, Steven 

Tong, Carson 

Uncapher, Baylee 

Winget, Gabriel (Gabe) 

Yoder, Greer 

6th Grade

Honor Roll

Baker, Jacklyn (Jackie) 

Baucher, Alivia 

Bradley, Branson 

Burnett, Halen 

Clifford, Walker 

Fisher, Gavin 

Pancake, Claire 

Sawmiller, Aiden 

Sinning, Stella

Tarilang, Tommy 

Zizelman, Corbin

7th Grade 

Highest Honor Roll

Eichler, Lydia 

Menchhofer, Isaac 

Moeller, Elayna 

Peel, Jaymin 

Pennell, Piper 

Stover, KJae 

Thomas, Cade 

Williamson, Abigail 

7th Grade

High Honor Roll

Anderson, Trey 

Bransteter, Case 

Christian, Kayden 

Fox, Levon 

Garrity, Sterling 

Hague, Jordan 

Harner, Ellie 

Heitkamp, Nicole 

Hess, Kymberly 

Ketchum, Colin 

Kraner, Addilynn 

Lyons, Branson 

Mathewson, Mason 

Minnich, Trevor

Muhlenkamp, Peyton 

Murphy, Marley 

Noll, Andee 

Poe, Caleb 

Rasbach, Chayse 

Ravine, Payton 

Reigle, Nathan 

Ross, Jackson (Jack) 

Roth, Albany 

Schmidt, Amelia 

Schumm, Drayden 

Schwieterman, Perry 

Stauffer, Carson 

Stolly, Ethan 

Suzuki, Cohen 

Trisel, William (Will) 

Twigg, Tyson 

VanTrees, Emma

Williams, Obadiah 

Yaney, Addyson (Addy) 

7th Grade

Honor Roll

Bollenbacher, Jaxson 

Buogo, Maria 

Byer, Uriah 

Clay, Makynlie 

Correll, Carlee 

England, Carter 

Foss, Jadon 

Glosser, Lacey 

Henning, Sophia 

Joseph, Kinley 

Keller, Cael 

Knapke, Rowen 

Muhlenkamp, Ella 

Nuttle, Dylan 

Painter, Bryson 

Shoaf, Rylan 

Strickland, Natalie 

Tarilang, Dora 

Vannette, Stella 

Whitaker, Magnus 

Young, Lillian 

8th Grade 

Highest Honor Roll

Blount, Freya 

Booher, Luke 

Hays, Lillian 

Hughes, Megan 

Pancake, Wyatt 

Rich, Magdalene 

Stover, Madelyn 

Tickle, Samuel 

8th Grade

High Honor Roll

Ackley, Mason 

Arnold, Kelsie 

Bennett, Charles (Charlie) 

Bollenbacher, Dylan 

Buckner, Sasha 

Carpenter, Rhen 

Denney, Bethany 

Everett, Aisley 

Fullenkamp, Kara 

Haines, Oliver 

Knapke, Austin 

Langenkamp, Cami 

Litteral, Kohen 

Louth, Morgan 

Quickstad, Jaymie 

Reigle, Brody 

Ridenour, Gwyneth 

Rogers, Adalynn 

Shirk, Robert 

Sites, Lexie 

Thomas, Jensen 

Triplett, Jacoby 

Westgerdes, Gavin 

Winget, Grace 

Winters, Tobin 

Young, Isabell 

Williams, Arwen 

Winget, Grace  

Winters, Tobin  

Young, Isabell  

Younker, Kylie

8th Grade

Honor Roll

Bailey, Zavior 

Bentz, Morgan 

Brister, Gage 

Clay, Holden 

Eguia, Piper 

Kellermeyer, Kelsie 

Kiser, Faith 

Lange, Jayda 

Pennell, Peyton 

Rutledge, Tyler 

Sheets, Luke 

Slone, Damen 

Taylor, Deagan 

Wenning, Jaden 

Younker, Kylie

Grants Awarded to Historic Main Street Van Wert 

VAN WERT - Historic Main Street Van Wert graciously accepted several grants through the Van Wert County Foundation on Thursday (1/5/23). These grants will help Historic Main Street Van Wert continue to create a thriving community, add vibrancy, host events, and create a sense of place throughout the Downtown District.

Main Street Van Wert received $2,500 from the Ilo D. and Carlos E. Miller Memorial Fund for Main Street America Accreditation, $12,000 from the Flickinger Fund for operational expenses, and $3,000 from the John W. Eustler Am Vets Post 698 Video Raffle Fund for operational expenses through the Van Wert County Foundation. These funds are an endowment created to support the charitable needs of our community.

Historic Main Street Van Wert would like to thank the Van Wert County Foundation for their continued support to our organization and community.

(Pictured from left, Laney Nofer Van Wert County Foundation Planning and Resources, Joe Dray Main Street Van Wert Executive Director, and Seth Baker Van Wert County Foundation Chief Executive Officer)

Van Wert County Agricultural Society Receives Grants from Van Wert County Foundation Van Wert, OH

The Van Wert County Agricultural Society has received two grants from the Van Wert County Foundation totaling $36,750 from the John D. and Nellie S. Ault Memorial Fund. The Ag Society applied for the grants during the 2022 Fall Competitive Grant Cycle. The competitive grant cycle is a biannual process where Van Wert County nonprofits, government, and schools can apply for funding for special projects or programs impacting Van Wert County. The applications submitted are reviewed and voted on by The Foundation’s Board of Trustees with the main focus of the process being how the organization’s project is focused on creating a well-resourced and thriving quality of life for our community. “At the Van Wert County Fairgrounds, we have a list of projects that will enhance our patrons’ experience that we would like to see come to fruition,” states Mike Poling, Van Wert County Fair Secretary and Fair Manager. “$20,000 of our received grant funds will be used to update the restrooms in the Junior Fair building. Without the generosity of the Van Wert County Foundation and our other donors, completing projects like this one would be difficult. Especially with the rising costs of materials.” These funds are allocated for specific projects, one being the restroom renovations in the Junior Fair Building and the second supporting continued marketing efforts to best communicate information and events to the Van Wert Community.

December 27-31, 2022
Serving the Rockford, Willshire and Mendon Communities for 18 years!
 

Happy New Year!

Father & Son Artists Turn Music, Craft Beer, Social Media Into a Perpetual National Tour, Playing New Year's Eve at Celina Brewery

Dennis O’Hagan’s job is to travel the country playing guitar, drinking craft beer, and writing about it... And it’s working out quite well, despite hurricanes and even a global pandemic. Now he’s prepping a documentary/reality show based on his adventures which combines the brewery visits, live music, and the humorous shenanigans that occur on the road between breweries, and his national tour will make a stop New Year's Eve in Celina, to play a show at Brew Nation/Lake Rat Brewery.

O’Hagan, 51 walked away from a successful career in tech and embarked in 2018 on a national tour playing his music in craft breweries throughout the U.S., drinking their beers as he played, and then blogging about the breweries, their product, and his traveling adventures after each show.  He has so far played more than 500 breweries in more than 40 states, while sharing his thoughts on his travels and thousands of pints of beer along the way.

Continuing to ride a wave of increasing demand, Dennis O’Hagan’s Great Brewery Tour grew even bigger in 2022, and will enter its sixth year in 2023. To meet the increasing demand, O’Hagan brought his musician son Brad Wehlitz, 25, (who also fronts acclaimed Cincinnati based indie band Freak Mythology) into the fold, and they now share the stage as a duo, changed the tour's name to Dennis & Brad’s Great Brewery Tour, and incorporate both of their talents as multi-instrumentalists to greatly expand the sonic scope of the shows... as the two switch off on acoustic guitars, bass, percussion, lapsteel, mandolin, bouzouki, harmonica, and rich vocal harmonies.  Stylistically, the band's music incorporates an eclectic mix of their own music, classic and college rock, and traditional Americana and Celtic influences to form a fun, upbeat acoustic sound they refer to as folkpunk. 

The show will follow the tour as it travels all over the country, highlighting craft breweries as diverse as big urban brands to rural and mountaintop farm breweries.  The tour will make a stop at Celina's Brew Nation/Lake Rat Brewery to play a show this New Year's Eve (9pm).  The tour will then play a few more shows around Ohio before formally kicking off the 2023 tour on Feb 2 in Jacksonville, Florida.  

Parkway January 2023 Printable Breakfast and Lunch Menus by Pam Smith

Respiratory Illness Testing Updates

Effective January 1, 2023, respiratory illness testing for influenza, COVID, strep, etc. will be performed in our physician offices, as well as at Doctors’ Urgent Care. Mercer Health North Main, located in Celina, will no longer be available as a testing center. Individuals suspecting a respiratory illness should contact their primary care provider office. If an individual’s primary care office does not have availability, they can schedule in another Mercer Health Medical Group primary care office. 

If an individual does not have an established primary care provider, the Mercer Health hotline is available by calling 567-890-MHMD (6463), Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Individuals will be scheduled with the first available Mercer Health Medical Group primary care office. 

Attached is more information including a listing of all office locations and phone numbers.

Road Closures – Intermittent – Hellwarth Road

The Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart, is announcing that temporary and intermittent closures on Hellwarth Road between SR 29 and Mud Pike for drainage improvements, shoulder & pavement widening as well as resurfacing roadway improvements will occur over the course of the next ½ year.  Work to this road, via contractor, will be intermittent in nature, with varying dates & times of road closure.  Work is set to be complete by June 30, 2023.

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

Pastor Michael Husted at St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to their worship service at 10 AM on Sunday, January 1, 2022. Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit with a sermon for New Year’s Day morning. Based on Luke 2:15-20, the title is “The Gospel of the Shepherds”.

Sunday school is now beginning at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is now every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Bible based lessons and children’s activities taught. Snacks.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

December 20-26, 2022
 

Services Canceled December 24 and 25, 2022
St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford, located at 1538 Oregon Road has canceled both the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service and the Christmas Day service due to the severe weather conditions. A Blessed Christmas to all. Call 419-733-3326 if you have questions.

Merry Christmas!!!

Mercer County Sheriff's Department - Saturday, December 24, 2022 - 10:05 AM

All snow level warnings are cancelled, please use extreme caution when traveling as some roadways remain slick and hazardous.

Mercer County Sheriff's Department - Saturday, December 24, 2022 - Level 3 Emergency Update

At 7:00 AM on Saturday, December 24, 2022, Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey extended the Level Three Snow Emergency for the unincorporated areas of Mercer County. All roads in the unincorporated areas of Mercer County will be on the Level Three Snow Emergency which means all roads will be closed due to hazardous conditions with blowing and drifting snow.

Sheriff Grey will re-assess the situation at 10 AM on Saturday, December 24, 2022.

Mercer County Sheriff's Department - Friday, December 23, 2022 - Level 3 Emergency Update

At 7:00 PM on Friday, December 23, 2022, Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey is issuing a Level Three Snow Emergency for the unincorporated areas of Mercer County. All roads in the unincorporated areas of Mercer County will be on the Level Three Snow Emergency which means all roads will be closed due to hazardous conditions with blowing and drifting snow. Roads are becoming impassable. Sheriff Grey will assess the situation at 7 AM on Saturday, December 24, 2022.

Mercer County Sheriff's Department - Friday, December 23, 2022 - Level 2 Update

At 1:30 PM on Friday, December 23, 2022, Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey issued a Level Two Snow Advisory for the unincorporated areas of Mercer County. This includes all state roads, county roads and township roads in the unincorporated areas of Mercer County. A Level Two Snow Advisory means roads are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Some roads are becoming impassable. Only those who find it necessary should be out on the roadways. Use extreme caution when driving.

Pictures shared by Todd Henkle at 1 PM on Friday, December 23, 2022. Thanks Todd!
 

Todd Henkle of Henkle Insurance sent these winter storm pictures and reminds everyone to check their windows for SNOW that may blow in with these fierce winds. Thanks Todd!

Mercer County Sheriff's Department - Friday, December 23, 2022.

Alert: Please avoid US Rte 33 at St Rte 707. It is blocked due to slide offs. Continue to use caution while driving.

Mercer County Sheriff's Department
Alert at 6:13 AM, Friday, December 23, 2022, : Mercer County is on a Level 1 snow emergency. Roadways are slick. Use extreme caution while traveling due to white-out conditions.

Instructions:

Use caution while traveling

Mercer County Sheriff's Department

Alert: At 5:30am Friday, December 23, 2022, Sheriff Jeff Grey issued a Level One snow emergency for Mercer County.

Instructions:

Use caution when traveling

Feed The Farmers
by reporter Amanda Barrett

The Parkway FFA officers chose to participate in an event called, Feed the Farmers. Feed the Farmers is a way the chapter can give back to the community and help our farmers during the stressful season of harvest. The officers worked together to make meals that included a pizza sub, granola bar, chips, apple sauce, and a cookie. As the officers split into groups they gave out 80 meals to local farmers. A special thanks to all the farmers and families that work so hard during harvest season, and all year round.

2022 FFA National Convention
by reporter Amanda Barrett

The Parkway FFA Chapter attended the National FFA Convention and Expo to look back on another great year in the organization. The trip started out with 14 Parkway students traveling to Fort Recovery to tour J&M Manufacturing company to see how farm equipment is built. After that, they traveled to Indiana and toured Poet Bioprocessing in Alexandria IN, Albanese Candy Factory in Merrillville IN, Fair Oaks Farms in Fair Oaks IN, and RDM Aquaculture Shrimp Farm in Fowler IN. After two days of touring the FFA members got in their official dress and went to the opening ceremony. The next two days the students sat through sessions where they listened to the National Officer team, keynote speakers Tamika Catchings and Coty Back, and the State FFA Band and Chorus. In between each session, the students had the opportunity to walk around the Convention Expo. The expo center is a place for businesses, colleges, and organizations to set up booths. Students then get the chance to go around and learn about what each booth has to offer. Carter Hellwarth was able to represent Ohio by qualifying for Nationals in the Prepared Public speaking CDE. He had to write a 6-8 minute speech fully memorized about something Agriculture-related and answer questions after giving his speech for 5 minutes about the topic. Carter chose to write about Victory Gardens, he said, “My speech was about comparing historic gardening practices in America and how a movement of further gardening could have many benefits, especially in Agriculture awareness.” The journey to Nationals started in the spring when Carter went to the State competition, and after two rounds won the Prepared Speaking CDE for Ohio. After winning Carter had to practice and prepare for the big day in Indianapolis. On October 26, 2022, Carter represented Ohio at Nationals and was able to place in the bronze category. Carter said, “This was a great opportunity for me to meet great people and members from other states.” Ohio and Parkway were well represented at National Convention this year.

Fall Soils CDE

By reporter Amanda Barrett

The Parkway FFA chapter participated in the Ag and Urban soils CDE this fall. The soils CDE is a competition to judge the precious token of farming, soil. Each student is given a card with an assortment of questions. Then, the student fills the card out to the best of their ability, judging the different qualities of the soil. Some questions include soil texture, color, and landform usage. At districts, both teams did well but the Urban team strived the most. Placing 2nd in Districts, the Urban team was able to advance to the State level. This team consisted of Carter Hellwarth, Madison Jacobs, Scarlett Laux, and Gaven Garwood. At state, they placed 17th, short of going to nationals in Oklahoma.

Older FFA articles and pictures - Click Here

Van Wert Health to Join OhioHealth as 14th Full Member Hospital

VAN WERT, Ohio — OhioHealth and Van Wert Health announced today that the board of directors of both organizations have voted to enter into a membership agreement that will make Van Wert Health a full member of the OhioHealth system.

Van Wert Health will become OhioHealth’s 14th full member hospital, a milestone that will be celebrated with a welcoming ceremony in early 2023. The event also marks the beginning of an integration period that is expected to continue throughout the coming year.

The affirmative vote by both boards occurred on December 14.

“OhioHealth is the best partner to deepen our commitment to patient safety, quality, and patient experience. We approached our discussions with them very purposefully, and we ultimately selected OhioHealth because they provide the greatest long-term financial stability along with their unwavering commitment to delivering healthcare locally,” said Tom Turnwald, chairman of the Van Wert Health Board of Trustees. 

“OhioHealth and Van Wert Health share a vision to keep high quality, affordable and accessible healthcare in Van Wert County,” said John McWhorter, senior vice president and chief operating officer, OhioHealth. “Being part of the OhioHealth family ensures that Van Wert Health will continue to thrive thanks to the resources, scale and benefits inherent in a large, quality-driven health system like OhioHealth.”

The membership agreement will bring the 34-bed Van Wert Hospital, its physicians, associates and four outpatient centers and physician practices under the OhioHealth umbrella.

“At our core, we are here to care for the people in our communities,” said Jon Bagley, interim president and CEO, Van Wert Health. “Healthcare is broader than just what happens within the walls of a single facility. This affiliation provides the organizational scale and leadership talent needed to deliver exceptional patient care and to strengthen local access to services.

“Van Wert Health is a natural fit for OhioHealth as we share similar culture and values,” said Bruce Hagen, president, OhioHealth region. “We’re also impressed by their modern facilities, strong team of providers and associates and their unwavering commitment to providing quality care. We are very excited to welcome Van Wert into the OhioHealth family and for the opportunity to serve the Van Wert community.”

On December 14, the OhioHealth board of directors also voted to welcome Guernsey Health Systems into the OhioHealth family, which includes Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center, OhioHealth’s 13th hospital. Southeastern Med, located in Cambridge, Ohio, has been renamed OhioHealth Southeastern Medical Center as part of the membership agreement. A welcome celebration for Guernsey Health has been scheduled for January 11, 2023.

About Van Wert Health

For more than a century Van Wert Health has been caring for patients throughout the northwest Ohio and northeast Indiana regions. A devoted team of nearly 500 nationally-regarded physicians, clinicians, nurses, and staff provide exceptional, high-quality care to patients at five locations – all with a unified goal of improving the lives of the people in the communities we serve.

In 2019 and 2022, Van Wert Health Hospital was named one of the top 100 rural and community hospitals in the United States by the Chartis Center for Rural Health.

About OhioHealth

Based in Columbus, Ohio, OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable, healthcare outreach of the United Methodist Church.  Serving its communities since 1891, it is a family of 35,000 associates, physicians and volunteers, and a network of 14 hospitals, 200+ ambulatory sites, hospice, home-health, medical equipment and other health services spanning a 47-county area. It has been recognized by FORTUNE as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” 15 times since 2007. 

OhioHealth hospitals include OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital, OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital, OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, OhioHealth Shelby Hospital, OhioHealth Grove City Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Berger Hospital, OhioHealth Southeastern Medical Center and Van Wert Health. For more information, please visit our website at www.ohiohealth.com.  

One Dies in Car Crash

Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reports that deputies are investigating a fatal traffic crash that occurred earlier this morning, December 19th.  Mercer County Central Dispatch received a call at 6:28 AM of a crash at the intersection of Rice Rd and Oregon Rd in Center Township.

The investigation revealed that Serina Siano, 26, Mendon was driving a 2021 gray Honda Accord, traveling southbound on Rice Rd.   Becky Fuson 43, Celina was driving a 2019 silver Chevrolet Impala, traveling eastbound on Oregon Rd.  Siano ran the stop sign at the intersection of Rice Rd and Oregon Rd, striking Fuson’s vehicle in the driver’s side.

Both Siano and Fuson were transported by Celina EMS to Joint Township District Memorial Hospital in St. Mary’s for treatment, where Fuson was pronounced deceased.

Assisting at the scene were members of the Celina EMS, Celina Fire Department, and MCERV.    

The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Team was called to the scene.  This crash remains under investigation at this time and will be forwarded to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

Rockford Chamber Names Business of the 2022 Year

2022 Business of the Year -  Congratulations to:   Belna Petroleum

Incorporated in August 6, 1991 - Belna Petroleum leadership includes Rob, his wife Nancy, and son Jordan.  
We recognize Belna Petroleum, not only as a successful business, but a true constant supporter of the local community.

Through numerous project and donations, Belna Petroleum's desire to see our community thrive has been seen by all.  Most recently, they helped make amusement rides possible during Rockford Community Days.

On behalf of The Rockford Chamber of Commerce and as the 2021 Business of the Year, Second Crossing Brew Co proudly presents The 2022 Business of the Year - Belna Petroleum.   Congratulations !

Photos - Luke Stephenson of Second Crossing presented the award to the Belna Family.   Rick Muhlenkamp from the Commissioners office presented a Procalamation.   Mayor Joseph - on behalf of the Rockford Village and Community Days Committee - Thanks for supporting our community.    The Belna Family.

Calvary Evangelical Church Calendar

Pastor Michael Husted at St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to their worship service at 10 AM on Sunday, December 25, 2022. Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit with a sermon for Christmas morning. Based on Luke 2:15-20, the title is “Christmas: The Gospel of the Shepherds”.

Sunday school is now beginning at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is now every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Bible based lessons and children’s activities taught. Snacks.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

Parkway Schools Board of Education Posts Minutes and Agendas

Board Secretary Sally Cox reports that the Board minutes can be found on Parkway’s homepage by clicking on the following:

www.parkwayschools.org

Admin/BOE

Parkway Board of Education

2022-2023 School Year  (note-minutes and agendas are listed by school year-not calendar year)

https://www.parkwayschools.org/administration/parkway_board_of_education/2022-2023_school_year

New Spiritual Leader Comes to St. Paul's Country Church

Pastor Michael Husted became the new spiritual leader of St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford on November 1, 2022, where the membership of the independent church welcomes him. They also invite the community to come and hear him preach from the Bible on Sunday mornings at 10 AM.

Pastor Mike’s childhood was spent in the Canton, OH area and on the shores of Lake Erie. He was raised in the United Methodist Church of his family and enjoys speaking at St. Paul’s Country Church where the wooden, vaulted sanctuary ceiling and stained glass windows remind him of the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church of his youth.  It was at the Methodist Church that he took his training in the Lay Speaking program. “I am God-inspired and an observer of people,” said Mike, “I learned by watching.”  He lit candles in the church as a youth, joined the church through confirmation, and attended Sunday School and Youth Group.

At age 20, he turned his life over to Christ. In the 80’s and 90’s, his calling began in youth ministry. He went on his first mission trip to Haiti at that time. Since then he has been on other Mission trips because God leads him to minister to people.

He likes the ministry - to bring the Good News of Jesus to people who need hope. Hospitals, nursing homes, funerals, church services and weddings all offer opportunities to Pastor Mike for offering people hope in Jesus Christ. He listens to the stories of people, sharing their pain and agony, joys and concerns because God understands their need to share. Pastor Mike said, “ The thrill of ministry, to me, is putting the hands of others into the hands of Jesus because its all about the relationship between us and Him. 

As a retired pastor at 63, his hobbies include: coaching youth basketball; bicycling; fishing; photography; sailing; enjoying the outdoors; playing the guitar and reading. He also loves spending time with his adult son and daughter and their spouses, and 6 little grandsons.

Pastor Mike reminds us that “The Kingdom of Heaven is here in the embodiment in Christ in His people.” Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit with a sermon straight from the Bible on Sunday, December 11 at 10 AM. Based on Luke 1:39-49, the title is Unexplainable Joy. Community invited!

December 16-19, 2022
 

Our Old Bookcase - Buck Bader
OUR OLD BOOK CASE by Joyce L. Alig, President, Mercer County Historical Society

Photo Caption:   Buck Bader, International Hunter & Traveler, at Bader’s Corner

The last time my husband Alvin and our family visited Buck Bader, was at UCross, Wyoming, in the summer of 1980.  Buck was retired, and he and Alvin sat on Buck’s front porch at his log cabin.  Buck and Alvin talked about past events, and their hunting days in the Western States in the 1960’s.

One story which I remember was that Buck had owned a business on Fayette Street near the Railroad Tracks in Celina.  For some reason, that business “blew up,” and Buck took the Insurance money and built the garage at the intersection of St. Rt. 127 and 219.  This corner was known locally, as “Bader’s Corner.”

In the 1920’s Buck was known for hunting Internationally.  Dr. Gilespie made a knife and sheath for Buck Bader to take along with him on his African Safari, on December 29, 1965.  We have a photograph of Buck and his fellow hunter in  Africa.

Another story which I recall, was that Buck went to Alaska, on a hunting trip.  Those of you understand Alaska’s history, know that when the Yukon River and other Rivers “froze up,” the visitors from the “lower 48 States” were stranded in Alaska until the “Spring Thaw.”  One Winter, there was an early freeze and Buck spent the winter in Alaska.  Back here in Mercer County, Buck’s wife thought that Buck was deceased.  (At that time, not all mail went through in the winter between Alaska and the lower 48.)  Buck’s wife was surprised when he returned home to Mercer County, that next summer.

“The Trapline Jounal” carried an article about Buck Bader in September 1984.  The Journal carried photographs of Buck Bader in the 1920’s.  The photographs featured Buck with a bear he had just shot.  One photograph showed his truck, outlined with Beaver he had killed.  Another photograph showed Buck holding a duck he had brought down.  One photograph highlighted several beaver he had killed and nailed on the back of a shed.

Jim Garry, published a book, “BUCK:  Stories by Lloyd `Buck’ Bader,” collected by Garry, in  1984.  This book is a rare book here in Mercer County.  Local hunters have tried to purchase my copy of Buck’s book!  Of course, I refuse to part with my only copy. I have not checked if the Libraries have a copy of Buck’s book. 

Buck Bader was a classic figure in Mercer County’s History.  Losing his Garage at Buck Bader’s Corner will be a loss to local history in 2023.

Mercer County Historical Society President Joyce Alig may be contacted at 3054 Burk-St. Henry Road, Saint Henry, Ohio 45883, histalig@bright.net  or 419-852-0092.

Isaac Van Wart Daughters of the American Revolution Meet

Mr. Bob Gamble recently shared the history of the George Marsh family with Isaac Van Wart Daughters of the American Revolution. A luncheon was hosted at the home of Nancy Smith. Following the program, officers installed were Regent Deb Hardeman, Vice Regent Pamela Beamer, Secretary Linda Schumm, Treasurer Robin Kill, & Registrar Mickey McConahay.
Pictured are Nancy Smith, Pamela Beamer, Bob Gamble, Deb Hardeman

Scholarship Awarded


Mercer Health Medical Staff awarded its 2022 Mercer Health Medical Staff Scholarship to Madison Rose-Malkamaki, a Coldwater High School graduate currently working toward her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at Ohio University.

Rose-Malkamaki was selected as the scholarship recipient based on her academic merit and desire to improve health literacy in the community. “I want to be involved in health education. This includes participating in events that aim to improve health literacy in the community,” Rose-Malkamaki said. “It is imperative that we empower the community to be advocates of their own health.”

The Mercer Health Medical Student Scholarship program was initiated in 2020 and awards $2,000 annually to a medical school student who has shown a strong connection to Mercer Health or the surrounding communities. The scholarship is awarded for a one-year period and provided directly to the student.

Mercer Health’s Medical Staff looks forward to giving back to additional medical students as the scholarship program continues. “Across our country and right here in west central Ohio, rural hospitals play an essential and integral role in the healthcare system, providing significant contributions to the well-being of the communities we serve,” Dr. Stefanie Moeller, Mercer Health internal medicine provider, said. “Our goal is to give back to students, especially those who are interested in supporting our rural communities as a physician—and in other ways.”

To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must be a resident of the United States who is currently enrolled as a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year medical student in an accredited MD/DO school located in the United States. Applicant must either be a resident of Mercer County or one of the adjacent counties for at least 12 months prior to registering as a medical student or have participated in a rotation at Mercer Health. Applications for the 2023 scholarship are now being accepted. Participants must apply online by October 1, 2023 and submit transcript of their medical school courses/grades and a letter, on school letterhead, from the applicant’s medical school verifying that he/she is enrolled full time as a medical student at that institution.

For more information about Mercer Health’s Medical Student Scholarship, visit mercer-health.com/foundation or contact Deb Hemmelgarn, MED Foundation Director, at dhemmelgarn@mercer-health.com or 419-678-5679.

Pictured is Dr. Megan Core, Mercer Health Chief of Staff, presenting Madison Rose-Malkamaki her 2022 Medical Student Scholarship.

 Calvary Evangelical Church Calendar

27th Annual Evening for Race Fans with Chase Briscoe & Matt Westfall

The Celina-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce Chase Briscoe driver of the Stewart Hass #14 on the NASCAR Cup Series and sprint car veteran Matt Westfall will be the featured guests of the 27th Annual Evening for Race Fans on Saturday, January 28th in St. Henry, Ohio.

Chase Briscoe, a 3rd generation racer whose career began on the dirt tracks in and around his home state of Indiana at the age of 13, followed in his grandfather's and father's footsteps racing sprint cars on the bullrings of the Midwest. His career highlights while working his way to the NASCAR Cup Series include a 2016 ARCA Championship, winning the 2018 NASCAR Truck Series race at Eldora, seven NASCAR Xfinity Series wins. He picked up his first NASCAR Cup win at Phoenix in March 2022, advanced to the “round of eight” in the NASCAR playoffs and finished ninth in the final standings.

Pleasant Hill, Ohio native and fan favorite, Matt Westfall, career accomplishments include: Track championships at Eldora Speedway and two time Boss Series Champion. In 2022, he earned six non-wing sprint car wins, finished 7th in the USAC National Sprint Car Series and 4th in the inaugural season of the Extreme Sprint Car Series. He also recorded two top five finishes in five starts with the USAC Silver Crown Series.

Race Fans will be entertained at this must see event as our guests will spend time on the stage with long time event Emcee and former Radio Voice of the Indy 500, Mike King, as they reflect on their careers, other competitors and the sport of auto racing. The evening includes an opportunity for autographs and a fantastic buffet dinner prepared by the staff at Romer’s Catering.

This event serves as a fundraiser with over $295,000 raised for the Chamber, EverHeart Hospice, and Community Health Professionals Hospice with the past 26 events.

Schedule of events:

Autograph session with Chase Briscoe & Matt Westfall

Buffet dinner

Driver interviews conducted by Mike King

Race memorabilia auction

Tickets must be purchased prior to the event by calling the Celina-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce at (419) 586-2219.  Cost per ticket is $50; Visa & Master Card are accepted. Follow us on Facebook at “Chamber Race Night”.

First United Methodist Church Youth Group Launches Shoe Drive Fundraiser 
to Raise Money for Summer Mission Trip to The Dominican Republic

Van Wert, OH, 2022 – First United Methodist Church Youth Group is conducting a shoe drive fundraiser now until January 7th  to raise funds for their mission trip to the Dominican Republic. The youth group will earn funds based on the total weight of the pairs of gently worn, used and new shoes collected, as Funds2Orgs will issue a check for the collected shoes. Those dollars will help cover the cost of the mission trip. Anyone can help by donating gently worn, used and new shoes at First United Methodist Church at 113 W. Central Avenue, Van Wert.

All donated shoes will then be redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network of micro-enterprise (small business) partners. Funds2Orgs works with micro-entrepreneurs in helping them create, maintain and grow small businesses in developing countries where economic opportunity and jobs are limited. Proceeds from the sales of the shoes collected in shoe drive fundraisers are used to feed, clothe and house their families. One budding entrepreneur in Haiti even earned enough to send her son to law school.

"We are excited about our shoe drive," said Teresa Shaffer, Youth Director. "We know that most people have extra shoes in their closets they would like to donate to us. By doing so, we raise money for our mission trips, and we have the chance to help families in developing nations who need economic opportunities. It's a win-win for everyone.”

By donating gently worn, used and new shoes to the Youth Group at First United Methodist Church, the shoes will be given a second chance and make a difference in people’s lives around the world. 

About First United Methodist Church Youth Group

Youth in grades 6th – 12th grade can join the youth group. They meet on Sunday’s from 12-1:30pm until May.  They share a meal, have special events, local mission projects and lessons regularly and anyone is welcome to join.  

Donation Made to Mercer County Law Enforcement
Community Sports and Therapy Center is pleased to announce that $21,000 has been donated to Mercer County Law Enforcement from the sponsored Annual RED, WHITE, AND BLUE Celebration. This donation will be used to construct a shelter building in the Spring of 2023 which will be used for training at the Mercer County gun range.  All law enforcement agencies in Mercer County use the gun range for their year-round, all- weather training.

The annual FREE event open to the public honors members of the local FIRE, EMS, and LAW departments who serve us so selflessly every day. One hundred percent of donated funds from attendees go directly to these departments throughout Mercer County.

SAVE THE DATES: This upcoming year’s 3rd Annual Event will take place on the evenings of July 3rd and 4th, 2023 at Coldwater Memorial Park. The previous RW and B events were one-night events but in 2023 it will be a two-night celebration. July 3rd will feature live performances by Abbamania, the world’s number one production of Abba and Night Fever, who will bring the stage presence and harmonies of the Bee Gees. On the evening of July 4th, the Material Girls, featuring tributes to Shania, Annie Lennox, Lady Gaga, Adele, Madonna, Blondie & Cher will be performing. In addition to the live music, there will be food stands, kid activities, a beer tent, and more.  Additional details will be announced.

Our Old Bookcase - Wabash School, 1912
OUR OLD BOOK CASE by Joyce L. Alig, President, Mercer County Historical Society
(Picture is not available)

Cynthia Andrade, Vandalia, Ohio, sent a photo to me.  Her neighbor had passed away, several months ago.  The neighbor had collected old photographs at garage sales and antique stores.  The photo of Wabash School, in Mercer County, was among those photographs.  Cynthia sent the photograph to me, suggesting that I might know someone who would be interested in this school.

Christmas is a time for memories.  The sad side of this is that so many of the people who had memories of the Wabash School may no longer be aware of it. 

The 1882 History of Van Wert and Mercer Counties, Ohio, on page 435, gave a short reference to Wabash.  “Wabash City contains 180 lots.  Lot 27 is reserved for a school house.”  Apparently, no school house building had yet been built on that lot in 1882.

I looked in the 1907 “Mercer County History Book,” where there was a reference to the Village of Wabash, which “had a school house.”  This statement would suggest that sometime between 1882 and 1907, a school house had been constructed between 1882 and 1907. 

The 1978 “Mercer County History Book,” identifies a school house in Section four of Mercer County, which is the Village of Wabash. 

Christmas time may be more about lost memories for citizens of today.  Do any citizens of Wabash today, or in the past, have knowledge of the school at Wabash? 

Is this 1912 photograph of the Wabash School, the last memory of Wabash School?  Or, do you readers have information about the Wabash School?  If so, please share those memories with the Mercer County Historical Society, so that we can contribute to the History of Wabash, in Washington Township, Mercer County, Ohio?

In 1976-1977, after our Nation had celebrated our Bicentennial, the Mercer County Commissioners asked me to edit a “1978 Mercer County History Book.”  I was elected President of the Mercer County Historical Society in 1973.  Therefore, this year, 2022, I am completing 50 years of service as President of the Mercer County Historical Society and to preserving Mercer County’s History.  As I look back over these 50 years, I wonder what would have happened if I had not edited the “1978 Mercer County History Book.”  On March 2, 2004, the Mercer County Commissioners, in their Resolution # 04-222, cut off all funds to the Mercer County  Historical Society and ceased my OPERS appointed position Director of the Mercer County Historical Museum.  Thus, I have served as a volunteer since that date.  I wonder if the funds to the  Mercer County Commissioners’ Office had been cut off in 2004, would they have continued their service, free of charge since March 2, 2004? 

The Mercer County Commissioner Rick Muhlenkamp attended the Annual Meeting & Christmas party of the Mercer County Historical Society, on Monday December 5, 2022.  That is the first time that a Mercer County Commissioner has attended any of the Historical Society’s Meetings for a couple of decades!  Maybe a new wind is blowing for the Mercer County owned building, the Mercer County Historical Museum?  I hope so.

Mercer County Historical Society President Joyce Alig may be contacted at 3054 Burk-St. Henry Road, Saint Henry, Ohio 45883, histalig@bright.net  or 419-852-0092.

Snow – do not plow onto roadways

The Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart, is reminding residents living on county and township roadways not to leave snow plowed from private driveways on the roadway.

Ohio law prohibits the placement of injurious material or any obstruction on a highway except that which is placed on the roadway by a proper authority, such as salt or grit the county and townships use to treat icy roads.

If it is found that snow displaced from a private drive onto a roadway contributes to an accident, the individual who placed it there could be found liable.

According to Sheriff Jeff Grey of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, placing injurious materials or obstructing the roadway is a criminal offense.

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

Our Old Bookcase - Happy Corner Church
OUR OLD BOOK CASE by Joyce L. Alig, President, Mercer County Historical Society

Photo Caption:   Happy Corner Church, a part of lost history

Happy Corner Church, State Route 29, west of Celina, is one of the lost churches in our country side. 

With the Christmas Holiday Season here, local church members are planning for their Christmas events. 

So many rural churches are closing their doors.  As I drive the country roads and I see the empty church buildings, I have a sense of loss to our rural way of life.  There will be no Christmas programs in these small churches which are closed.

What has changed to cause these changes in our rural way of life? 

Perhaps, small farms have become a part of larger farms, and fewer farmers live in the country?  Perhaps, rural citizens taking a horse and buggy to church, changed with the arrival of automobiles and citizens driving to churches in Villages?  

Has there been a change that church attendance is no longer an active part of the way of life of some families?  At one time, churches were a part of the social lives of local citizens.  Have movies and/or television provided local entertainment?  Most homes have television sets, which provide information about entertainment in larger cities? 

Have automobiles provided access to entertainment in larger cities?  At one time, when the young men were dating the young women, they were dating within a one or two mile distance from their homes.  Not many young men were going to drive a horse and buggy twenty miles to date a young lady, and then drive twenty miles back home after the date, especially in the winter time.  Automobiles offered the young men the opportunity to drive farther and meet the young women.  That opportunity also provided the privacy to the young people that their parents did not always control the ones they were dating.

This past Century has brought changes to our lives, which were not a part the prior comprehension of so many citizens.  May I ask you readers to write me and share with me the changes which have taken place in your lives this past Century?  What changes do you anticipate in this Century?

When you write to me, be sure to include your age, so we can compare thoughts of various generations today. 

Mercer County Historical Society President Joyce Alig may be contacted at 3054 Burk-St. Henry Road, Saint Henry, Ohio 45883, histalig@bright.net  or 419-852-0092.

Lima Symphony Orchestra “Symphony Storytime” Returns

Lima, OH (December 2, 2022) – The Lima Symphony Orchestra’s popular Symphony Storytime program returns to libraries this winter beginning in December! Featuring performances by musicians from the Lima Symphony Orchestra, this program focuses on the wonder of winter!

Details:

Tuesday, December 13 at 6PM - Putnam County District Library (136 Putnam Pkwy, Ottawa, OH 45875)

Thursday, December 22 at 11AM - Mary Lou Johnson Hardin County District Library (325 E Columbus St, Kenton, OH 43326)

Saturday, January 14 at 11AM - Saint Mary's Community Public Library (140 S Chestnut St, St Marys, OH 45885)

Tuesday, January 17 at 10:30AM - Auglaize County Public District Library (203 Perry St, Wapakoneta, OH 45895)

Monday, February 13 at 6PM - Stallo Memorial Library (196 E 4th St, Minster, OH 45865)

For this innovative program, children and their families will enjoy classic selections in celebration of winter and snow! This program features the classic Ukrainian folk tale The Mitten as told by Jan Brett, the award-winning Ezra Jack Keats classic The Snowy Day, and The Gruffalo’s Child by Julia Donaldson, all accompanied by live music from Lima Symphony Orchestra musicians. The program will engage kids’ imaginations and get them singing along as visions of sugarplums dance in their heads! With a focus on creative movement and music literacy, "Symphony Storytime" is designed to spark children’s imaginations and foster a lifelong appreciation for music. This program is appropriate for all ages and is free and open to the public.

Books:

The Mitten by Jan Brett (1989)

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (1962)

The Gruffalo’s Child by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler (2004)

Music Selections:

Winter from “The Four Seasons” by Antonio Vivaldi

Troika from “Lieutenant Kije” by Sergei Prokofiev

Romance from “Lieutentant Kije” by Sergei Prokofiev

These performances are part of the Lima Symphony’s ongoing commitment to music education and their firm belief that music and other arts are critical tools in building strong communities.  This project is supported by the following underwriters:

Symphony Storytime Sponsors:

AC Dienstberger Foundation

G.A. Wintzer & Son Co.

State Bank

Thermal Gard Window and Door

Van Wert County Foundation

Kenton Rotary Foundation

###

If you would like more information about Symphony Storytime programs, please call the Lima Symphony at 419-222-5701 or check our website for more details at www.limasymphony.com.

Vantage looking for Alumni Hall of Fame Nominees
Vantage Career Center is currently opening the nominations for the Class of 2023 Vantage Alumni Hall of Fame. This is a great time to highlight a Vantage Alumni from your community that brings achievement and honor to their career field, communities and Vantage. We ask that you take this time to share a Vantage Alumni that sticks out to you today by simply going to the form in this link and filling out the necessary information.  https://forms.gle/oMRfeSnLWhAoYubH6

Last year, Candy Lammers (1994) and Bryon Wells (1999), both graduates of Van Wert City Schools, were nominated and inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame. Here is more information regarding the Hall of Fame and we welcome you to share your nominations to possibly be inducted into our Alumni Hall of Fame, Class of 2023!

The purpose of the Alumni Hall of Fame is to recognize graduates who have, through their performance and achievement, brought credit and honor to themselves and to Vantage Career Center after their graduation. Their exemplary public, personal, and career achievements will serve to inspire and provide leadership to future graduates to achieve and serve in the same distinguished manner.

Criteria for Selection and Eligibility: Honorees must be a graduate of Vantage Career Center. A period of ten (10) years must have elapsed between graduation and eligibility for induction into the Hall of Fame. Honorees should represent a broad range of talents, achievements, and/or community service. Nominees will be considered based on professional careers and community involvement. A person may be nominated more than once, and a person may be nominated and inducted posthumously. A candidate is nominated by an individual choosing to complete this form. The Hall of Fame Committee will conduct a preliminary screening of candidates. Qualifying candidates will then be requested to complete a questionnaire. All nominations should be returned by January 6, 2023 at 11:59p.m. to: Stacie Peters, Vantage Career Center, 818 N. Franklin St., Van Wert OH 45891.  Please be advised that all nominees are eligible for 4 years of consideration.

Rockford Village Council Meets on December 6, 2022
Click here for minutes by Fiscal Agent Lisa Kuhn
and Community Announcements and events:

December 7th -    Christmas/ Santa visit at Shanes Park – 6:30 – 8 pm

December 14th – Christmas/ Santa visit at Shanes Park = 6:30 – 8 pm

December 17th - RADC candy cane distribution at the 4 way stop

December 23 – 26th – Village Office closed for Christmas

December 25th -  Together at Christmas – Free Christmas meal @ the Rockford Community Building – 10:30 am – 1pm.  Sponsored by local churches working together to celebrate Christ’s birth.

January 2nd – Village office closed for New Year’s Day.

January 16th – Village office closed -     Martin Luther King Jr. Day

December 13-15, 2022
 

Together on Christmas is Back!

TOGETHER ON CHRISTMAS, a free dinner on Christmas Day, returns December 25th, 2022 to the Rockford Community Building.  Begun in 2005 as a ministry outreach of the Rockford United Methodist Church, the first FREE Christmas Day Dinner was intended to serve hungry and lonely people who might not have a traditional Christmas Day dinner nor family with whom to share it. 

The return of TOGETHER ON CHRISTMAS in 2021 following the COVID pandemic became a community event led by members and friends of the Rockford United Methodist, Rockford Belle Community, and New Horizons Community churches; under the pastoral leadership of ‘Chip’ Steffy, Dana Smith and Ken Meyer.

TOGETHER ON CHRISTMAS offers a FREE Christmas dinner to residents of Rockford and the surrounding area. The Rockford Community Building is located at 402 Holly Lane near Shanes Park.   The 2022 Dinner will be served from 10:30 - 1 pm. The 2022 menu includes chicken breast (prepared by the Rockford Carryout), baked pork chop, mashed potatoes & gravy, homemade dressing (stuffing), green beans, rolls/butter, and a variety of desserts.  

For additional information contact the Rockford United Methodist Church office at 419-363-3230, by email office.mgr.rumc@bright.net or at www.rumcoh.org. 

Blue Christmas Service at St. Paul’s
for Those Who Mourn or Are Sad

St. Paul’s Country Church invites you to the Blue Christmas Service on the evening of the Winter Solstice – the longest and darkest night of the year, Wednesday, December 21, 2022. The candlelight service will begin at 6:30 PM.

The traditional Blue Christmas Service is celebrated in many churches and supports those who are not so cheerful during the Christmas Holidays.

All are welcome, especially those struggling to find joy in the holidays. Reasons for feeling blue can be: a death; dealing with divorce or separation; job loss; coping with cancer or other illness; or other life situations that make you sad and unable to celebrate the joys of Christmas, please join St. Paul’s for an evening of prayerful attention to your needs. The service will create a sacred and accepting

place to reflect on God and the story of the birth of His Son, Jesus, on Christmas, as well as the joy of Jesus’ resurrection. Pastor Mike Husted will lead this service, which is open to the community, and all people, grieving or not.

Pastor Michael Husted at St. Paul’s Country Church of Rockford

The membership of St. Paul’s Country Church, located at 1538 Oregon Road, Rockford, OH invites you to their worship service at 10 AM on Sunday, December 18, 2022. Pastor Michael Husted, will be in the pulpit with a sermon straight from the Bible as we continue into the Advent Season. Based on John 3:16-17, the title is “True Love: From Ordinary to Extraordinary”.

Sunday school is now beginning at 9:15 AM. Children’s Junior Church is now every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Bible based lessons and children’s activities taught. Snacks.

Please call the church office for Pastor Mike at 419-942-1374 for any questions regarding worship services. Or visit the St. Paul’s – Rockford Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information.

We are an INDEPENDENT church following the Bible – the community is welcome.

Stabbing in Celina
On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2022 at about 6:37PM Celina P.D. responded of a report of a stabbing at 537 Touvelle St., Lot 28 Celina.  Through the investigation officers found at 24 year old Celina resident, Alex Rodriguez had been visiting his girlfriend, 24 year old Jena Marie Curry at her residence.  The pair had been dating for about a week.  An altercation occurred between the two and Rodriguez received a single, significant size, stab wound in his back near the right shoulder.  Details of the incident remain under investigation.

Alex Rodriguez was taken by a private vehicle to a local hospital and then to a trauma center for surgery.  The injury is not thought to be life threatening.  Jena Marie Curry is being held at the Mercer County Jail on a charge of Felonious Assault, a second degree felony.  Bond has not been set.

Mercer County Prosecutor, Erin Minor will be reviewing the case to present to the next Grand Jury.  No further details can be released at this time.