The Village Reporter - March 20th, 2024

Obituaries & Death Notices

Christena Newland (1967 – 2024)

(Currently Worked At Plas-Tec Corp. In Edon)

Christena Lyn Newland, 56, of Montpelier, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 8, 2024 at Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice in Defiance, Ohio. She was born on April 15, 1967 in Fort Wayne, Indiana to James and Jeanne (Jones) Mudrack. Christena had achieved her associates degree in administration and was currently working at Plas-Tec Corp in Edon, Ohio.

Christena is survived by her children, Holly J. Carroll, of Montpelier, Britneigh (Seth Ellis) Newland of Montpelier, Tabitha Christlieb of Montpelier, Raymond (Abigail) Newland, Jr., of Wauseon, James (Melissa) Newland, Parkerburg, West Virginia, Mindy Newland of Parkersburg, West Virginia and Joe (Michelle) Newland of Parkersburg, West Virginia; grandchildren, Athena Newland, Lucille Ellis, Jenna Carroll, Liam Carroll, Grady Carroll, Pierson Newland, Seth Newland, Kaylee Newland, Megan Newland, Aaron Newland, Taylor Newland, Kyle Oldaker, Kevin Oldaker, Maverick, Sawyer, Christopher; great grandson, Stiles Sauceda; siblings, Terry Frank of Indianapolis, Indiana, Wanda Goodman of Montpelier, Ohio, James P. Mudrack, Sr., of Walkaville, Indiana, Mike Mudrack, Mark Mudrack, Kevin (Cathy) Mudrack of Montpelier, Ohio, Keith Mudrack of Walkaville, Indiana, and Kelly Mudrack of Fremont, Indiana.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two grandsons, Jimmy Newland, Jr., and Kyle Newland; and two brothers, Henry J. Mudrack and Jeffery L. Mudrack.

A celebration of Christena’s life will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be given c/o Britneigh Newland to help defray the funeral expenses. Condolences may be left for the family at www. thethompsonfuneralhome.com.

Ronald Phipps (1941 – 2024) (1959 Graduate Of Bryan High School)

Ronald C. Phipps, age 82, of Bryan, passed away on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at Parkview Hospital Bryan and entered the arms of Jesus.

He attended the House of Prayer in Montpelier and had previously attended Grace Community Church. He was an active in both churches helping in the food pantry and attending Bible studies.

Mark Bromagen (1959 – 2024) (Machinist At Power & Sons; Bryan

Graduate)

Mark A. Bromagen, age 64, of Hicksville, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 9, 2024 with his family at his side at Community Health Professionals Inpatient Hospice Center near Defiance, Ohio.

Mark was a machinist at Powers & Sons for 29 years. He enjoyed reading and history. Mark A. Bromagen was born on October 9, 1959, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the son of John F. and Mary B. (Foust) Bromagen. He was a 1978 graduate of Bryan High School. Mark married Julie A. Surbey on October 16, 1992 in Bryan and she survives. Mark is also survived by his daughter, Ivy Bromagen, of Innsbruck, Austria; brothers, Roy Ridenour, of Angola, Indiana and Don “Buck” (Shirley) Ridenour, of Coldwater, Michigan; sister, Joyce Mocherman, of Bryan and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Emily Bromagen; brother, Jim Ridenour and sister, Janet Rollins.

Mark will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at Fountain Grove Cemetery in Bryan, Ohio. A memorial service will be held in the fall. Mark’s arrangements have been entrusted to Krill Funeral Service, 860 West Mulberry Street, Bryan.

Memorials are requested to the Friends of Felines, 14597 Power Dam Rd, Defiance, OH 43512.

To sign the online register or to send condolences, please visit http://www.krillfuneralservice.com.

Paul Rohrs (1932 – 2024) (Belonged To Bryan VFW Post #2489)

Phyllis Mack (1923 – 2024) (1941 Graduated Of Bryan High School)

Phyllis A. Mack, 100, of Bryan, Ohio peacefully passed away Friday, March 8, 2024, at Fountain Park Assisted Living Memory Care, Bryan, Ohio.

Phyllis was born December 24, 1923, in Melbern, Ohio, daughter of the late Royal Ernest and Blanche Lucille (Meyer) Warner. She was a 1941 graduate of Bryan High School and attended Detroit Business School.

Phyllis married Kenneth A. Mack on November 15, 1958, in Bryan, Ohio and he preceded her in death on November 7, 2014. Phyllis worked at Williams County Treasurer’s Office, Lindsay Auto Sales, and Sheets Dairy Bar.

She attended St. Patrick Catholic Church, Bryan, Ohio. Phyllis cherished gathering with her family and friends. In her free time, she enjoyed grabbing a book and reading.

Surviving is her son, Ron (Stacia Gerding) Mack of Normal, Illinois; two grandchildren, Evan Doseck of Bryan, Ohio, and Jessica (Jesse) Perganson of Bloomington, Illinois; two great-grandchildren, Ava Perganson and Allie Perganson; sister-in-law, Nancy Mack along with several nieces and nephews.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Kenneth; daughter, Holly Doseck; son-in-law, John Doseck; two brothers, Robert Warner, and Richard Warner; two sisters, Audrene Free and Maxine Hawkins; brothers and sisters-in-law, Lee Mack, Delores Mack, Pat (Keith) Biler, Jean Robinson, Wanda (James) Andrews.

Graveside funeral services were held on Friday, March 15, 2024, at Fountain Grove Cemetery in Bryan with Celebrant Patricia Peter officiating.

Memorial contributions can be directed to Fountain Park Assisted Living Memory Care, Community Advocates for Healthy Families or Community Health Professionals Home Hospice.

Condolences may be sent to the family or memories may be shared at www.oberlinturnbull.com

Neil Miller (1952 – 2024) (1971 Graduate Of Gorham-Fayette High School)

Paul John Rohrs, age 92, of Stryker, passed away Saturday, March 9, 2024 at Fairlawn Haven Nursing Home in Archbold. Prior to his retirement in 1997, he had worked for the Aro Corporation in Bryan for over 34 years. Paul was born in Henry County, Ohio on January 20, 1932, the son of Carl and Emma (Lohse) Rohrs. On May 31, 1958 he married Donna M. Moden, and she survives. Paul was a member of the First Baptist Church in Bryan. He was an Army Veteran of the Korean War. He belonged to the Bryan American Legion Post #284 and the Bryan VFW Post #2489. He was a member of the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA) and enjoyed bowling in Bryan.

Ronald was a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

One of his duties was recovering astronauts and space capsules after splashdown in the ocean. After his military service he worked in sales and was a terminal manager with area trucking companies- Shipper’s Dispatch, Preston, and Bryan Truck Lines- where he retired in 2009.

Ronald was a gifted woodworker and enjoyed refinishing furniture. He was an avid golfer, fisherman and sports fan who cheered on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Cleveland Indians. He was a former member of Riverside Golf Club in Stryker and the Bryan Lions club.

Ronald C. Phipps was born on March 22, 1941, in Hamler, Ohio, the son of Clifford E. and Jean M. (Henry) Phipps.

He was a 1959 graduate of Bryan High School where he was named All-State in baseball in 1959. He held the record for highest batting average at .525 for many years. Ronald married Phyllis Easler on November 14, 1975 in Bryan, Ohio and she survives.

Ronald is also survived by his sons, Ronald (Marsha) Phipps, of Kettering, Ohio and Randy (Kristina) Phipps, of Bryan; daughters, Kelli (Grant) Burkholder, of Ridgeville Corners and Heather (Gene) Sunday, of Dublin, Ohio; seven grandchildren, Levi, Ethan, Nolyn, Gibson, Ryann, Timothy and Emily and a great grandson, Azrael; and his sister, Karen Sams, of Norwalk. He was preceded in death by his parents and first wife, Norma (Schweitzer) Phipps in 1974.

Visitation was held on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at the House of Prayer in Montpelier with funeral services following visitation. Private burial took place at Fountain Grove Cemetery with military rites provided by the combined Bryan American Legion/VFW Honor Detail and the United States Marine Corp Honor Guard. Krill Funeral Service, 860 West Mulberry Street, Bryan has been entrusted with his arrangements. Memorials are requested to the charity of the donor’s choice. To sign the online register or to send condolences, please visit www.krillfuneralservice.com.

VETERAN

Surviving besides his wife, Donna, are children, Cathy (Michael) McDermott of Kokomo, Indiana, Joan (Kevin) Salsbury of Fairview, Michigan, Steven (Sonya) Rohrs of London, Ohio, Gary (Nancy) Rohrs of Bryan, and Kenneth Rohrs of Stryker. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren with two more on the way; and sister, Marjorie (William) Brown of Stryker. He was preceded in death by both parents; daughter-in-law, Paula Rohrs, and sister, Ruth Wallace. A funeral service was held on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at the First Baptist Church in Bryan, with Pastor John MacFarlane, officiating. Interment followed in the Oakwood Cemetery in Stryker, where Military Rites were accorded by members of the Bryan American Legion Post.

The family requests that memorial contributions be given to the First Baptist Church or CHP Home Care and Hospice. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www. grisierfh.com. Grisier Funeral Home in Stryker has been entrusted with arrangements.

Alan Cox (1956 – 2024) (Attended House Of Prayer In Montpelier)

Alan L. Cox, 67, passed away on Sunday, March 10, 2024. He was born on June 4, 1956, to Orville and Arlis Cox in Montpelier, Ohio. Alan graduated from Montpelier High School. Alan struggled with mental disabilities his entire life. Although it affected much of his adult life he was dearly loved by his family and will be missed by all who knew him. Alan attended House of Prayer in Montpelier and was raised in a protestant household. He enjoyed crocheting afghans and even entered some of his work into the Williams County Fair. Alan was a member of the Eagles in Montpelier. He enjoyed rock music, singing karaoke and spending time with his family.

He is survived by his daughter; Rebeccah (Josh) Williams of Edon, four siblings; Barry (Marcia) Cox of Montpelier, Sharon Hartsock of Montpelier, Kalene (Michael) Corwin of Bryan, Duane Cox of Pioneer, two grandchildren; Isaiah Williams and Madelyn Williams of Edon; and several nieces and nephews.

Alan was preceded in death by his parents, two siblings; Bradley Cox and an infant sister Lou Ann Cox.

Visitation hours for Alan were on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the Thompson Funeral Home in Montpelier. Services immediately followed the visitation with Shirley Wagner officiating. The interment followed at Riverside Cemetery in Montpelier.

Memorial contributions can be made out to the family to help with funeral expenses.

FAYETTE – Neil Edward Miller, age 71 of Fayette, passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio Residence in Sylvania. He was born in Montpelier on August 10, 1952, to Lowell J. and Dorothy A. (Beck) Miller. Neil attended and graduated from Gorham-Fayette High School in 1971. He worked at the former TRW in Fayette for 42 years.

Neil loved anything that dealt with Fayette High School athletics. He could always be seen cheering them on, even after his kids were out of school.

Neil, himself, played basketball and baseball while in school and was also an avid bowler. He loved being outside and would often be seen meticulously taking care of his yard or tinkering around the house.

He loved his grandkids and dog very much. Helping his dad on their farm was another love of his life.

He would often complete the next day’s chores early so he could sleep in the next morning. All in all, Neil was a simple man and a very independent person.

Surviving Neil are his mother, Dorothy Miller; significant other, Darlene Mason; children, Nichole (Bryan) Hiles, Cory (Chassity) Adams, Toby Adams, Brandy (Joe) Jarvis, William Schmitt, and Joseph (Shae) Schmitt; grandchildren, Angel, Faith, Layne, Ian, and Hayden Dawn Adams, Nikolas (Mireya) and Kabrina Houston, Amelia and Donavan Hiles, McKenzie (Josh) Czajkowski, Kylie (Trevor Warton), Landon, and Mason Schmitt, and Ryiah Hoffer; 10 great-grandchildren; 15 nieces and nephews; brothers, Mark (Amy), Larry, and Brian (Billie Jean) Miller; and a sister, Luan (Dave) Rochefort. He was preceded in death by his father, Lowell; and a brother, David Miller.

Visitation for Neil took place on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at the Eagle-Marry Funeral Home in Fayette. Funeral services immediately followed visitation with Pastor Erich Christman, officiating. Cremation followed with the Inurnment of his remains to take place in Pettisville Cemetery at a later date.

Online condolences to the family may be offered at www.eaglemarryfuneralhome.com. Memorial donations in Neil’s memory may be given to the family for future designation.

The Eagle-Marry Funeral Home in Fayette has been entrusted with arrangements.

VETERAN

Doris Eckhardt (1923 – 2024)

(Nursing Instructor At FCCC)

Doris Hutchinson Eckhardt (Thompson) passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 7, 2024 in Villa Hills, KY, at the age of 100. Doris was born on September 14, 1923. Born and raised during the great depression, in Pocahontas, AR, she came from dirt poor beginnings. After graduating high school (1942), she worked at an ammunition factory during WWII to put herself through nursing school in St. Louis, MO.

Later she was accepted into the USAF Flight Nurse Cadet Corps. She was a Captain and head nurse of the OBGYN floor at Andrews AFB until military retirement in 1966. In the 1970’s Doris was the nursing instructor at Four County Joint Vocational School in Archbold, OH. She was preceded in death by her first husband Paul Hutchinson (1984), and second husband Malcolm Eckhardt (2004); and stepchildren Paul Hutchinson Jr., and Linda Biasetti Hutchinson.

Doris is survived by her son Michael Hutchinson of Kentucky; stepson John (Sandy) Spengler of Pettisville, OH; grandchildren Patrick Hutchinson and Daniel Hutchinson of Kentucky; five siblings; brother-in-law Jim (Jane) Hutchinson; sisters-in-law Carol (Lamont) Knapp and Mary Hutchinson; and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews who loved her greatly. Doris will be laid to rest at Floral Grove Cemetery in Pioneer, OH. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Memorials can be made in Doris’ memory to the Northwest State Community College Foundation c/o the Nursing Program and sent to the Thompson Funeral Home, 204 East Main St., Montpelier, OH 43543. www. thethompsonfuneralhome.com.

Ryder Graeme Frazer (Infant)

Infant Ryder Graeme Frazer enter the world on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at Fulton County Health Center, Wauseon, Ohio and left his imprint on the hearts of his parents McCauley Lawrence Scott Frazer and Megan Nicole Steele of Stryker, Ohio.

In addition to his parents, Ryder is loved by his brother, Rowan Frazer; maternal grandparents, Teresa (James) Hickman of Montpelier, Ohio; paternal grandparents, Shannon (Chad) Mull of West Unity, Ohio and Dennis Frazer of West Unity, Ohio; maternal great-grandmothers, Jean Steele and Ruth Schlosser; paternal great-grandparents, Linda Carpenter, Gloria Lauber, Cara Lou Frazer, John (Susan) Mull; many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Ryder was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Boyd Steele; Maternal great-grandfather, Ralph Steele; paternal greatgrandfathers, James Frazer and Graeme Lauber, Sr. Funeral services were held on Friday, March 15, 2024, at Oberlin-Turnbull Funeral Home in West Unity, with Pastor Jeff Cobb officiating. Interment followed at Floral Grove Cemetery, West Unity. Memorial Contributions can be directed to the family to defray funeral cost or Sufficient Grace Ministries. Condolences may be sent to the family or the online guest book may be signed at www.oberlinturnbull.com

We realize that the loss of a loved one is one of the most painful moments a family can endure. We also know that this difficult time can be financially burdensome which includes expensive costs associated with placing obituaries within local newspapers. The Village Reporter publishes obituaries within our print edition, online edition and social media platforms free of charge as our community public ministry. We hope this small effort will help alleviate a small amount of financial burden during your time of loss.

Obituaries are gathered from participating area funeral home websites from Northwest Ohio, Northeast Indiana and Southcentral Michigan on a daily basis by newspaper staff, obituaries where the departed and/or surviving family members have a connection to our immediate coverage areas of Williams & Fulton Counties in Northwest Ohio are published free of charge both in print and online. The Village Reporter does not limit obituary word counts and allows families to place personalized messages and/or scripture references within their final published message to their loved ones which are then archived at the newspaper office, local Northwest Ohio Historical Societies along with College Libraries dating back to the 1870’s).

If your chosen funeral home does not participate in this program or is located outside the Northwest Ohio, Northeast Indiana or Southcentral Michigan area obituaries may be sent directly to The Village Reporter via email at publisher thevillagereporter.com or by stopping at our main office located at 115 Broad Street, Montpelier, Ohip open 8:30 a.m. - 4:50 p.m. Monday - Friday).

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Joyce Ann Roan (1955 – 2024)

(Loving Wife, Mother, Sister & Friend)

Mrs. Joyce Ann Roan, 68, passed away

Thursday, March 7, 2024 in Monroe, NC. She was born December 10, 1955 to the late James Sewell and Rosaline Siler Sewell.

Joyce was a loving wife, mother, sister, and friend. She will be truly missed and cherished in the hearts of all those who knew and loved her.

Mrs. Roan will be laid to rest at Edon Cemetery in Ohio. Services will be announced at a later date.

Joyce is survived by her loving husband of 20 years, Lyle Roan; son, Jeremy (Kiki) Kimball of Bryan, OH; sisters, Kathy Stahler (Bill), and Jeanie Garman; 5 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Joyce is preceded in passing by her parents, James Sewell and Rosaline Siler Sewell, her sister, Debbie Flory, and brother, CR Sewell.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Joyce’s honor to the family. Holland Funeral Service is serving the Roan Family.

Robert Lockhart (1929 – 2024) (Attended Montpelier Schools)

Marlee Burkholder (1923

Resident Of Edon)

Marlee M. Burkholder, age 100, of Edon, Ohio, passed away on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at CHP Hospice Center, Defiance, Ohio. Marlee lived in Edon for 90 years and was a 1942 graduate of Edon High School. She worked as a clerk in the Edon Postal Office for 25 years. She was a member of the Edon Church of Christ where she taught Sunday School and was the choir director for many years. She also enjoyed volunteering at Lake James Christian Camp in Angola, Indiana for summer camp.

She spent many years singing in the Sweet Adaline’s and Mollies Dollies and directing the Edon High School Alumni Band. She enjoyed doing many different crafts, but her favorite was making scrubbies.

She ate her lunch watching The Price is Right and loved testing her knowledge in the evening watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.

She was most famous for her sugar cookie and butterscotch pies. Marlee loved watching sports, especially golf, but her favorite team was always the Edon Bombers.

VETERAN

Madison, WI - Robert William Lockhart, age 94, passed away at his home on Monday, February 26, 2024. Bob was born on May 27th, 1929, in Montpelier, Ohio. He was the son of Victor and Helen (May) Lockhart.

Bob attended Montpelier Grade School and Montpelier High School. While in High School he worked during school breaks in his father’s haberdashery, Lockhart, and Kizer Haberdashery on Main Street.

He mowed eight lawns in the summer, shoveled snow in the winter, and did other odd jobs. He graduated from high school in 1947.

Bob knew he wanted to be an architect at a very young age. He attendedDenison University in Granville, Ohio, later transferring to the University of Michigan’s School of Architecture and Design in Ann Arbor.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean “conflict,” and had his basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas. He was selected to be in The Army Security Agency simply because he could type.

He was sent for 13 months to ASA Europe (ASAE) in Frankfurt, Germany. He found this to be a great experience because of his on-going interest in architecture. He visited eight countries and was in London to for Queen Elizabeth’s coronation parade.

After discharge, He finished his four-year program at the University Of Michigan, graduating in 1956 with a BA in architecture. Wanting to work with families, he chose not to apply to the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

While in school, he met an SAE fraternity brother, Roger Peters, who had a home design and construction business in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. They began working together with Roger as “the builder” and Bob as “the designer.”

Another friend introduced Bob to architect Herbert Fritz. He and his family lived, and worked, at Hilltop. Hilltop was across from the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Hillside School near Spring Green, WI.

Mr. Fritz and his father both had apprenticed under Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin near Spring Green. Bob apprenticed under Mr. Fritz for almost two years before branching out on his own.

In 1962, Bob moved to Madison and started work on his first commission, in his apartment/office on University Avenue above Sam’s Bakery. He worked alone from 1962 until his retirement in 1994.

Bob met his soul mate Clarence Cameron in 1961, and they were partners for 63 years. They were legally married in Vermont in 2013 at an art exhibition of the Society of Animal Artists, of which Clarence is a member. This was just months before the U.S. Supreme Court made same sex marriage legal across the nation.

His partner, Clarence, was also self-employed as an artist. Known as “ The Owl Man” he is renowned for his soapstone and bronze owls, and his co-founding of the Wisconsin Alliance Of Artists and Craftspeople, Inc. and the Madison Art Fair OFF the Square.

Bob enjoyed going to art fairs with Clarence and meeting other artists, and the patrons. They both enjoyed classical music and attended the symphony and other musical events in Madison throughout their lifetimes.

As self-employed people, both Bob and Clarence worked hard, but they did find time to go to Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, Florida, Arizona, and Hawaii. They also did a lot of traveling in the United States, exhibiting at art fairs, making many friends along the way.

In addition to Clarence, survivors include nieces: Laura (Mark) Scheidt, Glendale Heights, IL, and Jennifer Michael, Saratoga, CA; nephew, Thomas (Carol) Ullman, High Point, NC; an aunt, Ruby Lockhart, Bryan, cousins, James (Suzanne) Lockhart, Huntington Beach, CA and Eugene (Suzanne) Lockhart, Seattle, WA, and numerous great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded by his parents; sister, Jean, and cousin Lynn Lockhart Wallace.

Clarence would like to thank Bob’s medical team at the VA Hospital and Agrace Hospice Care. He would also like to thank the many friends and neighbors who have supported and assisted them over the past several years.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be sent in his name to the Madison Symphony Orchestra, 222 W. Washington Ave. Suite 460, Madison, WI 53703 or to the “ Agrace Foundation”, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711.

A celebration of Life is being planned for April 6, 2024 in the Landmark auditorium of the First Unitarian Society 800 University Bay Dr Madison, WI. Interment will be at a later date in the Victor and Helen Lockhart burial site in Riverside Cemetery, Montpelier, Ohio.

Marlee was born on December 30, 1923, in Denver, Indiana, the daughter of Claude and Blanche (Mowrey) Buck. She married Paul Burkholder on July 24, 1948 in Edon, Ohio and he preceded her in death on January 5, 1990.

Marlee is survived by her daughters, Deb Brandt, of Hudson, Indiana and Jolene Burkholder, of Edon; three sons, Brad (Karen) Burkholder, of Cecelia, Kentucky, Kent (Diane) Burkholder, of Bryan and Mitch Burkholder, of Edon; 7 grandchildren, Crista, Kelly, Jason, Jill, Marylee, Kara and Lori; 10 great-grandchildren, Savannah, Robbie, Brooke, Nick, Mason, Luke, Erin, Miles, Helen and Malcolm; 1 great-great granddaughter, Emma; nephew, Larry (Carol) Buck and niece, Sherry (Howard) Buck.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, John “Jack”, George and Lee Buck and nephews, Terry, and Alan Buck.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, March 17, 2024 at the Edon Church of Christ with Pastors Scott Chambers, Cliff Graves and John Love officiating. Burial followed at Edon Cemetery.

Memorials are requested to the Edon Church of Christ. To sign the online register or to send condolences, please visit http://www.krillfuneralservice. com.

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Cynthia Brigle (1963 – 2024)

(Graduated From Edon High School In 1981)

Cynthia L. Brigle, 62, of Columbus, Ohio passed away on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at her home in Columbus. She was born on March 15, 1963 in Bryan, Ohio to Kenneth L. and Marjorie W. (Schooley)

Brigle. Cindy graduated from Edon High School in 1981. She obtained her nursing degree from the Toledo College of Nursing. She retired after 38 years from the Ohio State University where she was a nurse in the post-partum / newborn nursery.

Cindy is survived by her children Caleb Brigle of Columbus and Grace Brigle of Columbus; siblings Connie Mac (Sandy) Brigle of Pioneer, John (Mary) Brigle of Edon, Bill (Connie Sue) Brigle of Edon, Tom Brigle of Edon, and Susie (Tim) Moore of Edon; and sister-in-law Patricia Brigle.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers James Brigle, Ronn Brigle and sister-in-law Chris Brigle. A Celebration of Life was held on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at the Florence Township Fire Department, in Edon.

Raymond Folk (1937 – 2024) (Worked As X-Ray Tech At Bryan Hospital)

Beloved husband, father, grandfather and greatgrandfather, Raymond Riley Folk, age 86, of Bryan, Ohio, passed away at 3:41 A.M. on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at Park View Care Center, Edgerton, Ohio following a lengthy illness.

Raymond was a 1955 graduate of Hicksville High School and Parkview Radiologic School in 1958. He worked for many years as an X-Ray tech at Bryan Hospital.

He made a career switch and sold cars for many years retiring from Bryan Ford in 2010. Ray loved collecting Schwinn bicycles, Budweiser beer steins, watching OSU football and NASCAR. His greatest joy was spending time with family and his beloved cat, Sammy. Raymond was born on May 20, 1937, in Hicksville, Ohio, the son of Riley and Goldie (Houser) Folk. He married the love of his life, Carolann Warner on July 19, 1959 in Bryan and she survives.

Raymond is also survived by his three daughters, Pamela (William) Plassmann of Edgerton, Ohio, Beth (Paul) Burkhardt of Edon, Ohio and Susan (Jamie) Krupp, of Bryan, Ohio; grandchildren, Matthew (Brittany) Plassmann, Erin (Austin) Bailey, Amy (Adam) Brentlinger, Lauren (Nathan) Hay, Dylan (Elaine) Krupp, Sarah (Jacob) Willey, Brandon (Casey) Krupp and Baylee (fiancé, Kade Kern) Krupp; great-grandchildren, Lexie Hay, Riley Hay, Chase Bailey, Blake Hay, Charlotte Bailey, Noah Plassmann, Everly Willey, Holton Krupp, Brynleigh Krupp, Jace Plassmann and Remi Krupp with 2 more great grandchildren on the way; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Oraethel Burns, Vivian Wahl, Paul Folk, Richard Folk and several nieces and nephews. A gathering celebrating Ray’s life was held on Sunday, March 17, 2024 at Krill Funeral Home in Bryan. Private burial will take place at a later date. Memorials are requested to the Williams County Humane Society or ELARA Caring Hospice. To sign the online register or to send condolences, please visit http://www.krillfuneralservice.com.

Williams County ~ Fulton County Area

Frank Brown (1949 – 2024) (Resident Of Pioneer)

Frank E. Brown, 74, of Pioneer passed away on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. He was born on November 29, 1949 in Bryan, Ohio to Carl “Festus” E. and Opal M. (Lautermilch) Brown. On January 25, 1969 he married Wanda Sue Stockman and she survives.

Frank ran his own garage as a mechanic for many years. He loved drag racing, hunting, and fishing. As many in Pioneer knew, Frank was a huge supporter of Donald J. Trump. He is survived by his wife Wanda of 55 years; five children, Amy (Dale) Schmidt, Mary (Adam) Cassidy, Emily (Carey) Christenson, Angie Brown, and Josh (Stacy) Brown; 12 grandchildren, five great grandchildren and six great great grandchildren. Frank was preceded in death by his parents and several good friends.

Visitation for Frank was on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at the Thompson Funeral Home in Pioneer. The services immediately followed visitation with Pastor Lowell Fast officiating. The interment was held at Floral Grove Cemetery in Pioneer. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the family. Condolences may be left at www. thethompsonfuneralhome.com.

Yvonne Swan (1938 – 2024) (Member Of Montpelier Moose & Eagles)

Yvonne Rose Swan, 85, of Montpelier, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at the Laurels of Defiance Nursing Home. She was born on August 10, 1938 in Branch County, Michigan to Donald and Marget (Smith) Quimby.

Yvonne graduated from Litchfield Michigan High School in 1957. On June 20, 1970 she married Lowell “Bud” Swan in Ney, Ohio and he preceded her in death.

Yvonne retired from Powers and Sons in Montpelier, where she worked from 1972 to 2008. She enjoyed going to the Montpelier Senior Center and was a staple at all the grandchildren’s sporting events, often arriving even before the kids. Yvonne was a member of the Montpelier Moose and the Montpelier Eagles.

She is survived by her daughter, Theresa (Mike) McKenzie of Montpelier; ten grandchildren, Tina Custer, Erin Dietsch, Ben Preston, Jessica Preston, Nate Lyons, Jerimah Wells, Adam Wells, Brandy Wells, Daniel Stantz and Josh Wells; seven great grandchildren, Brayden, Alyssa, Emma, Annie, John, Addy, and Lilly; one great-great grandchild, Emery; and two sisters, Sandra Crawford and Deb Quimby, both of Michigan.

Yvonne was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lowell “Bud” Swan; four children, Marlin Wells, Brenda Wells, Rex Wells and Cliff Wells; and two brothers, Wesley and Leonerd Quimby.

A time to receive friends will take place on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Thompson Funeral Home on Main Street in Montpelier. A memorial service will take place immediately following at 1:00 pm at the funeral home with Pastor Craig Bard to officiate. Yvonne will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery in Montpelier. Memorials may be made to the Senior Center or First Club. Condolences may be left for the family at www.thethompsonfuneralhome.com.

•312 W Court #A, convulsions

•BCH ER to St. Rita’s Er, transfer

Gerald Trott (1949 – 2024) (1966 Graduate Of Montpelier High School)

Gerald E. Trott, 74, of Montpelier passed away on Monday, March 11, 2024 at Betz Nursing Home in Auburn, Indiana. He was born on April 2, 1949 in Wauseon to Gerald R. and Mary June (Belding) Trott. Gerald graduated from Montpelier High School in 1966. He proudly served in the United States Marines during the Vietnam War. On February 14, 2000 he married Ruth Wolf, and she survives. Gerald enjoyed bowling, travelling, and watching movies. He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Ruth; daughter Jenifer (Troy) Leppelmeier of Edgerton; stepdaughter Julie (Alan) Gearhart of Montpelier; grandson Tyler Leppelmeier; and sisters Cathy (Steve) Smith of Coldwater, Michigan and Sharon Risinger of Massillon, Ohio. Gerald was preceded in death by his parents.

March

March

•111 E

March 9th

•104

•223

March 10th

•443 N

March 11th

•217 E Gerhart, neighborhood problem

March 13th

•111 E River, traffic offense

EDON POLICE

March 8th

•304 Woodville, domestic violence

March 13th

•308 S Michigan, fraud

WILLIAMS COUNTY EMS

March 8th

•530 S Platt, trauma

•Bryan ER to Parkview, transfer

•21738 Co Rd M50, medical

•WCGH Med Surg to BCH Telemetry, transfer •14605 Co Rd O, medical

•328 W Vine, medical

•BCH ER to Parkview Nursing, trans-

fer

•US 20/4, pi accident

•3966 Co Rd 18, abdominal

•BCH ER to Parkview Regional, trans-

fer

•924 E High, trauma

March 9th •3151 Co Rd 2425, medical

•936 E Wilson #H2, trauma

•1816 E High, chest pain

•WCGH Med Surg to Bryan TCU, transfer

•201 Cedar, full arrest

•3 Pinegrove, medical

•104 S Ash #5, trauma

•13243 Co Rd 675, medical

March 10th

•1109 Co Rd 14, breathing

•BCH ICU to Parkview Hospital, transfer

•17054 SR 49, stroke

•1104 Wesley, full arrest

•1433 N Main, medical

•443 N Daniel, medical

•BCH ER to Fountain Park, transfer

•17054 SR 49, medical

•924 Charlie’s Way, medical

•201 Second, full arrest

March 11th

•SR 576/I, pi accident

•526 S Myers, chest pain

•924 Charlie’s Way, medical

•1032 E Madison, trauma

•US 6/US 15, pi accident

VETERAN

Gerald will be laid to rest at a private graveside service at Riverside Cemetery in Montpelier.

Condolences can be left for the family at www. thethompsonfuneralhome.com.

Lowell Mosier (1938 – 2024) (Graduate Of Bryan High School)

Lowell Dean Mosier, age 85, of Bryan, Ohio, passed away at 9:50 A.M. on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at Hillside Country Living, near Bryan.

Lowell was a longtime farmer and retired as a welder/pipe fitter From Brust Pipeline after 25 years of service. In his retirement he enjoyed time at home and watching game shows. He was an avid fan of The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Cleveland Browns and Indians teams.

Lowell was born on June 16, 1938, in Bryan, Ohio the son of Lawrence and Edith (Shively) Mosier. He was a graduate of Bryan High School. Lowell married Judith Marie Sauders on March 16, 1960, in Covington, Kentucky, and she preceded him in death on January 31, 2024. They are reunited for their 64th wedding anniversary.

Lowell is survived by one daughter, Lynnette (Rex) Suffel, of White Lake, Michigan; two sons, Lawrence (Brian Harsh) Mosier, of Cincinnati and Ryan (Jennifer) Mosier, of Bryan; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather, Lawrence Hopkins; brother, Garry Mosier and sister, Audrey Smethurst.

Funeral services were held on Monday, March 18, 2024 at Krill Funeral Home in Bryan. He was laid to rest at Fountain Grove Cemetery with his wife.

Memorials are requested to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at www.jdrf.org. To sign the online register or to send condolences, please visit www.krillfuneralservice.com.

•Montpelier ER to Evergreen, transfer

•13243 Co Rd 675, breathing

•Bryan Telemetry to Certus, transfer

•Bryan Med Surg to Certus, transfer

•617 N Walnut, medical

•9876 Co Rd 16, medical

•Montpelier ER to Bryan Telemetry, transfer

•TP MM 20 WB I90, pi accident

March 12th

•Bryan ER to Hillside, transfer

•Bryan ER to St. V’s, transfer

•1211 Ray’s unit 8A, medical

•1304 Colonial, trauma

•1102 S Beech, trauma

•12967 Co Rd D, medical

•924 Charlie’s Way, medical

•Montpelier ER to Bryan Telemetry, transfer

•BCH ER to Evergreen, transfer

•BCH ER to St. V’s, transfer

•1717 SR 576 #C, medical

•426 E Water, breathing

•C/16, pi accident

•E Main/River, pi accident

•1436 Rays, breathing

•924 Charlie’s Way, medical

•307 E Gerhart, childbirth

•WCGH ER to BCH Med Surg, transfer

March 13th

•Beerbower/Lake, medical

•807 E Wilson, trauma

•1433 N Main, medical

•1104 Wesley, stroke

•1100 E Main, medical

•1304 Colonial, medical

•BCH Telemetry to Evergreen, trans-

fer

•508 S State, dead body

WILLIAMS COUNTY FIRE

March 8th

•1701 Magda, fire alarm

•US 20/4, pi accident

March 9th

•3208 Co Rd D50, controlled burn

March 11th

•TP MM 20 WB I90, pi accident

•10729 Co Rd 5, field fire

•SR 576/I, pi accident

•600 S State, odor investigation

March 12th

•TP MM 27.3, mutual aid

•4302 SR 576, mutual aid

•E Main/River, pi accident

•C between 20/21, controlled burn

March 13th

•3243 Co Rd 3B, controlled burn

•4847 Co Rd 6, controlled burn

•7.G near SR 34, investigation

•8077 Co Rd G, controlled burn

•805 S State #11, CO Poison check

•C/20 between 20/21, controlled

CONTINUED ON PAGE A5

Police, EMT, Fire, Traffic & Court News (Continued)

burn MONTPELIER POLICE

March 8th

•530 S Platt, medical

•221 Empire, misdemeanor warrant

•212 S Pleasant, citizen assist

•312 W Court #A, medical

•100 N Pleasant, traffic offense

•13508 SR 15, trespassing

March 9th

•S East/E Main, traffic offense

•221 Empire, found property

•909 Snyder, agency assist

•3 Pinegrove, medical

•S Jonesville/W Court, traffic offense

•516 S Jonesville, theft

•924 Charlie’s Way, well-being check

•11862 US 20, fraud

•13469 SR 15, trespassing

•202 E Wabash #F8, keep the peace

March 10th

•213 E Lawrence, nuisance

•924 Charlie’s Way, medical

•201 Second, medical

March 11th

•104 W Jefferson, miscellaneous

•611 Empire, utility problem

•221 Empire, telephone harassment

•13485 SR 15, miscellaneous

•414 Ohio #4, keep the peace

•213 W Jefferson, juvenile

•924 Charlie’s Way, medical

•1032 E Madison, medical

•221 Empire, animal problem

•N Monroe/W Madison, traffic hazard

•Store Your Stuff, B&E

•SR 576/M, traffic hazard

•207 Second, sex offense

March 12th

•924 Charlie’s Way, medical

•426 E Water, breathing

•307 N Monroe, keep the peace

•106 Broad, found property

•219 E Washington, well-being check

•212 S Pleasant, animal problem

•531 Bryant, well-being check

•501 W Main, animal problem

•E Main/River, pi accident

•E Main/Lincoln, miscellaneous

•924 Charlie’s Way, medical

•513 E Main, civil

March 13th

•909 Snyder, mental

•1100 E Main, medical

•115 Empire, escort

•8670 Co Rd J, miscellaneous

•310 W Wabash, miscellaneous

•14082 Selwyn, 911 hang up

•314 S Monroe, 911 hang up

•1030 E Main, fraud

•532 Empire, fight

•216 S Pleasant, disorderly

•502

March 8th

•400 Baubice, fraud

March 9th

•201 Cedar, full arrest

•Bumper to Bumper, lockout

March 11th

•306 W Lynn, fraud

•600 S State, odor investigation

•303 S State, repossession

March 13th

•401 First, stray animal

•508 S State, dead body

STRYKER POLICE

March 8th

•204 Tyler, well-being check

•S Defiance near Dollar General, traffic stop

March 9th

•114 S Defiance, lockout

March 10th

•107 E Lynn, alarm

March 11th

•100 W Lynn, traffic stop

•105 W Mulberry, lockout

•911 S Defiance, lost property

•100-b S Defiance, found property

March 12th

•400 Washington, missing juvenile

March 13th

•215 W Curtis, missing juvenile

•101 N Defiance, traffic stop WILLIAMS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

March 8th

•12156 SR 34, 911 hang up

•15177 Co Rd D50, 911 hang up

•SR 15/G, traffic offense

•6246 Co Rd C75, 911 hang up

•US 6/19, traffic hazard

•US 20/4, pi accident

•14553 SR 49, fraud

•5768 SR 15, alarm

•164 Lakeshore, golf cart inspection

•304 Woodville, agency assist

•11/Q, traffic offense

March 9th

•US 20/SR 576, pd accident

•6521 SR 576, criminal damaging

•18381 Co Rd O, 911 hang up

•201 Cedar, agency assist

•12567 Co Rd 15, assault

March 10th

•107 E Lynn, agency assist

•US 20/12, traffic offense

•106 S Pleasant, unsecure premise

•130 Washington, littering

•139 Sunset, civil

March 11th

•15D at RR, citizen assist

•SR 576/I, pd accident

•4648 SR 576, keep the peace

•15807 SR 49, well-being check

•100 W Summit, department info

•297 Lake, 911 hang up

•US 6/US 127, pi accident

•215 Jefferson, repossession

•SR 576/M, traffic hazard

•104 Brown, extra patrol

March 12th

•117 W Butler, agency assist

•1404 Co Rd 1875, lockout

•C/16, agency assist

•205 Williams, theft

•3151 Co Rd 2425, information

•11657 US 127 unit 1, agency assist

•15D/127, pd accident

•14896 SR 49, pd accident

•19054 Co Rd R, fraud

•US 20/725, pd accident

March 13th

•14553 SR 49, theft

•7.G near SR 34, investigation

•17/R, traffic hazard

•17308 SR 34, child abuse

•SR 15 between MI and Bryan, lost property

•US 6/US 127, traffic hazard

•14553 SR 49, suspicious activity

•101 Meadow, keep the peace

•24075 US 6, alarm

•10607 Co Rd 850, suspicious

•C/8, lockout

WEST UNITY POLICE

March 8th

•1001 E Jackson, 911 hang up

•200 W Jackson, alarm

March 10th

•715 E North #4, agency assist

•205 S Main, lost property

•605 E Church #B, juvenile problem

•602 Oak, civil

•503 Parkway, unsecure premise

March 11th

•118 Lynn, juvenile

March 12th

•310 N Lincoln, child abuse

March 13th

•310 N Lincoln, information

ARCHBOLD POLICE

March 8th

•S Defiance/Lafayette, traffic offense

•22611 SR 2, property found

•Franklin/Park, traffic detail

•1200 Stryker, suspicious vehicle

•S Defiance/Lafayette, traffic offense

•Church/N Defiance, traffic offense

March 9th

•916 Monterey, assist fire/rescue

•Olds/St Anne, assist fire/rescue

•21886 Co Rd D, assist fire/rescue

•N Defiance/Norfolk RR, road blocked by train

•500-b E Lutz, traffic offense

•Eicher/Stryker, traffic offense

•201 West Field, welfare check

March 10th

•300 E Holland unit 9, threats/harassment

•S Defiance/W Barre, traffic offense

•800 W Barre, utilities problem

•S Lincoln/W Barre, traffic jam

March 11th

•Charles/N Defiance, juvenile

•S Defiance/Lafayette, traffic offense

•23358 Co Rd A, assist police unit

•701-8 E Lutz, suspicious vehicle

•Lafayette/Victory, traffic offense

•Christine/Stryker, traffic offense

•200-b Ditto, property lost

•Miller/Pin Oak, traffic offense

•Miller/Rosewood, traffic offense

•S Clyde’s Way/W Barre, traffic offense

•Lachoy/Stryker, traffic offense

•N Defiance/Quail Run, traffic offense

March 12th

•400-b E Lutz, traffic offense

•720 W Barre, assist fire/rescue

•605 Murbach, special detail

•2211 S Defiance, vehicle unlock

•400-b E Lutz, property found

•N Clyde’s Way/Norfolk RR, traffic offense

•1204 Lindau, vandalism

•N Defiance/St Anne, traffic offense

•Frey/Stryker, traffic offense

March 13th

•1300-b S Defiance, traffic detail

•Lafayette/24, traffic offense

•100 Willow Way, juveniles

•100-b E Lugbill, utilities problem

•S Defiance/W Mechanic, traffic offense

•550 Haven unit 304, assist fire/res-

cue

•200 W Williams, suspicious activity

•405 E Lutz, disabled vehicle

•Burke/S Defiance, traffic offense

March 14th

•405 E Lutz, civil problem

•323 W Holland, fraud

•701 W Lutz unit 702, welfare check

•200-b Murbach, crash

•Nolan/Weires, traffic offense

•W Barre/West, traffic offense

•N Defiance/Stryker, traffic offense

•S Defiance/Lafayette, traffic offense

•N Defiance/St Anne, traffic offense

March 7th

•15640

•13084

•C/15,

•12170

•Turnpike Sunoco, welfare check

March 8th

•Tedrow Auto Wrecking, threats/harassment

•North Star Bluescope Steel, unlock

•4549 Co Rd E lot 23, domestic vio-

•129

•10034

March

March

•433

•1295

•Serenity

•Steve’s

March 11th

•12/E, property crash

•1765 Co Rd 5, domestic dispute

•4880 Co Rd C, property crash

•5981 Co Rd H, injury crash

•180/20, property crash

•C/2, property crash

•3850 Co Rd D, assist other police

•129 Courthouse Plz, civil process

•20A/10, traffic stop

•23358 Co Rd A, generic complaint

•7893 Co Rd 2-2, missing person

•FG/NFS RR, suspicious activity

March 12th

•20A/18-1, property crash

•109/20, traffic stop

•J/108, traffic offense

•22291 Co Rd M, unwanted subject

•13672 Co Rd A, wildlife call

•2106 Co Rd D, mental

•2/22, injury crash

•3402 SH 109, generic complaint

•Turnpike Sunoco, larceny

•3751 Co Rd 21, civil matter

•K/13, property crash

•4549 Co Rd E lot 13, suicide threats

•4374 Co Rd C, property crash

•24/E, traffic stop

March 13th

•4549 Co Rd E, loud noise

•1925 Co Rd L, fire

•12511 Co Rd L, juveniles

•6221 Co Rd K, suspicious activity

•11311 Co Rd 14, identity theft

•109 E Main, suspicious person

•4550 US 20A, property crash

•5130 Co Rd 2, protection order violation

•C/10, disabled vehicle

March 14th

•1056 US 20, ill subject

•15465 Co Rd 21, suspicious vehicle

WILLIAMS COUNTY TRAFFIC

•Guilford, Donald E Jr (Bryan) seatbelt. Costs: $40.00 Fine amount: $30.00

•Shutts, Denise D (Montpelier) expired registration. Costs: $85.00 Fine amount: $35.00

•Cluckey, Stephen A (Montpelier) fail to control. Costs: $79.00 Fine amount: $71.00

•Hobeck, Steven R (Edgerton) improper backing. Costs: $79.00 Fine amount: $71.00

•Newland, Aaron R (Stryker) driving under suspension. Costs: $85.00

Fine amount: $350.00; 28/20 speed. Costs: &40.00 Fine amount: $50.00; renew registration. Costs: $40.00

Fine amount: $50.00

•Kemp, Jessica K (Montpelier) failure to reinstate. Costs: $85.00 Fine amount: $250.00

FULTON COUNTY TRAFFIC

•McClure, Ann M (Metamora) speed. Costs: $100.00 Fine amount: $37.00

•Keil, Aaron M (Swanton) speed. Costs: $47.00

Fine amount: $47.00

•Brehm, Aaron T (Fayette) seatbelt. Costs: $56.00 Fine amount: $30.00

•Dockery, Clint E (Swanton) failed to display valid plates. Costs: $100.00

Fine amount: $37.00

•Flores, Jessica (Delta) following too closely. Costs: $100.00 Fine amount: $37.00

•Topolewski, Timothy D (Swanton) rules in starting and backing. Costs: $100.00

Fine amount: $102.00

•Kennedy, Jacqueline (Swanton) speed. Costs: $100.00 Fine amount: $100.00

•Kohlhofer, Kimberly S (Delta) speed. Costs: $100.00 Fine amount: $47.00

•Langenderfer, Robert L (Delta) left of center, accident. Costs: $100.00

Fine amount: $102.00

•Redfox, Chelsea L (Swanton) speed.

Fine amount: $47.00

Costs: $100.00

•Roberts, Brandi A (Swanton) speed.

Fine amount: $37.00

Costs: $100.00

•Patton, Rachel M (Wauseon) speed.

Costs: $100.00

Fine amount: $37.00

•Abbott, Aaron L J (Delta) seatbelt.

Fine amount: $30.00

Costs: $56.00

•Lee, Cassandra D (Wauseon) speed.

Costs: $100.00

Fine amount: $47.00

CONTINUED ON PAGE A6

•Elliott,

•Hartman,

•Batdorf,

•Hite,

•Wentland, Tanner P (Swanton) valid registration. Costs: $100.00 Fine amount: $37.00

•Moore, Meghan E (Swanton) val-

id registration. Costs: $100.00 Fine amount: $37.00

FULTON COUNTY CRIMINAL

•Holley, Steven T Sr (Swanton) disorderly conduct. Costs: $100.00 Fine amount: $100.00

•Holley, Steven T Jr (Swanton) disorderly conduct. Costs: $100.00 Fine amount: $100.00

•Christian, Emily (Wauseon) failed to confine dog. Costs: $100.00 Fine amount: $25.00 and $20.00 restitution also.

•Boman, Cody J (Delta) 1st domestic violence amended to disorderly conduct with $50.00 fine and $75.00

costs also to pay attorney fees, 2 years non reportable probation with 29 days jail on reserve and no violation of law no violent or threatening behavior toward victim; complete recommended treatment, 6 months reportable probation, 2nd domestic dismissed at defendant's costs of $46.00.

•Price, Andrew M (Swanton) OVI, 2nd offense. $525.00 fine plus costs, 10 days jail, 3 years nonreportable probation with 170 days jail reserved on condition of: no violations of law; drug/alcohol assessment within 14 days and any recommended aftercare; not to consume or possess any alcohol or illegal drugs for a period of 180 days, placed on reportable probation

for 180 days, one year license suspension with restricted plates and ignition interlock prior to obtaining driving privileges. DUS and fail to control, dismissed at $56.00 costs each.

•Stasa, Riley C (Delta) disorderly conduct. M4, $100.00 fine plus costs, 3 days jail with credit for time served, 2 years non-reportable probation with reserved term of 27 days jail on condition of no violations of law and complete treatment, 6 months reportable probation. 2 counts aggravated menacing dismissed at defendant's costs of $46.00 each count.

•Walker, Colton (Lyons) failed to confine dog. $25.00 fine plus costs.

On March 12, 2024, the Williams County Grand Jury considered indictments charging individuals with Williams County crimes, according to the Williams County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

-DYLAN H. SNYDER, age 25, of Edon, OH, was indicted on one account of Operating a Vehicle while under the Influence of a listed metabolite of a controlled substance.

-RICHARD PELKA, age 47, of Perrysburg, OH, was indicted on one account of Possession of Cocaine.

-ELIJAH E. FERGUSON, age 29, of Stryker, OH, was indicted on one account of Burglary.

-JACOB D. PETTIT, age 39, of Bryan, OH, was indicted on one account of Attempted Murder, two accounts of Strangulation, and one account of Domestic Violence.

-JEFFERY A. CRITES, age 39, of West Unity, OH, was indicted on one account of Operating Vehicle Under

the Influence of Alcohol or Drug of Abuse, one account of Driving Under Suspension, and one account of Aggravated Possession of Drugs.

-JOHNATHAN G. BUTLER, age 29, homeless, was indicted on one account of Failure to Comply with Order or Signal of Police Officer, one account of Improperly Handling Firearms in a Motor Vehicle, one account of Trafficking in Marijuana, one account of Possession of Marijuana, and one account of Having Weapons while under Disability.

-JARED C. JOHANSEN, age 39, of Bryan, OH, was indicted on one account of Burglary.

-PHILIP J. COUSINO JR., age 62, of Montpelier, OH, was indicted on one account of Operating Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drug of Abuse and one account of Aggravated Possession of Drugs.

-MARTE L. MALONE, age 57, of Montpelier, OH, was indicted on two

accounts of Aggravated Possession of Drugs.

-ROSENDO C. DONOVAN, age 46, of Bryan, OH, was indicted on one account of Domestic Violence.

-SHANE A. LEININGER, age 34, of Defiance, OH, was indicted on two accounts of Domestic Violence and one account of Strangulation.

-ANDREW W. SMITH JR., age 29, of Bryan, OH, was indicted on two accounts of Unlawful Sexual Conduct with Minor, two accounts of Illegal Use of Minor or Impaired Person in Nudity-Oriented Material or Performance, and one account of Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor.

-ERIC M. MARTIN, age 25, of Van Wert, OH, was indicted on one account of Strangulation, one account of Disrupting Public Services, and one account of Domestic Violence.

-ADAM L. SMITH, age 38, of Edon, OH, was indicted on one account of Aggravated Possession of Drugs.

-KRIS A. KERR, age 50, of Alvordton, OH, was indicted on one account of Aggravated Possession of Drugs.

-ALEXANDER C. KENDALL, age 48, of Bryan, OH, was indicted on one account of Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs and one account of Aggravated Possession of Drugs.

-WILLIAM K. HARP, age 31, of Toledo, OH, was indicted on one account of Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs, one account of Aggravated Possession of Drugs, one account of Possession of a Fentanyl- Related Compound, one account of Possession of L.S.D., and one account of Possessing Criminal Tools.

-THOMAS G. HAUCK, age 37, of Bryan, OH, was indicted on one account of Permitting Drug Abuse.

*It should be noted that an Indictment is merely an accusation, and that all criminal defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Williams County ~ Fulton County Area

Local Hometown News

Equipment Purchases & Right Of Way Donation Approved

By: Anna Wozniak THE VILLAGE REPORTER

anna@thevillagereporter.com

The Pioneer Village Council met on March 11th at 7 p.m. for their regular monthly meeting, first approving the agenda as presented.

Present were Councilors Joseph Nickloy, Randy Cochran, Ben Fiser, Dean Frisbie, Trever West, and Will Cable. Alongside them were Village Administrator Anthony Burnett, Solicitor Tom Thompson, Fiscal Officer Gina Gruber, and presiding over the meeting was Mayor Ed Kidston.

The February 14, 2024 meeting minutes were then approved as presented, as was the February financial report. The bills were approved for payment, as was a HDWR invoice for $140.56.

Police Chief Tim Livengood then shared his report for the month, sharing that there is one auxiliary officer who is finishing training.

Fire Chief Swank shared that the fire department saw 20 calls answered this last month and will soon conduct some training at the schools.

Money for battery powered ventilation fans has been applied for, and the new engine chassis and engine packages have been ordered for the new

fire department truck.

Evelyn Deetz then came in and proposed a plaque to be mounted in honor of PW Norris, and GR Joy, who were integral in the founding of Pioneer.

Mayor Kidston shared that there were no objections to moving forward with the project, and Deetz shared that quotes will soon be gathered and presented to the community.

Lizzy Kidston shared that summer recreation has a total of 19 teams signed up from Tball to junior high teams, with a lot of potential for those signed up.

Game scheduling will begin later this week, with the games beginning at the end of March. Team sponsorship is still being orchestrated, with flyers being sent out to local businesses regarding sponsorship.

Burnett began his report by sharing that there have been plans to redo the sidewalk and bridge drive, as they were marked as strikes at inspection. The EPA service line inventory survey will be facilitated in the near future.

The community center rental rate was then discussed, with it being shared that there is no general commercial rate across the board locally for rentals, and asked if the council would like to change the existing rent-

al process for the center.

The current thought is that there will be two different rates, one for nonprofit and the other for commercial endeavors.

The plan is to use these funds to maintain the senior center, and Thompson was asked to draw up the legislation addressing the issue for the next meeting.

Four bids were received for the digger truck, with Administrator Burnett sharing that the 60-foot truck will be cheaper, quicker to obtain, and ready to go for $364,462.

The vac truck has been reaching the end of its life, with a replacement being looked for in the last three years.

A purchase of intent was signed last year but fell through. A used 2012 one has become available for $74,500, with some repairs still needing to be paid for. The funds would be split up between the water, storm, and sewer departments.

The industrial park extension, which is seeking TIP funds due to the creation of jobs, will need to see an application submitted for the funding, with it being shared that the waterline, storm water line, and street aspects of the project still needing to be completed. Burnett was given permission to proceed with the grant

ADAMhs Board Approves Several Contracts

During March Meeting

propriation of $12,000 from the ADAMhs Board.

The funds support the Parent Coordination Program that operates in Defiance, Fulton, Henry, and Williams counties.

The funding allows area judges handling high conflict family cases such as divorce and child custody to use specially trained attorneys and court magistrates to assist, coordinate and resolve conflict between parents promote their children’s well-being.

Finally, the board approved a $30,000 contract with the Children’s Resource Center (CRC) in Bowling Green to provide crisis stabilization for youth whose behavioral health issues require short term, supervised care, but do not meet the criteria for an in-patient hospitalization. The average length of stay at CRC is three to five days.

application and enter an engineering contract for the project pending the award of the grant funding.

The Cedar Street project will be put out for bid in April pending grant acceptance, with notices sent out to residents regarding it. Gruber asked how those who purchase cemetery lots would go about returning them, with

it being shared that the deed transfer process for cemetery lots will be further looked into.

Mayor Kidston shared that no news has yet been given on the solar grant, and that Friday saw a Coldwater, Michigan internet project that should be replicated in Edon that boasts both cheaper costs and faster speeds to the citizens.

The mayor shared that future research will be looked into the costs associated with the program. Council then entered executive session, coming out to pass four ordinances and two resolutions before adjourning, set to meet next on April 13th.

Ordinance 06-2024 amended 2024’s appropriations, and was passed unanimously, as were all but one, Ordinance 072024, which was passed on a 4-2 vote with West and Cable voting against the donation of right of way easements for the Nixon Subdivision.

Ordinance 08-2024 approved the purchase of the newer vacuum truck, and Ordinance 09-2024 accepted the bid for the purchase of the new Digger Derrick truck.

Resolution 104-2024 approved the county-wide Next Gen 911 system, and Resolution 105-2024 approved a petition for annexation of village property.

Some

women’s residential program that Recovery Services operates near Alvordton.

The ADAMhs Board also approved additional funding not to exceed $10,000 for the Williams County common pleas court.

The additional funding was requested by judges and magistrates from the four county area to supplement an initial ap-

After the board meeting, ADAMhs Board members completed their required annual training. This year’s session focused on the House of Ruth, a family violence shelter operated by the Center for Child and Family Advocacy.

Presenters explained how mental health and substance use/abuse issues relate to family violence.

Creation Of New Bryan Art ...

firetrucks, equipment, and other various themes.

Paul and Sheryl’s art gallery that they had in their home just became too small, so they started to look for something that would work better and be in a more prominent uptown location.

When they heard that this property was for sale, they felt it would be perfect for what they were seeking.

The local high schools have great programs and have turned out some tremendous artists but upon graduation there presently isn’t anywhere for them to display their work. Paul said that throughout the region the amount of talent is unbelievable.

The gallery will have one area where the Comb’s will display their artwork all year round, but the rest of the house downstairs will have various rooms for the different exhibits with five shows per year displaying different themes.

The house is a beautiful old fashion style and design with very high ceilings and antique lighting and fixtures. Paul and Sheryl are presently remodeling the house with a lot of painting, replacing wallpaper and other tasks.

The grand opening for Gallery 317 is tentatively set for October of this year and will be a tremendous addition to the culture of the downtown area and region.

Nourishing Your Mind, Body & Spirit

By: Cheryl L Garza - Bryan, Ohio

POWER OF OUR SPOKEN WORDS

Are you aware of your words and how you’re speaking them? How are you saying them? The way that we think, the way we speak has such a powerful role and impact on our wellness.

The way we say our words also has an effect on ourselves and others. Our words carry power. What we speak to ourselves and others we absorb, swallow, and eventually digest.

When we speak poorly and leaves unsettled feelings in our gut. Our tone, our body language can even be affected. It could sabotage our well-being. Words have the power to seep into everything around us.

Our digestive issues could be remedied if we chose to slow down and speak more clearly even. Words are things that affect us and others.

Our children listen to our words believe it or not and store them. We should be cautious and mindful of the words we speak.

Using positive or negative language in our everyday talk or self-talk define the relationship we have with ourselves and others which lead to our actions ultimately.

Which supports the concepts of a positive mind and a growth mindset and the belief that anything is possible if you work hard enough and if you have a clear idea of what to do.

And that’s exactly what positive language gives you motivation positive self-perception and character strength and again well-being.

Words that describe your personality and your abilities will help you see yourself in the more empowering and inspiring light this will help you accept your complexes and love yourself the way you are focus on your strong sides and understand how great your unique personality is and help you unleash your full potential for achieving what your truly desire.

Words can never be retrieved it’s best if we can choose them wisely. Be aware of how powerful words are. Our spoken words have the power to bring out the best, or the worst in you, to lift you up or to tear you down.

With your words, you can either empower or disempower, both yourself and those with whom you share your words with. And that is why it’s so important to pay close attention to the words you use and speak.

Worthy of your word, like anything else, worthiness takes practice. Your own words are worthy... Try creating your own words, your favorite words and then speaking them often cherish and honor those words.

Even eliminating negative words replacing them with positive words such as dislike versus hate, anything is possible versus never, possibly instead of but, choose to instead of having to.

Find words that resonance with you, bringing out your greatness that lies within us all. Grace, Peace and Kindness to All....

Cheryl L Garza A Lady With A Lot Of Zeal and yearning to empower, guide, encourage and share all HOLISTIC Wholesome Living with youth-adults. Highly educated, extremely passionate, determined and driven with no doubts... I choose to make the rest of my life the BEST of my Life, I wish that for all as well... Sharing Love & Kindness... spreadingwellness@yahoo.com 567-239-1960

Munson Road Sewer

Extension Riles Residents

By: Jesse Davis THE VILLAGE REPORTER jesse@thevillagereporter.com

An upcoming project to extend sewer service along North Munson Road that could force some residents to abandon functioning and even new septic systems while effectively doubling their water bill drew angry comments during a public hearing at Monday’s Swanton Village Council meeting.

The project came about, according to Mayor Neil Toeppe, when residents of North Munson Road asked for the road to be repaired a handful of years ago.

As the village prepared for that work, the idea of extending the sanitary sewer came about in order to minimize the costs of the work, rather than waiting until it was a greater need a few years down the line and tearing up the road that had just been rebuilt.

However, according to Village Administrator Shannon Shulters, the Fulton County Health Department is mandating any homes within 200 feet of the new sewer main must connect to it and have their septic system filled in or removed at their own cost.

Among those residents who showed up to the hearing to air their grievances on the matter were RJ and Sandy Wisniewski, who said they just spent $15,000 to install a new septic system in the last several years.

They said they would be willing to tie into the sewer line in 20 years or so, when the septic system got closer to the end of its life.

Council members directed the Wisniewskis and all other North Munson Road residents opposed to the mandate to contact the health department directly, and Toeppe said the council would support those appeals.

Another consequence of the tie-in mandate would be residents having to pay sewer fees, which could roughly double what they are already paying for water once added.

The project has not yet gone out to bid or been sent to the EPA for approval, and construction is not likely to begin until at least two months after it goes to bid.

Toeppe said there will be at least one more public hearing on the project so residents can review the engineering designs.

2024 PERMANENT BUDGET

After having previously passed a temporary 2024 budget in December, council members approved the final budget with only a few changes. The changes were mostly internal and all related to revenue, according to Finance Director Holden Benfield, and included changing the source of certain funding from the general fund to the street fund.

The total budget comes to $15.93 million, including roughly $2.3 million in internal transfers and $3 million in grant funding for the Water Resource Reclamation Facility (WRRF) headworks project.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Shulters reported that she met with Fulton County Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC) Executive Director Matt Gilroy and Thomas Construction and Remodeling owner Seth Thomas regarding senior living and housing in the village, while Toeppe reported Gilroy will be speaking at the next FCEDC meeting on the Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) program and tax increment financing (TIF) districts. Gilroy spoke on CRAs and TIFs at last week’s meeting of the Delta Village Council. The Delta council is considering altering an existing CRA there and instituting a TIF district to bolster development there while clawing back tax dollars currently being lost via 10year, 100 percent tax exemptions

on developments in the CRA.

OTHER BUSINESS

The council authorized Shulters to enter into an agreement with the Fulton County Board of Commissioners and the Fulton County Sheriff’s 911 plan.

The council approved the resignations of part-time Swanton Police Department Patrol Officer Edward Merckel as well as Daniel Johnson, a full-time employee of the Swanton Fire & Rescue Division.

The council approved the hiring of Hilary Huffman as a fulltime police department secretary and dispatcher at an hourly rate of $20.67.

Benfield reported the damage caused to a street sweeper when it caught fire will be covered by insurance, so rather than having to replace the unit or cover all the repairs, the village will only have to cover a $250 deductible.

The council ended the public portion of the meeting by going into executive session for the purpose of “preparing for, conducting, or reviewing negotiating sessions with any private, for-profit investment fund for the purpose of selecting a program administrator and entering into an agreement under section 150.05 of the [Ohio] Revised Code.” No action was expected as a result of the session. The next meeting of the Swanton Village Council will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 25.

By: Anna Wozniak

VILLAGE REPORTER

THE

anna@thevillagereporter.com

The Williams County Port Authority (WCPA) met on March 13, 2024, first approving the minutes from their March 6, 2024 meeting before approving the contract with Fackler Construction for the 108 S. Lynn Street property in West Unity.

Discussion was held on the instructions to bidders document, with it being shared what type of information would be available to involved parties to better help them choose who to contract with for what projects.

nal disbursement for each property so that no bills come in after they have been closed out. It was then shared that the WCPA is looking into a line of credit instead of mortgage to fund future construction, so they can put up lots as collateral to ensure little to no risk to the banks, and all financial

been

There are many requirements for funding, and they are trying to speak to legislators so that developers want to invest in building here.

shared

that

Black Swamp Arts Council Announces Winners Of Annual High School Invitational Art Show

17th annual High School Invitational Art Show, February 26-March 7 at the Northwest State Community College atrium.

The show featured 100 works of art from students representing 11 area high schools. Judges this year were Kevin Schroeder, professor of Fine Art at Owens Community College; Christine Deemer, Art Curator and Archivist at Lourdes University; and Brenda Case, retired Pike-Delta-York Art Teacher.

Judge Brenda Case noted the outstanding overall quality of show stating, “The students from the area high schools presented an impressive collection of styles, techniques, and compositions. The advanced skill levels were evident, and the students’ dedication to creating a successful piece of art was seen throughout the show.

This is a tribute to all of the high school art teachers as well.” The prize winners were recognized at an awards night on Thursday, March 7.

BSAC High School Invitational Art Show Awards - 2024: Best of Show - “Grandma’s

Summer Canning”, prisma drawing by Malorie Zachrich –Tinora Outstanding Painting“Psychedelic Aura” by Nanci Waterston - Bryan Outstanding Drawing – “Skull

and Flowers” by Skye BenderEvergreen Outstanding Photography/ Digital – “Colors of the Jungle” by Dane Leininger - Wauseon Outstanding Mixed Media –“Self-Portrait in 2024” by Emily

Wyse - Archbold Outstanding Ceramics –“Complimentary Chaos” by MacKenzie Brennan - Archbold Outstanding 3D – “A Walk Downtown” – by Jada Brinkman - Pettisville

MONTPELIER VILLAGE COUNCIL

Outstanding Printmaking –“Block Print Still Life” by Gillian Davies - Bryan

HONORABLE MENTION1 - “Safe Space”, drawing by Isabella Oglesbee – Pike-DeltaYork 2 – “Love Struck Silence”, printmaking by Ariana Beltran - Stryker

3 – “Guitar”, 3D guitar sculpture by Brooke Moreland - Hilltop

4 – “Impressions of Me”, oil painting by Keely CullerArchbold

5 – “Morning Dew”, photography by Dane LeiningerWauseon

6 – “Endless Blue”, watercolor painting by Kylie Waldron - Wauseon

7 - “Lianas”, pottery by Jailynn Beam - Bryan

8 – “Hope Hides in Little Things”, digital photography by Renata Merlan - Pettisville

9 - “October 15th, 2023”, ceramics by Eli SponsellerEdgerton

10 – “And you think you can hide from me?”, prisma drawing by Barbara Cline - Tinora The Black Swamp Arts Council is a non-profit arts organization serving rural NW Ohio for 25 years.

Wabash Cannonball Trail To Soon Become National Park Service Trail

By: Anna Wozniak THE VILLAGE REPORTER anna@thevillagereporter.com

The Montpelier Village Council met on March 11, 2024 for their monthly meeting. Present were councilors Kevin Motter, Chris Kannel, Melissa Ewers, Don Schlosser, and Heather Freese alongside Mayor Steven Yagelski, Deputy Manager Justin Houk, Director of Finance Nikki Uribes, Law Director Bob Bohmer, and Clerk of Council Molly Collert.

After a prayer and the pledge of allegiance, council moved to approve the agenda with the addition of an executive session. They then approved the minutes of the February 26, 2024 coun-

cil meeting, as well as the financial reports. Mayor Yagelski then welcomed comments from the audience, making sure to assure students from the school that were attending the meeting that they were free and welcome to ask questions at any time.

Good Friday and Saint Patrick’s Day church activities were then discussed before it was shared that the Wabash Cannonball Trail will officially be accepted as a National Park Service Trail as soon as the transfer of ownership is made official. Then shared was the Williams County Commissioners support of naming two viaducts in honor of veterans.

Resolution 1393 was ap-

proved after a suspension of the rules allowing for appropriations to account for a replacement copier for the office and an electrical piece of equipment for temporary power retention in the event of a short.

Resolution 1394 was then approved, with Montpelier joining all other Ohio municipalities on joining Next Generation 911.

Uribes then began the income tax report, where it was shared that they are roughly $38,000 less in the general fund this year than at this point last year.

Village employee surveys are being completed, and legislative meetings were held with regards to bonds promised by President Obama’s team that were later

revoked by President Trump’s team, with the issue costing the village about a half of a million dollars to date. It was then shared that the necessity of transmission projects must be evaluated by those with vested interests and deemed necessary before they are embarked upon, as to avoid unnecessary transmission rate increases.

Ditch work is expected to happen on plugged tiles off of State Route 15, to help mediate the water that has been held in the culvert for far too long.

The recent happenings of WEDCO were then delivered to council, with interest being shown into the results of their recent housing study.

OHM consultants were scheduled to meet at the fire station conference room later in the week.

Yagelski shared that he knows that the conferences in DC have a lot to them, but that they provide such great insight into the process that they should be welcomed when they come near the end of September.

Yagelski shared that it is a great networking opportunity, and that these conferences usually result in beneficial relationships.

The board then entered executive session to discuss impending litigation with no actions made before adjourning, set to meet next March 25th, 2024 at 6 p.m.

Day Care & Preschool Guide

The first day of kindergarten is a milestone moment for children that their parents will remember forever.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that around five million children attend an organized preschool or daycare facility in the United States, while Statistics Canada reports that roughly 52 percent of children in non-parental childcare are in a daycare center, preschool or childcare center. Children who attend preschool or daycare may make a relatively seamless transition to kindergarten. However, it’s still a good idea for parents to take steps to prepare youngsters for kindergarten in advance of the first day of school.

-Attend orientation or related events. Elementary schools typically are housed in much larger buildings

than preschools or daycares, and that size can be intimidating for children. Attending kindergarten orientation or related events as a family can help children see their classrooms, meet their teacher and potentially their classmates.

-Meet other kids in the neighborhood. Some children attend preschools or daycares close to home, while others may go to facilities near a parent’s office. Regardless of where kids go to daycare or preschool, they’re likely to meet new youngsters in kindergarten. Introducing them to other kids in the neighborhood who will be going to kindergarten as well can calm children’s nerves. Seeing a familiar face on the bus and/or in class can put youngsters at ease.

-Avoid lengthy goodbyes. Parents may get a little teary-eyed on their children’s first day of kindergarten, but drawing out goodbyes as kids get on the bus or walk into school will ultimately make it harder on children. Limit your goodbye to a hug and kiss and some words of encouragement. Keep the emphasis on the positive and the fun that’s to be had so kids arrive at school in a good frame of mind.

-Remind youngsters you’ll be there to pick them up

at the end of the day. Let children know that, just like daycare and preschool, mom or dad will be there to pick them up at school or the bus stop at the end of the day. This sense of the familiar can calm kids’ nerves and reassure them that a smiling face will be there at end of the school day. The first day of kindergarten is a big moment for young children. Parents can take steps to calm firstday jitters and ensure children have a memorable day.

PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

AWARD WINNERS … Front row: MacKenzie Brennan, Emily Wyse, Ariana Beltran. Back row: Skye Bender, Nanci Waterston, Gillian Davies, Renata Merlan, Kylie Waldron, Barbara Cline, Malorie Zachrich, Isabella Oglesbee.

Edgerton FFA Takes Part In Local Contests

By: Giselle Romero EDGERTON FFA REPORTER

On March 5th, a bus load of our students traveled to the Fulton County Fairgrounds to participate in a plethora of contests. Our chapter had students participate in: General Livestock Evaluation, Nature Interpretation, & Wildlife.

General Livestock is always a popular contest for our students, which was shown with our 14 high school and four middle school students.

Our high school team placed 20th out of 48 teams and our middle school team placed 4th! Adyn Herman led the high school team placing 61st & Sam Dockery led the middle school team placing 4th. We had four members participate both in Nature Interpretation and Wildlife.

The chapter’s Nature Interpretation team placed 9th and was led by Joel Stiver who placed 11th. As for Wildlife, our team placed 21st and was led by Avery Perez who placed 12th. We are very proud of our students for taking this learning experience and pursuing their interests.

(Submitted)

Edgerton FFA Celebrates National FFA Week

The last week of February, Edgerton hosted many events in celebration of National FFA week. We were able to celebrate so many positive things throughout the week.

Edgerton Elementary, Junior High and High School dressed up each day. Tuesday students came to school in pajamas as the theme of farmers day off.

We were able to play agriculture and FFA trivia. Wednesday students came to school in their country attire to show off their jeans and boots. We prepared and served a teacher appreciation lunch and participated in a scavenger hunt.

We also had the opportunity to show off our trucks. The Edgerton students showed off 15 trucks during our annual drive your truck to school day.

Thursday, we put on our camo and went to the shop for “shop games”. We ended our week with the “Drive-Your-Tractor-To-School-Day” and our annual petting zoo. Many of the Edgerton local students and staff made their way to the Ag shop to see the animals students brought in to show off.

We ended our National FFA week with our annual Community Pancake Breakfast and Silent Auction. We served over 450 people and raised over $2,000 to donate to charity.

We are grateful for our amazing support from community members and businesses. We cannot thank all the people who support us enough. We are successful because of your assistance and guidance.

Williams County Township Association Visits

Bryan High School Government Class

NATURE

TEAM … Joel Stiver, Kyli Hazelton, Ana Gineman, Raven Wagner.

PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

SERVING BREAKFAST … Shown are Edgerton FFA members serving during our annual pancake breakfast.

Pictured are Giselle Romero, Clara Gerschutz, Gretchen Keppeler, Ava Herman, Ella Manning, Avrie Herman, Abigail Fry, Chloe Hazelton, and Kyli Hazelton. We had 30 members assisting with the day to make it successful.

Montpelier Elementary School Recognizes Little Loco Leaders For February

February 22,

Students were taught by our school counselor, Ms. Anderson, about what being compassionate means. Also, looking at our differences as being special and unique. Always being kind in our words and actions.

Students were also given the opportunity to drop their name in a bucket for being a “Loco Leader” to have a chance to be drawn out randomly at the assembly as well. The students were given prizes donated by Bill’s

Montpelier Elementary School held its monthly Little Loco Leaders assembly for the month of February on

2024. The word of the month was being “compassionate,” and specific students were recognized by their teachers for being compassionate in class.

Locker Room III, the Montpelier Academic Boosters, Subway and McDonald’s.

MONTPELIER FIRST GRADE … Front Row (left to right) - Athena Newland, Michael Moor, Layla Miller. Back Row (left to right) - Madilyn Lamberson, Summer Fee, Carissa Harter, Grace Chamberlain.

MONTPELIER SECOND GRADE … Front Row (left to right) - Joplynn Brown, Addison Dohner, Scarlett Cameron. Back Row (left to right) - Nadalynne Andres, Alexianna Hernandez, Carson Muehlfeld

PHOTOS PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

KINDERGARTEN … Front Row (left to right) - Treytin Barras, Emalee Gifford, Ava Beavers. Back Row (left to right)Emma Coutz, Khyler Nemire, Kaylynn Dohm.

AM CLASS … Front Row (left to right)Cadence Handshoe, Caroline Hamrick.

PM CLASS … Front Row (left to right)Dean Cook, Ryder Phillips.

MONTPELIER K-2 BUCKET FILLERS … Front Row (left to right) - Layne Ussery, Dauson Reid, Noah Cromie, Aryanna Wodarski, Elsie Thorp, Macey Ward. Back Row (left to right) - Max Tressler, Kellen Snow, Natalie Warner, Reese Nickells.

Board Learns Of Capital Improvement Projects Discussed By Finance Committee

By: Jacob Kessler

THE VILLAGE REPORTER

jacob@thevillagereporter.com

The Wauseon Board of Education held their meeting on Monday, March 11th. The meeting began at 5:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance before the board heard from Student Liaison Brianna Hays.

Brianna informed members of some of the student activities that have taken place at school as of late. Some of these activities included a teacher appreciation breakfast, an appreciation lunch for students, and a best buddies program launched for developmental disabilities week.

Board members then moved to approve the current meeting agenda before awarding commendations to Joy and Matt Hutchison.

Joy was recognized as the 2023-2024 Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher award winner, and Matt was recognized as the

2023 OIAAA Athletic Director of the Year. Transportation Supervisor Jill Shehorn came next and gave a transportation update presentation to the board. Some of the following information was included in the presentation.

There are currently 14 bus drivers with the school currently looking for 1 more and additional substitutes.

There is only one substitute as of right now with a goal being set of three to four. A bucket list was given for the transportation department, along with a description and pictures of their dream bus garage.

Events the team has participated in this past year were shown along with an overview of bus 20. Bus 20 was scrapped, but not before all usable pieces and parts were stripped for future use first.

Topic then shifted to a discussion regarding the Finance Committee’s Capital Improvement Planning Discussion.

Some items being looked at by the committee were the remodeling of the auditorium, changes to the softball field, and a bus garage.

It was said the auditorium is original to 1978 and that there are numerous repairs and changes needing to be completed. An architectural company has been working on giving the committee plans and numbers for their consideration.

The meeting then moved on to see approval of minutes from the previous meeting, before moving on to hear the treasur-

er’s report. The following items were approved as part of the report. Listed monthly bills and financial reports, a list of donations, fiscal year 2024 amended appropriations, and the Fulton County Auditor’s real estate tax amounts and rates.

The superintendent’s report followed next with the following items included in the report being approved. A list of personnel recommendations, a motion to adjust the 2023-2024 district calendar to use calamity times to cancel school for students and

staff, and cancel all after-school activities on April 8th, 2024, as a result of the solar eclipse affecting Fulton County.

A memorandum of understanding between the Wauseon Education Association and the Wauseon Exempted Village Board of Education, effective February 9th, 2024, and March 11th, 2024.

A motion to approve a list of college credit plus institutions for the 2024-2025 school year. Board members then voted to enter executive session at 5:53 p.m. Following their return, the meeting was adjourned.

By: Anna Wozniak THE VILLAGE REPORTER anna@thevillagereporter.com

The Williams County Commissioners met on Tuesday and Thursday last week as usual, with Tuesday beginning with a 9:45 a.m. general session.

Commissioners Lew Hilkert and Bart Westfall then passed eight resolutions before signing the Dog Warden report through March 3, 2024, the February monthly inventory report, February’s financial report from the county auditor, a letter of support for a proposed Emergency Operations Center (EOC) project, a Maumee Valley request for pay, the minutes of their March 7, 2024 meeting and bills as presented.

At 10 a.m., Arica Alvarez from Maumee Valley Planning, who detailed how the state has flagged Williams County’s fair housing legislation as out of date.

The legislation was last updated in 1990. MVPO is working on modified fair housing resolutions so that all county municipalities will comply with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Equal Housing Opportunity requirements.

April is Fair Housing Month, and they have been hard at work traveling to conferences and spreading the word about fair housing requirements and tenant rights. This also helps the workers achieve their mandatory training hours.

At 10:30 a.m., they met with Sheriff Kochert, to update them on a taser purchase to replace ones purchased in 2011. Brand new ones are extremely expensive, so the sheriff has been looking for used options.

Grant funding and taser costs were then discussed before they entered recess before their 11:30 appointment.

Kevin Motter then addressed the commissioners, sharing that he was there on behalf of the Williams County Veterans Memorial.

Motter then detailed a plan to honor the area veterans once again by naming the viaduct over the Norfolk

and Southern Railroad on the east side of Montpelier as the POW / MIA Memorial Viaduct, and the highway bridge crossing the St. Joe River near the Riverside Cemetery as the Gold and Blue Star Families Memorial Highway. The commissioners assured Motter that they would send their letters of support.

They then asked attending Montpelier Mayor Steven Yagelski if there was anything he would like to add, to which he responded that he thought the project “just fits. It’s not for Montpelier, it’s for everybody.”

They then adjourned the meeting, and opened Thursday at 9 a.m. They then approved five resolutions before signing the credit card appropriations for the Sheriff’s Office for April, the Dog Warden report through April 10, 2024, and January’s monthly Dog Warden report, travel requests, the minutes of their March 12, 2024 meeting, and the bills as presented by the county auditor.

At 9:30 a.m., they met with Clerk of Courts Kim Herman on the new happenings of driver testing, with the position for those testing not utilized enough for being a separate department.

Therefore, it is now the Clerk of Courts responsibility to coordinate driver testing, with the person taking on those responsibilities also sharing in clerical duties. This means that they now will have to fund the position, and already face a shortfall of around $6,000 a year.

This week’s resolutions:

PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS … (Front) Phil Kessler, President Amy Fisher, Chad Richer. (Back)

CFO/Treasurer John Kahman, Larry Zimmerman, Jr., Curt Crew, Superintendent Troy Armstrong.

COMMENDATION … Superintendent Troy Armstrong (middle) stands with Joy Hutchinson (left) and Matt Hutchinson (right) following the presentation of the commendations.

St Mary School (Edgerton) Students Learn About The Ice Age

FCCC

Job Training Program Awarded Three-Year Accreditation

PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

RECOGNITION … Four County Career Center’s Job Training Program has been awarded a three-year accreditation in Community Employment Services: Employment Supports and Job Development by CARF. This prestigious accreditation underscores Four County’s fulfillment of stringent quality standards that enhance the lives of people served. The accreditation process entails a comprehensive evaluation of the center’s services, programs, and operational procedures to ensure alignment with CARF’s exacting criteria. Shown above is the Job Training staff with the CARF Certification document (LEFT TO RIGHT) Tobi Ziegler (Job Coach), Kristan Norden (Job Training Coordinator), and Elizabeth Hopkins (Job Coach).

Is It Really So?

By: Dr. Jerry Bergman, Montpelier, Ohio

IN MEMORY OF MY FATHER-IN-LAW HARVEY HALDIMAN

Harvey was born in Missouri on October 20, 1916, the 5th child and 2nd son of Joe and Emma Haldiman. He arrived in Montpelier on New Year’s Day of 1940 and was employed at Hause Valve Company until his retirement in 1985.

Harvey began as the office manager and served as president/CEO of Hause from 1976 to 1985. In 1933, engineer Ralph Hause (1906-1976) and his partner A.C. Brammer formed Hause Valve Company to manufacture specially designed valves used in underground oil-well equipment.

In the following decade, the product line was expanded to include complete oil-well pump assemblies that were trademarked “Moroil” from more oil.

Development of the present “Holomatic” product line began in 1952 and a second company, Hause Machines, Inc., was organized in 1953 to market this equipment.

The term “Holomatic” is a registered trade name that identifies the patented power-feed unit design invented by Ralph Hause.

These units drive a wide variety of end-working tools in manufacturing. The capacity, range, and versatility of this invention led to the design and sale of complete industrial production machines. They also made military equipment for the government.

When Harvey ran the company, Hause employed over 70 persons and had over 900 customers throughout the world.

Harvey was honored as Montpelier ‘Citizen of the Year’ in 2001 for his exemplary community work. He sat on the Montpelier Chamber of Commerce in the 1970s and 1980s and was active in the Lions Club for over a half century. Among his other many community activities include working as a volunteer parole officer for a number of years.

WHAT MADE HARVEY

Harvey grew up on the 160-acre family farm in what he described as a very happy family. They often gathered around the piano to sing Christian music with gusto.

Years later, when in the rest home afflicted with Alzheimer disease, Harvey could still play the piano and sing Christian songs with the same joy he experienced as a child.

When living on the farm, the Haldiman children attended a one-room school where the teacher, his sister, taught grades one through eight.

Each grade would move up to the front row for their oral lesson. When their oral lesson was completed, they would be given their reading or writing lesson before they went back to their grade seats.

Then the next grade would come up front for their oral lesson etc. until all the grade cycles were completed. The school, which Harvey’s father helped to build, was a little over a mile away. The five children walked to school unless it rained. In this case Joe would take them in a surrey carriage pulled by two mules.

The surrey ride was such a treat that they looked forward to rain! School began each day by gathering around the piano to sing Christian hymns accompanied by spirited piano music.

After completing 8th grade, Harvey attended Jamestown High School for only a year. He was forced to quit school to help on the family farm for two years.

When the Great Depression hit, the family was forced to sell their farm and moved to Prairie Home, Missouri. Harvey then went back to finish high school, graduating in 1937.

He then moved in with his sister, Esther, and her husband, “Mac” McClure. Harvey was now able to attend Wichita Kansas Business College and graduated in 1939.

He supported himself during college by working part time in a restaurant, delivering The Wichita Beacon newspaper, and working in a gas station.

Harvey also worked for Phillips Petroleum, a job which gave him valuable experience in the petroleum industry that later opened a few employment doors.

After graduation, he worked for Art Bramer. The plan was to send Harvey to work in Oklahoma on the oil wells where Hause valves were used.

At this time, Ralph Hause called Bramer and informed him that the manufacturing plant in Montpelier desperately needed more help. Harvey was not anxious to go, but needed a job, so left to work in Montpelier.

Before he left for Ohio, his boss asked him if he had any “she” business to take care of. Harvey answered yes, but nothing serious.

He boarded the train that night, which was not scheduled to stop in Montpelier. So, when riding the train, he spoke to the conductor who agreed to have the train slow down in Montpelier. When they reached Montpelier, the conductor opened the door and Harvey jumped out carrying a suitcase that contained most of his worldly possessions.

When living in Montpelier, Harvey met Ellenora Meiser who worked in the local Louden Department Store. They married in 1941 and had two children, Dianne, and Dennis. Sometimes friction between in-laws occurs, but I can honestly say that never has a cross word ever been exchanged between Harvey and me.

I credit him for raising a fine daughter, whom I married in December of 1985. He would have been 108 years old on October 20th this year.

Harvey is sorely missed today by his family and his many friends. His last words were that he was ready to meet his Lord. May we all be able to say the same when our short time on Earth is finished.

Dr. Bergman is a multi-award-winning teacher and author. He has taught in the science and psychology area for over 40 years at the University of Toledo Medical College, Bowling Green State University, and other colleges. His 9 degrees include a Doctorate from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He has over 1,800 publications in both scholarly and popular science journals that have been translated into 13 languages. His publications are in over 2,400 college libraries in 65 countries. Bergman has spoken over 2,000 times at colleges and churches in America, Canada, Europe, the South Sea Islands, and Africa.

PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

WOOLLY MAMMOTH … As the St. Mary School students learned about the Ice Age, Mr. Jake Bonnell,

PHOTO

Delta’s Joseph Wenzel Receives Governor’s Merit Scholarship

recently named a recipient of the

recognizes students at the top of their classes and helps them pay for college.

“Joseph’s dedication to his stud-

ies and commitment to doing his best have earned him this incredible honor,” said Dr. Kristin Stewart, head of school at OHVA.

“Creating opportunities for students like Joseph is what drives our passion for creating a personalized learning environment where students from any background or those facing hardships can thrive as they pursue their educational goals.”

The Governor’s Merit Scholarship is an Ohio program that reduces the financial burden of the state’s top students as they continue with higher education.

Each year, the scholarship is awarded to the top 5% of students in schools across the state. The scholarship will provide Wenzel with $5,000 in annual financial assistance for four years toward any public or private non-profit college or university in the state.

Wenzel, who has autism, transferred to OHVA in fifth grade to learn

in a more supportive environment at his own pace.

Since transitioning to the virtual public school, his grades have improved significantly, and he has been able to prioritize his physical and mental health without falling behind in class.

Wenzel also participated in OHVA’s College Credit Plus program, earning college credit through North Central State College as he worked toward his high school diploma. The college offered Wenzel a 64-credit hour scholarship if he chooses to attend after graduating.

Wenzel is currently taking classes on computer programming through the school’s information technology career pathway. Joseph plans to attend college to study a computer-related field, which has been his passion since freshman year. For more information about OVHA and the programs it offers students, please visit https://ohva.k12.com/

STRYKER SENIOR CENTER … Bobbi Johnson, Jackie Schwab (HDM Driver).

(PRESS RELEASE) DELTA, OhioJoseph Wenzel, a high school senior attending Ohio Virtual Academy (OHVA), was

Governor’s Merit Scholarship, which

Pike-Delta-York School Board Recognizes

Students Of The Month

EDON BOARD OF EDUCATION

Gym Renamed In Honor Of Don Walton

By: Anna Wozniak

THE

VILLAGE REPORTER anna@thevillagereporter.com

By: Jesse Davis THE VILLAGE REPORTER jesse@thevillagereporter.com

Pike-Delta-York Local School District principals recognized their schools’ students of the month during last week’s school board meeting.

Delta Elementary School Principal Ellen Bernal presented the award to first grader Jayda Incorvaia, reading a statement from Incorvaia’s teacher, Andrea Floray.

Floray said Incorvaia is willing to help her classmates from tying their shoes to in-class work, seeks out ways to help the teacher, always has a smile on her face, maintains a positive attitude, shows perseverance when doing something difficult, and excels in her schoolwork.

Delta Middle School Principal Shawn Murphy presented the award to fifth grader Archer Martinez.

According to Murphy, Martinez consistently demonstrates excellent academic performance in all subject areas, “often going above and beyond the expectation on assignments,” maintains a positive attitude, is attentive during instruction and actively participates in instruction, comes to class prepared, is always excited to learn something new, and when absent is proactive about finding out what he missed and completing it.

“Not only does Archer strive to get the most out of all learning experience for himself, he’s also a great role model for his peers,”

Murphy said, adding “he’s always the first one to jump in and help others in need whether it’s answering a question or helping a student get organized.”

“He has the unique ability to see the good in any situation, and is a positive, uplifting person to all around him.”

Delta High School Principal Doug Ford presented the award to sophomore Brady Smith. Ford said

Smith’s teachers’ comments mirrored one another, with multiple comments on his great work ethic, respectful treatment of classmates and teachers, great attitude, “impressive” time management skills, thoughtfulness, enthusiasm, and perseverance that have led to “tremendous” strides academically, athletically, and personally over the last year. “They can’t wait to see what comes next,” Ford said.

The Edon Board of Education met on Monday, March 11, 2024 in regular session. Present were members Jamie Schaffter, Patty Eicher, Ashley Reed, David Wehrle, and board president Cody Best. Also present were Superintendent Anthony Stevens, High School Principal Kayla Lapham, and Elementary Principal Jennifer Ripke.

After the minutes from their February meetings were approved, the agenda was approved as presented, as were the financial reports for February.

The superintendent shared that he found himself “smiling alot” throughout the Beauty and the Beast musical production put on by the school, and shared that everyone who had a role in the gym dedication has his thanks.

Kyle Sapp and Black Swamp Equipment were thanked for the donation of the two-person lift that was used in the dedication.

The district’s annual employment survey has been sent out, and discussion was had on replacing the service for mental health services, which is currently CHWC.

The concern is that costs are rising significantly for the partnership now that Parkview has changed from providing the service to the school to expecting the schools to financially support the program.

Other servicers are being investigated into to try and mitigate the costs incurred by the department, with the board sharing that conversations with other districts should be had so that they may determine what the consensus is.

A significant Chromebook purchase will soon be made by the department so that end-of-life equipment may be retired, for which Tim Sheridan has spent the last month gathering quotes.

Two different options for the ECHO Coalition’s annual student survey were then discussed, with it being shared that the shorter survey may be preferred. The annual contract with NWOESC was then approved, as were the income tax certification for the November 5th election, a data and security agreement for the FAFSA, the golf simulator membership plan, and all supplemental contract recommendations for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year.

The board then moved to enter executive session at 6:04 p.m.

St. Mary School (Edgerton) Kindergarteners Work On Physical Fitness

DELTA HIGH SCHOOL … Sophomore Brady Smith stands with Principal Doug Ford (left) and Board Member Tim Ford (right) after receiving the school’s Student of the Month Award.

DELTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL … First-grade student Jayda Incorvaia stands with Principal Ellen Bernal (left) and Board President Jeremy Lohman (right) after receiving the school’s Student of the Month Award.

PHOTOS BY JESSE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

DELTA MIDDLE SCHOOL … Fifth-grade student Archer Martinez stands with Principal Shawn Murphy (left) and Board Member Jeff Lintermoot (right) after receiving the school’s Student of the Month Award.

PHOTO BY ANNA WOZNIAK / THE VILLAGE REPORTER DON WALTON GYMNASIUM … The Edon High School gym was recently renamed Don Walton Gymnasium, recognizing a man who the board says is integral to the success and positive culture of the district.

PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER GYM CLASS ACTIVITIES … St. Mary School kindergarten students Jackson Kirtley, Makenna McMaken, and Kadea Riblet are shown completing an inside obstacle course in gym class. Activities included rock balancing, cone jumping, memory matching, ball throwing and hopping.

Don’t Miss the Maple Syrup Festival Williams County

Saturday, March 23, 2024 • 8 am - Noon

Williams County Fairgrounds, Montpelier, OH

The Maple Syrup Festival is Saturday, March 23. The fun begins at the Williams County Fairgrounds in Montpelier, Ohio. Bring your family and friends to see a working sugar shack in operation, enjoy pancakes with pure maple syrup, and educational and fun activities.

Events start at 8:00 a.m. and continue until noon. Pancakes and sausage prepared by the Williams County Fair Foundation and Williams County Pork Producers topped with pure maple syrup provided by the Northwest Ohio Maple Syrup Producers will be served in the Gillette Building. Breakfast will be served starting at 7:30 a.m. There will be 2 serving lines to better serve those attending at both the east and west entrances. Handicap parking will be available on the west and north side of the Gillette Building.

Horse-drawn wagons (weather permitting) and tractor-drawn wagons will be on hand for rides across the covered bridge to the sugar

shack. The sugar shack is complete with a stainless evaporator, holding tank and filtering unit. See the tree tapping process of gathering the sap and the boiling process in the evaporator until the sap becomes syrup.

The Northwest Ohio Maple Syrup Producers will have real maple syrup that can be purchased along with fresh-spun maple cotton candy, maple candy, and other maple products.

Returning this year from the Ohio Division of Wildlife for all ages will be an inflatable BB gun range, an archery range, and new this year an archery simulator range. Come and try out your shooting abilities.

See the portable sawmill demonstration by King Lumber. Talk with representatives from the Northwest Ohio Woodland Owners Association and see samples of native hardwoods and more. Do you have tree and forestry questions? Then ask Daniel Bartlett and Max Schrimpf with the Ohio Division of Forestry. Daniel will be at the Williams Soil & Water Con-

servation District’s annual tree seedling sale.

Learn about entomology through live insects with the OSU Master Gardeners and have your horticulture questions answered. The Montpelier Tree Commission will have educational displays, a tree raffle, and balloons for the kids.

Talk with Tim Sanders, a local taxidermist, and Joe Blosser, hunter and trapper, and see their magnificent exhibits of pelts and animal mounts. Events will also include learning everything about bees and beekeeping, seeing and touching live reptiles and amphibians with Camp Palmer staff, learning about wildlife and local programs from the ODNRDivision of Wildlife. Ask our local Division of Wildlife management consultants your questions. Get updates on the restoration and hunting of wild turkeys from the local National Wild Turkey Federation and talk with members from Pheasants Forever. Ask Black Swamp Beekeepers Asso-

ciation everything about bees including honeybee knowledge, planting for pollinators, healthy colonies & more.

Bring your family and friends to the Williams County Fairgrounds in Montpelier on Saturday, March 23, for a fun-filled morning while enjoying pure maple syrup, pancakes and sausage, see how maple syrup is made, plus loads of woodland and wildlife fun! There is no charge for the events or entry to the fairgrounds. There is only a charge for breakfast and products purchased.

This event is being sponsored by the Northwest Ohio Maple Syrup Producers, Williams County Fair Foundation, Williams County Fair Board, Williams Soil and Water Conservation District, and The Ohio State University Extension of Williams County. If you would like more information, contact the Williams Soil and Water Conservation District at 419636-9395 or visit northwestohiomaplesyrupproducers.com.

Maple Syrup Festival Events

•Pancake & Sausage Breakfast

•Horse Drawn Wagon Rides 9:00 am-12 noon

•Tractor Wagon Rides 8:00 am-Noon

•Sugar Shack, Tree Tapping & Collection Process

•Maple Products: Syrup, Candy, & Cotton Candy

•Portable

•Timber,

•Montpelier

•Division

•Wildlife

How Agricultural Technology Can Help Improve Sustainability

Sustainable agriculture is an approach to farming that will allow modern farmers to meet the needs of a growing population while enhancing environmental quality. That can benefit both current and future generations, and technology will play a vital role in realizing the goals of sustainable agriculture.

According to the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, sustainable agriculture is designed to meet the needs of the present without compromising future generations’ ability to meet their own needs. That’s a worthy goal, especially in the face of a growing global population that the United Nations estimates will increase by two billion persons by 2050.

There are numerous benefits to utilizing sustainable agriculture technology, which can be especially advantageous to modern farmers.

EFFICIENT LAND MANAGEMENT

Modeling technologies can be utilized to make more efficient use of land. According to Sustainable Brands, a global community of brand innovators, modeling technologies can be employed in a host

of ways, including to identify tillage practices and the status of tile drainage. Certain agricultural technologies have been designed to predict the performance of cropland, which can allow farmers to more effectively and efficiently use their land. Farmers also can employ modeling technologies to determine soil health and water needs and usage, which can benefit the land and ensure resources aren’t wasted. Utilization of such technologies ensures farmers can meet the needs of modern consumers without affecting future farmers’ ability to do the same.

How Labor Shortages Are Affecting Agriculture

The agricultural workforce is shrinking, and has been for some time. The American Farm Bureau Federation estimates there are roughly 2.4 million farm jobs that need to be filled annually, but there has been a drastic decline in workers each year.

There are a number of reasons for the shortages. The AFBF says more than 73 percent of farm workers are immigrants from South America and Mexico. While the United States’ H2-A visa program, which allows employers who meet specific requirements to bring foreign laborers in for temporary work, has increased the number of accepted applications for immigrants to 250,000, this number is still just a drop in the bucket in terms of labor needs.

Another factor is a career in agriculture isn’t always easy or lucrative. According to the U.S Department of Agriculture, for every dollar spent on food, a farmer receives only 7.6 cents. Farmers were predicted to lose 9.7 percent of total net income in 2021.

Declining interest in the field has also affected the number of farm workers. As more farm operators reach retirement age, fewer young farmers are replacing them due to volatile pricing, high real estate and land costs, steep initial machinery investment costs, and other factors. The physical demand of the industry also takes its toll. So what does this mean for the agricultural industry?

Many with knowledge of the industry indicate sweeping changes are warranted. Ellen Poeschi, the project director for the National Association of Agricultural Educators Teach Ag campaign, has said that a lack of agricultural education is contributing to the problem. Increasing availability of ag education courses across the country could build interest in the industry. Connecting students to internships or mentors may help, too.

Another option is to rally for greater economic opportunities in agriculture. The ag industry in general needs to find ways to make the economic benefits more competitive to other industries, and improve the

REDUCE RUNOFF

The United States Environmental Protection Agency notes that runoff poses a significant threat to the environment. When runoff occurs, fertilizer, bacteria and other pollutants find their way into streams, rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Sustainable Brands notes that nanotechnology is an efficient way to deliver nutrients to crops that can improve both the efficacy of the nutrients and reduce runoff.

PROTECT CROPS

Sustainable Brands notes that agricultural biologicals are inputs derived from natural materials that have low toxicity. That low toxicity reduces their environmental impact. Agricultural biologicals utilize the properties of such things as bacteria, fungi and even insects to support healthy crops, potentially improving yield without adversely affecting the environment.

Sustainable agriculture technologies can help modern farmers and their successors meet the needs of a rapidly growing global population.

working conditions and job flexibility. Agricultural industries currently average only 60 percent of what other industries offer in salaries. Farm wages have been rising due to the H-2A program, which requires farm worker pay to be higher than the state/federal minimum wage. More change is needed, but this may have to come at the federal level or be sparked by efforts on the part of agricultural advocacy groups.

Additional strategies farm operators can employ to combat shortages are: scaling back farm operations; integrating ag technology to reduce labor burdens; pivoting to crops that require fewer laborers; leasing portions of land to have extra money; employing temporary guest workers; and moving operations abroad.

Worker shortages continue to be problematic for the agricultural industry. A greater focus on remedying the issue is needed on a grand scale.

Climate change poses an array of challenges. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration notes that the impacts of climate change on various sectors of society are interrelated, a connection that mirrors the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The human health crisis that arose during the pandemic affected all aspects of life, as illnesses limited worker productivity, thus affecting the global supply chain, including the availability of food.

Scientists warn that a similar scenario could play out as a result of climate change. The agricultural sector could face considerable challenges in the years to come.

The Fourth National Climate Assessment is a government-mandated report that must be delivered to the United States Congress once every four years. Among the many aims of the report are to provide an analysis of the effects of global changes on the natural environment and agriculture. The report also must project major trends for the next 25 to 100 years. The most recent report, delivered in 2018, noted that changing precipitation patterns could intensify in the coming years, leading to more intense periods of heavy rain and longer dry periods.

Those shifting patterns and other changes could lead to an increase in conditions and weather events that pose unique challenges

to the agricultural sector.

Flooding: The Union of Concerned Scientists notes that many agricultural regions of the United States have already experienced increased flooding. The effects of flooding on the agricultural sector are often devastating and include accelerated soil erosion, water pollution and damage to infrastructure that challenges farmers ability to get food from their farms to stores and, ultimately, consumers dinner tables.

Drought: The National Integrated Drought Information System reports that the primary direct economic impact of drought in the agricultural sector is crop failure and pasture losses. The Government of Canada notes that areas of western Canada are already experiencing frequent and severe droughts, and scientists expect other areas of the country to be affected by drought more often in the

years to come. The same goes for the United States, which the UCS notes has already dealt with severe drought in California, the Great Plains and the midwest. Depleted water supplies are a byproduct of drought, and such depletion can take a toll on crops and livestock.

Economics: The effects of climate change on crops and livestock may force farmers to change the nature of their farms. The UCS notes that farmers may be forced to choose crop varieties and animal breeds that are suited to the new conditions sparked by climate change. Going in a new direction could force farmers to make potentially costly investments in machinery and other changes as they make the transition.

Climate change will pose unique challenges to the agricultural sector that could force farmers to make some difficult decisions in the years ahead.

The Basics Of Regenerative Agriculture

Climate change poses a threat to various industries, not the least of which is the agricultural sector. Agricultural industry insiders recognize that the changing climate has been forcing farmers and agricultural organizations to adapt and adjust for decades, and that need to be flexible won’t change in the years to come.

One of the changes many farmers may consider in coming years, if they haven’t already, is a pivot to regenerative agriculture practices. Regenerative agriculture could have a profound impact on the world over the next half century, so now may be a great time to gain an understanding of the practice.

WHAT IS REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE?

Regenerative agriculture is a production system that focuses on reducing water usage and other inputs as part of a larger attempt to prevent land degradation and deforestation. According to the organization Green America¨, regenerative agriculture is designed to harness the power of photosynthesis in plants to sequester carbon in the soil. The ability to do that can improve soil health, crop yields, water resilience, and nutrient density.

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE BE INTERESTED IN REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE?

GreenAmerica¨ notes that re-

generative agriculture draws down atmospheric carbon dioxide. That’s a significant benefit, as Climate. gov, which is a product of various departments within the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, reports that adding more carbon dioxide to the environment is causing global temperatures to rise. In fact, observations from the NOAA Global Monitoring Lab in 2021 revealed that carbon dioxide alone was responsible for about two-thirds of the total heating influence of all human-produced greenhouse gases. GreenAmerica¨ reports that, at scale, regenerative agriculture could help to reverse the climate crisis by drawing down atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Another reason to consider regenerative agriculture is its connection to topsoil. GreenAmerica¨ reports that the world is on the

cusp of running out of topsoil, which is vital to growing food. Regenerative agriculture rebuilds topsoil, which can lead to greater food security across the globe.

WHAT ARE SOME REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE PRACTICES?

Regenerative agriculture practices include the usage of cover crops, a reduction in tilling, crop rotation, and spreading compost. GreenAmerica¨ notes that regenerative agriculture practitioners also avoid the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and factory farming. As the climate crisis continues to challenge the agricultural sector, regenerative agriculture could help farmers and the larger industry successfully confront those issues.

Disaster Assistance Resources For Farmers

Natural disasters are often devastating, resulting in losses of life, livelihood and homes, among other effects. If it seems as though weather-related disasters have risen in frequency in recent decades, that’s because they have. In fact, a 2021 report from the World Meteorological Organization indicated that the number of disasters has increased by a factor of five over the last halfcentury.

Weather-related disasters do not discriminate, and people from all walks of life and corners of the globe can be affected by such catastrophes. The agricultural sector is especially vulnerable to natural disasters, as farmers can lose their homes and their livelihoods in what feels like the blink of an eye. But farmers should know that various support programs are in place to provide assistance should they need

it in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES

*Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP): The Farm Service Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture notes that this program provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses due to drought or fire on land that is native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover. Assistance also is available when land planted specifically for grazing has been affected by drought or fire.

*Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP): This provides benefits to livestock producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather or by attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild

by the federal government.

* Emergency Loan Program: This program provides loans to producers as they seek to recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding and other natural disasters. Loans also may be available after losses due to quarantine or by animal quarantine laws imposed in accordance with the Plant Protection Act.

*Emergency Conservation Program (ECP): This program helps farmers and ranchers repair damage to farmlands caused by natural disasters. The program also helps put in place water conservation methods during severe drought.

*Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP): This program pays covered producers of noninsurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters.

Farmers have been pressured to increase production to meet the demand of a growing population. This may require employing more efficient measures to ensure maximum output. Unfortunately, efficiency doesn’t always mesh with sustainability, so commercial operations have had to make some modifications to find a balance between serving the public and protecting the planet.

Green farming utilizes different technology and practices in order to decrease detrimental impact on the environment. According to the farming resource NuFarming, agricultural operations have a significant impact on climate change. Simply adopting some new practices can lessen that impact.

SOLAR POWER

Growing plants are not the only thing on a farm that can benefit from the sun. Farmers can convert a portion or all of their power needs to solar. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are benefits when solar companies and farmers work together. Solar developers reduce installation costs and upfront risk by placing solar modules on previously tilled agricultural land. Vegetation under modules also can contribute to lower soil temperatures and increased solar performance. Agricultural land managers can reduce energy costs and diversify their revenue streams with solar. Plus, they can market products to sustainability-minded customers.

Solar is not the only renewable energy option. Farmers can incorporate wind and hydroelectric

power as well.

CROP ROTATION

This farming technique has been used for thousands of years and involves growing different crops in different seasons over a period of time. Farmers reduce the chances for pests and diseases becoming problems in the soil because frequent crop changes prevent invaders from gaining a foothold. Farmers use fewer fertilizers and pesticides as a result.

HYDROPONIC AND AQUAPONIC STRATEGIES

Farmers can improve productivity while also reducing environmen-

tal impact with these two growing methods. NuEnergy states that hydroponic systems grow plants in mineral solutions or in materials like perlite or gravel. Aquaponics involves raising aquatic animals in addition to growing crops. The waste from the fish and other marine life is used to offer nutrients to the plants by growing them in this nutrientrich water. Both methods remove the need for soil.

DRIP IRRIGATION

Drip irrigation methods deliver water to the roots of plants through a series of pipes or tubes. Because water is not being sprayed into the air through sprinklers and other methods,

less is lost to evaporation, and less water overall may be needed to provide for crops.

PLASTICULTURE

Plastic seems like it may not have a purpose on the farm, but recycled plastic, which is used in plastic mulch, can help produce plentiful crops with less water. Plastic mulches raise soil temperatures and insulate against evaporation so plants can grow faster and mature sooner. Invasive weeds also may be less likely to take root in plastic mulch or when crops are grown on black plastic.

NATURAL PESTICIDES

Farmers can introduce plants that pests tend not to like to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides. For example, interspersing crops with natural bug repellants, such as basil, lavender and lemongrass, may keep insects at bay. Alliums, chrysanthemums, marigolds, and other flowers planted nearby also may deter bugs. Green farming is something more agricultural operations may want to adopt.

The Link Between Agriculture & Food Security

more than 1.7 billion people between 2023 and 2050.

Food security is among the more significant challenges the world will face as the population increases. The United States Agency for International Development notes that food security means all individuals, regardless of their physical or economic circumstances, have access to sufficient food to meet the dietary needs for a productive, healthy life. Food security is a more significant issue than people may recognize, even in first world, fully developed countries. For example, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service indicates that slightly more than 10 percent of U.S. households were food insecure at some point during 2021. In fact, estimates suggest more than 800 million people across the globe go to bed hungry every night, which underscores the seriousness of the issue.

AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY

Food security and the agricultural industry are inextricably linked. The USAID indicates that

most of the people who go to bed hungry at night are smallholder farmers who depend on agriculture to make a living and feed themselves and their families. Supporting efforts to strengthen the agricultural industry can help to combat food security, as the USAID reports that growth within that sector has been found to be at least twice as effective at reducing poverty as growth in other sectors. Much of that can be traced to the disproportionate percentage of poor people who live in rural rather than urban areas. For example, the USAID reports that 75 percent of poor people in developing nations live in rural areas.

But the poverty rate is higher in rural areas than urban areas in the United States as well. Data from the 2019 American Community Survey indicates the poverty rate in rural areas was 15.4 percent in 2019 compared to 11.9 per-

cent in urban areas. Though recent data regarding rural poverty rates in Canada is unavailable, a 2013 discussion paper on the topic from the Government of Canada noted that the country’s rural residents earned less and had lower levels of education than residents in urban areas, suggesting that poverty is likely more prevalent in the Canadian countryside than in the country’s cities.

WHAT CAN BE DONE

Though food security poses a significant global challenge, lack of access to healthy foods is preventable. Individuals in rural and urban communities can voice their support for efforts to strengthen the agricultural sector. A thriving agricultural sector can ensure fewer people go to bed hungry each night and bolster the economies of rural communities that are disproportionately affected by poverty.

Steps Farmers Can Take To Combat Climate Change

Climate change is a challenge the world must confront together. Though people from all walks of life and in all corners of the world will be affected by rising global temperatures and the ripple effects of such increases, the impact of climate change on the agricultural sector figures to be especially significant.

Farmers have been on the front lines in the fight against climate change for decades. When storms strike and climate patterns shift, farmers must find ways to adapt or potentially lose their livelihoods. Experts warn that the

planet is warming at a pace that could prove devastating. For example, one assessment conducted under the World Climate Research Programme and published in 2020 in the Reviews of Geophysics concluded that the warming range of the planet will be between 2.6¡C and 3.9¡C. Everyone must do their part in an effort to avoid the more drastic outcomes associated with climate change. Farmers can explore these ways to combat climate change as they look to protect their personal and financial futures.

-Curtail methane emissions.

The European Environment Agency notes that capturing methane from manure is one way for farmers to reduce agriculture-related greenhouse gas emissions. The California Climate & Agriculture Networks notes that more than half of the state’s agricultural emissions come from livestock in the form of methane. The nonprofit organization Foodwise reports that holistic, pasture-based livestock management utilizing practices like rotational grazing can help mitigate methane emissions from livestock.

-Emphasize efficient use of fertilizers. The EEA recom-

mends efficient use of fertilizers as another means to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture at the U.S. Department of Agriculture notes that the greatest efficiency typically comes from the first increment of added fertilizer/ nutrients, with each additional increment thereafter resulting in lower efficiency. Making every effort to make the most of initial applications can save farmers money and reduce the impact on the environment.

-Participate in and help promote local farmers markets. Foodwise notes that food in

the United States travels an average of 1,500 miles before it ends up on consumersÕ plates. Transporting foods that far contributes to more greenhouse gas emissions. Farmers who can sell to local farmers markets can help reduce such emissions. Promoting those efforts via social media pages or other public platforms can increase consumer awareness of the availability of fresh, locally grown foods.

The challenges posed by climate change are not going away. Farmers can take various steps to overcome those challenges.

Mapping The Future Of Agriculture

The demand for food is directly related to population growth. By 2050, food needs are expected to double, according to a study published in the journal Agricultural Economics. That puts increasing pressure on the agricultural sector to meet growing demand. However, many experts think the industry will fall short.

In addition to increased food demand, consumer habits, technology, and policies continue to force the agricultural industry to evolve. Indeed, the agricultural sector may look very different in the future.

BIGGER DIGITAL FOOTPRINT

Social media has transformed many industries, and it can do the same for agriculture. Farming supply chains can communicate with one another by getting feedback from customers in real time through social media. However, agricultural operations will have to devote teams to manage social media presence, especially since misinformation is so widespread on social media.

Apart from social media, local farmers may increase their efforts to utilize mobile apps and direct-to-consumer purchasing options. The global pandemic helped businesses reimagine takeout and curbside shopping. Local farms may want to market to the home-shopping community, providing ways to deliver produce, fresh meat and poultry and other items direct to customers’ homes.

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

The future may feature a significant shift in the way farms source their ingredients. Regeneration International says that regenerative agriculture can be the future. This describes farming and grazing practices that may help reverse climate change by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity. Some insist that farmers who utilize regenerative agriculture produce food that is more sustainable and healthy. This is something eco- and health-conscious consumers can stand behind.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT

There’s a good chance that technology will continue to play important and growing roles in farming operations. New agricultural technologies can collect data on soil and plant health and produce results in real time. Precision farming technology can be developed to deliver integrated solutions no matter the size of the operation.

SHIFT IN WHAT’S GROWN

Farmers may give more thought to sustainable products. Crops like hemp and cannabis are being utilized in new and innovative ways, and they’re only the start as consumers have expanded their views on plant-based foods and products. While there’s no way to see into the future, individuals can anticipate changes that could be in store for the agricultural sector in the decades ahead.

Board Approves Hiring Of New Superintendent

By: Anna Wozniak THE VILLAGE REPORTER anna@thevillagereporter.com

The Montpelier Board of Education met on March 12, 2024 at 5:30 p.m., congratulating the students of the month after the pledge, a moment of silence, roll call, and the approval of the agenda for the night.

Present were Dunne Gambler, Nate Rose, Jennifer Schlosser, Patti Rockey, and Troy Roth alongside Superintendent Jamison Grime and Treasurer Carla Rice.

Then, as the students went out to get their photo taken, the board began sharing their legislative report, where they shared that SB217 might soon see free-market capitalism content worked into high school financial literacy classes, with controversy surrounding the curriculum.

Athletic Director Joe Brigle then began detailing the new process through which the school is selling online tickets for events, relating

that HB33 made it a requirement for the schools to accept cash payment.

Superintendent Grime shared that there is now a responsibility on the district to provide funding for student mental health services, detailing that this will be an additional cost charged to the same fund supporting the school nurse, school-wide drivers education, aid for the disadvantaged, structural technology (student Chromebook), PBIS, and teacher aides.

Mrs. Rockey asked why there were significant discrepancies between the numbers in fiscal 23 and actual 24, and it was explained that many of the funds budgeted through 2023 ran out, with remaining balances then budgeted to be paid off throughout the remainder of fiscal 2024.

Mr. Rose then announced that the new superintendent, Travis Lichty, will be voted in tonight.

Principal Lance Thorp shared that there has been a lot of academic achievement made since the last

Easter eggs in all their pastel glory come to mind when pondering an important holy day on the Christian calendar. Easter eggs are great to hide and fun to find, but when they come in the form of a tasty dessert, celebrations become that much more festive.

"No-Bake Cheesecake Eggs" are a confectionary twist on the chocolate eggs that are popular come Easter. Home chefs can have fun decorating and playing with the flavors of these treats. Try this recipe, courtesy of "Jane's Patisserie Celebrate!" (Sourcebooks) by Jane Dunn.

meeting, and that the school nurse has met with the staff to go over the medical response team and their responsibilities.

Last Friday saw the end of the third quarter, Mornings with Mom, and a 4th and 5th grade math competition. The elementary school is amid spirit weeks, getting the kids excited about learning and keeping them engaged before spring break next week.

March 29th will see no school due to First Friday, April 5th will see mini manufacturing day at Northwest State, and the mobile dentist will be coming back soon. April 8th will see an early release at 1 p.m., and the next month will be used to gear the students up for state testing.

Principal Suann Thorp congratulated the students on their production of “Madagascar the Musical”, and one of the founding women’s wrestling team members made it to state.

A competition at Northwood saw both the boys and girls coming home with trophies, and last month saw the E3 program supporting financial literacy last month and another blood drive will be coming up.

Spring athletes were wished the best of luck, and students are earning points for surrendering their phones for class periods, with student handbook revisions planned in the near future to help remedy some serious issues being faced by the current 6-8th grades in the junior high wing.

Principal Thorp reminded everyone of the 1 p.m. early release on April 8th, and urged parents to prepare their students for testing that will begin on April 22nd.

Prom will be held on April 27th this year, and a Screenagers speaker will be in for Parent’s Night Out to help align the community with the many aspects of the current cell phone issue. It will be free to attend on April 2nd, 2024 from 6

NO-BAKE CHEESECAKE EGGS SERVES 2

Base

1 medium chocolate Easter egg

35 grams unsalted butter

75 grams digestive biscuits

Filling

200 grams full-fat soft cheese (such as cream cheese or neufchâtel), at room temperature

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons icing sugar

100 milliliters double cream

25 grams cocoa powder

Decoration

50 grams milk chocolate, melted Easter chocolates

Sprinkles

Carefully split the Easter egg into two halves. Melt the butter in the microwave in short bursts or in a small pan over a medium heat. In a food processor, blitz the biscuits to a fine crumb, add the melted butter and pulse a few times until the mixture is well combined.

Divide the mixture equally between the two halves of the Easter egg, and very gently press down, without breaking the shell.

Filling

In a large bowl, whisk the cheese, vanilla extract and icing sugar until smooth. Add the double cream and cocoa powder and whisk again until smooth and thickened. Divide the mixture evenly between the two Easter egg halves and smooth over as carefully as possible. Chill in the fridge for an hour or so until set.

Decoration

Drizzle the melted milk chocolate over the two halves and decorate with some Easter chocolates and sprinkles.

Editor's note: Icing sugar also is known as confectioner's sugar or powdered sugar. In the United States and Canada, "double cream" may not be readily available. Double cream has a higher butterfat content and is primarily sold in the UK. If double cream is not available, try substituting with heavy cream with the highest fat content you can find, but note that the consistency of the finished product may be slightly different.

PHOTOS BY ANNA WOZNIAK / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

STUDENTS OF THE MONTH … Left to right, front to back are the present Montpelier Students of the Month:

Lillian Bell, Annabell Iles, Carter Aquino, Nadalynne Andres, Griffin Cooley, Karlee Hillard, Grace Saneholtz, Isabella Barker, and Carmen Saneholtz.

NEW SUPERINTENDENT … Travis Lichty was approved to be hired as the district’s new superintendent, and his term is to begin August of 2024.

Tool Maintenance Topic Of Discussion At Pulaski Garden Club Meeting

A new season of Pulaski Garden Club meetings at Pulaski United Methodist Church started on March 5th. Nineteen members answered roll call with garden mistakes made during 2023.

Common mistakes included overwatering, too much sun, starting too early, timing planting for fair shows. Even the experienced gardener learns from their mistakes.

After the financial report for last year, Connie Simmons presented an arrangement with gardening hand tools, entitled “Tool Time”.

Carol Wheeler talked about the succulent month of the Aloe plant. There are over 500 species, explaining that in some areas they grow wild.

They can purify the air, reduce wrinkles, heal wounds, sunburns, and radiation burns. Some with larger leaves can be eaten, making drinks for arthritis. However, they are toxic to pets!

Aloe can flower with large or small tubular flowers. Planting should be potted in soil for succulents, kept on the dry side and in only indirect light.

If spots appear on leaves, they may be overwatered, which is a frequent problem. New plants grown beside the main plant are called pups and can be removed carefully and a new plant starts. Aloe can get sunburned if there is too much sun outside so be careful and enjoy raising this plant.

Joyce Mocherman discussed the care of gardening tools. Shovels, pruners, shears just work better when they are sharp to cut into the soil or a plant.

Joyce recommends a good pair of gloves and a protective hat and a sharpened pair of pruners and a sharpened shovel. To sharpen, use a flat metal file.

To sharpen your shovel, run the file out and off each side of the blade, going from the mid side towards the center of the tip of the

shovel on each side going with the angle of the shovel blade, do not go back toward you.

In sharpening the pruners only sharpen the side where the blade is the same way. Oil tools with WD40 just spray and lay on a towel to drain or use 3 in 1 oil. Do not forget to oil the spring on pruners.

For rust on tools, use a steel brush or just work the tool. When buying, get a feel for the weight of the tool. If the shovel is too tall, put a foot upon it to check.

Check the grip of pruners in your hand. A garden cart with two wheels on the front could be helpful. Joyce’s whole yard is her flower garden, these ideas have been tested.

The business portion of the meeting included discussions on Exhibitors & Judges school to be held April 12-15 in Findlay.

The OAGC Region I Spring Meeting will be on May 2nd with more information to be announced. Club members will be involved providing center pieces and “Make and Take” items for OAGC Convention to be

held August 26-28.

Carol Wheeler is again challenging all in a photo contest for our November meeting with categories: Family tree – trees in any season; Vacation Wonders – landscape or closeup of gardens in your travels; Edible Landscape – Fruits and vegetable from/in your garden; The color purple-a closeup of any plant with purple coloring – bloom or foliage and Out of the box – garden related creative point of view – rusty tool, seed packet, etc.

Connie McGrew provided the door prize, and it was won by Cam Miller. Additional door prizes from Cam Miller, a dozen eggs were won by JoAnn Beucler, Brendy Athy, Michelle O’Dell, Joyce Mocherman, and Barb Deetz, much appreciated. The meeting was closed with refreshments provided by JoAnn Beucler and Joyce Paepke, with time to chat with friends. Presenters (pictured) at the March meeting of the Pulaski Garden Club were Joyce Mocherman, Carol Wheeler and Connie Simmons.

Used Book & Homemade Cookie Sale At Edgerton Branch Library

The Friends of the Edgerton Library will be holding a Used Book & Homemade Cookie Sale at the Edgerton Branch Library, located at 319 N Michigan Ave, Edgerton, OH 43517.

The sale will run from April 1st through 5th, during library open

hours of Monday, 9am to 8pm, Tuesday through Thursday, 9am to 6pm, and Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Lots of books will be available to purchase, including children’s books, YA books, adult books, popular authors, and more.

With a wide variety of genres

featured, there’s sure to be something for everyone! Large homemade cookies will also be sold for a suggested donation price of $5 for a bag of 2 cookies. All proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Edgerton Library. To learn more, call the library at 833-633-7323 x 2.

Bryan Kiwanis Hears From Students Of The Month

Five Edgerton Students Receive State FFA Degrees

(PRESS RELEASE) - The State FFA Degree is the highest degree the Ohio State FFA Association can bestow on a member.

This degree is awarded annually at the Ohio State FFA Convention in May to those members who have met the minimum qualifications set forth by the Ohio FFA Association and National FFA Association.

The Edgerton FFA is excited to announce this amazing accomplishment was awarded to five students. We want to congratulate Noah Grandey, Adyn Herman, Grace Herman, Gretchen Keppeler, and Giselle Romero.

They spent hours on their Supervised Agriculture Experience. They had to record this time in the AET, as well as the money made, community service done, classroom standard learned, and FFA events participated in.

These students are outstanding in their participation in FFA and are dedicated to making our society a better place which is shown by their hard work. The future looks bright for these students.

PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER STUDENTS OF THE MONTH … The Bryan Kiwanis Club welcomed the Bryan High School Students of the Month at the club’s March 13, 2024 meeting. They are Katelan Nagel (left) and Tania Palos. They shared with the club their most memorable high school experience and their plans for college in the fall.

Locally Based Film To Bring Awareness To Healing Of Veterans

Anna Wozniak

Everyone knows that here in Northwest Ohio, we love our United States veterans. Regardless of anyone’s take politically on the motives of war, these brave men and women gave themselves over to a purpose they felt was greater than themselves, and that was and always will be their friends, neighbors, and loved ones back home.

What Amanda Hug, founder and executive director, calls the “best kept secret that doesn’t want to be a secret,” has been embodying the historically honored values of supporting our veterans.

HOOVES (Healing of Our Veterans Equine Services), a farm sanctuary in Swanton, Ohio, is committed to healing, and The Patriot Project facilitates that for our veterans.

Hug is not only the HOOVES founder, she also proudly served as Air Force First Sergeant. This project is soon to see its very own film, with Josh Nagel Productions currently finishing a full-length documentary, with future hopes of a series.

The documentary will premiere on April 6th at the Maumee Indoor Theater, with a questionand-answer session with Amanda Hug herself after.

This project consists of a 5-day healing intensive, wherein Hug’s education on psychology and lessons from author, educator, and human behavior expert Dr. John Demartini, is used to provide serious healing to veterans dealing “with the psychological aftermath of their service.”

A three-day day camp is offered for children as well as those impacted by a life of military service. Hug believes that the answer to healing is to rewire one’s biological system, and “that’s through

PROVIDED

hard facts,” she shared, stating that “the human mind needs to be presented with solid evidence before it will change what it believes.”

Through methods of meditation and connection with animals and one another, HOOVES provides a safe space for those impacted by trauma to confront, address, and change the root of their problems.

They help veterans process social reconnection and aloneness, grief processing, emotional self-regulation, control and anxiety, self-confidence and self-love, communication skills, personal growth, interpersonal relationships, self-realization and confrontation, perspective shifts, selfworth, identity and purpose, and survivor’s guilt.

It was reported that veterans had over 77% success with addressing thoughts of suicide, night terrors and emotional numbing / disassociation.

HOOVES healing intensives

CONTINUED ON PAGE B16

Local Officials Meet With State Representative Hoops

The North Central Local Board of Education was called by notice of March 7, 2024 to the regular meeting to be held March 12, 2024. President Kati Burt called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. in the Auditeria. Answering roll call were Mr. John Huffman, Mr. Dustin Meyers, Mr. Tim Livengood, Mrs. Kati Burt, and Mr. Chuck Haynes.

After the pledge of allegiance, Mrs. Burt congratulated Paige Oxender on winning the Franklin B. Walter scholarship. She also thanked the 5th and 6th grade SOAR group for all that they are doing.

Lastly, she mentioned that it has been great seeing classes and the students putting the culture piece into practice during daily activities.

Mr. Smeltzer reported and included the following in his report: Waive the reading of and approve the minutes from the February 20, 2024 Regular Meeting; the Financial Statements and Investments from February 2024; appropriation additions; and a donation from Nickloy’s Fix & Fab to the North Central Back Pack Program.

A motion was made by Mr. Huffman and seconded by Mr. Meyers to approve the Treasurer’s report as presented.

Superintendent Bute then spoke on the current culture of the district, sharing that the next work session will be an hour before the next regular meeting, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. on April 16, 2024.

Elementary Principal Morr shared that kindergarten registration is currently 41 strong, with the screening process set for April 24th and 25th.

The 4th graders attended the Maple Syrup Festival as a field trip, and the 6th grade went to attend a career day event at Northwest State in order to ensure students are exposed to available jobs so that they can evaluate which skills and requirements they need to seek out.

Thanks was given to Mrs. Renfer for helping to organize North Central’s involvement in this hands-on minimanufacturing event. State testing will begin the week of April 8th and will close near the end of May.

Mr. Hutchison is organizing another Hoops for Hearts benefit for the American Heart Association, and the spring concert will be held May 2nd for students in the 3rd through 6th grades.

Mr. Puthoff shared that FFA week went well, and that all of the juniors took their ACT on February 27th.

Scheduling classes has begun for next year, with Miss LaLonde and Mr. Puthoff meeting with students to discuss their needs and wants with regards to requirements and classes. March 4th saw the senior Kalahari trip, and the winter sports season has closed. The North Central Band went to Nashville March 7th - 9th.

Teacher evaluations will be completed by the end of the week.

Mr. Babin shared that the indoor track and field has a new junior high school shot put record, with the same being said for the high jump at the high school level.

He shared his excitement for the Winter Sports Award event on March 12th, and shared the spring sports will start on March 25th with the softball team going to Hicksville, with the baseball team traveling to Pettisville.

Mr. Saneholtz shared that there was a special education meeting, as well as an Elementary Intervention Specialist meeting.

Scheduling for the students was discussed at these meetings, with upcoming courses being ironed out. With only 10 weeks of school left, the focus has very much shifted towards getting ready for next year.

He then shared that there are plans for improving the ELA curriculum, with June 11th set to see a meeting at the Northwest Ohio Service Center Vendor Fair.

The NwOESC agreement for the 2024-25 school year was then approved before the board voted to adjourn the meeting at 6:29 p.m.

PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

MEETING … Local officials met with State Representative James Hoops recently at the” Dodge City Deli “in downtown Alvordton, to discuss issues concerning local government. Pictured enjoying the dialogue are (L - R) Brian Towers - Gorham Township Trustee Fulton County; Representative Hoops; Mike Elser - Bridgewater Township Trustee; Bert Brown - Florence Township Trustee; Bob Short - Millcreek Township Trustee; Davinna Nickloy - Deli Proprietor, and Terry Rummel - Williams County Commissioner.

AMANDA HUG … HOOVES founder Amanda Hug is passionate about using her knowledge of psychology, biology, and the healing power of horses to facilitate a safe space for people to heal from trauma.

NEVER ALONE … Programs like this are essential to those suffering from trauma, especially to our servicemen who may suffer from biases around showing emotion or needing healing in the first place. HOOVES provides a safe space for everyone to heal and lets them know that they are not alone while doing it.

PHOTOS

BY AMANDA HUG / THE VILLAGE REPORTER HEALING OUR VETERANS … Amanda Hug’s HOOVES Farm facilitates The Patriot Project, where they service veterans and their families, often flying them in from all over the country.

Joy Musical Theatre Presents “The Sound Of Music”

By: Jacob Kessler THE VILLAGE REPORTER jacob@thevillagereporter.com

The Joy Musical Theatre presented “The Sound of Music” this past weekend. The musical event took place on Thursday, March 14th and Friday, March 15th at 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, March 16th at 2:00 p.m., with the performances taking place at the Christ Community Church in Ridgeville. With seating for 500, some of the nights were still sold out.

The Joy Musical Theatre is part of the local Homeschool

Co-op. Musical cast members are made up of homeschooled students from the local area. Productions have been growing year over year for each of their last seven productions. The co-op itself has been around for over 30 years now. The group’s first musical back in 2016 was Seussical Jr. Productions were scaled back completely for COVID, with productions following that being non-full-sized productions. This is the first full-sized production since COVID. Auditions began back in August of 2023, with students then meeting every Friday from 1:00

p.m. to 3:30 p.m. since then.

For this year’s show, 35 students made up the cast, with additional students making up the set crew.

Each of these students put in a tremendous amount of work for this musical and it showed. Set props and design were absolutely wonderful and the singing and acting were fantastic.

In many ways, it was as though the show was being put on by a much larger institution. Congratulations to each and everyone involved in this year’s musical.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B7

Oscar Hernandez To Serve As Williams County Health Commissioner

By: Anna Wozniak THE VILLAGE REPORTER anna@thevillagereporter.com

The Williams County Health Department has recently seen a change in leadership, as Jim Watkins’ retirement led to the transition of Mr. Oscar Hernandez to Williams County Health Commissioner.

Hernandez is no novice when it comes to leadership, as he has been finding himself taking up leadership roles at almost every opportunity.

A 2002 Pettisville graduate, Hernandez feels passionate about servicing close-knit communities, and feels as though his position in Williams County can help facilitate that.

After obtaining a biology degree from the University of Toledo, and meeting his wife, Alyssa, who was a Northwest State student, through a cousin, he began working for Fulton County.

Commissioner Hernandez is excited to have a job that allows him to stay closer to his family in Wauseon, as his last role working for corporate Meijer saw him traveling throughout the Midwest to facilitate leadership in the food and safety industry.

Commissioner Hernandez has an MBA through Bluffton University and is excited to use his experience gained thus far in furthering the conditions and efficiency of the Williams County Health Department.

Oscar and Alyssa have two kids, a son and a daughter, and all members of the family are active in the Wauseon community.

Commissioner Hernandez shared that he is committed to making sure that the Williams County Health Department is on the same page where making the community “feel welcome,” is concerned.

He added that “people always remember how you made them feel. I think an important part of being in a position like this, is being able to see how you can impact those in the community.”

Board ...

to 7 p.m.

Ms. Gambler then congratulated those in archery who made it to nationals before the treasurer’s February report was accepted, as were the minutes from their three February meetings as presented.

The treasurer’s recommendations were approved as presented, which included donations from the Montpelier Police Reserve, Trufast, Reifel Industries, and the Bryan Area Foundation, with the businesses being thanked for their support of the Skilled Trades Scholarship Fund.

Employment recommendations were then approved as presented, which included supplemental contracts and the hire of new Superintendent Travis Lichty for a three-year term beginning August 1st of 2024.

Service agreements were approved for special education services and the purchase of a new bus, which will be here in September.

Superintendent Grime was then named as the delegated representative to the Tax Incentive Review Council, with Treasurer Rice serving as the alternate representative.

With nothing further to address, the Montpelier Board of Education voted to enter executive session at 6:23, with plans to hold two separate sessions so that they could meet with the MEA as well. They will meet again on April 9, 2024.

PHOTO BY ANNA WOZNIAK / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

COMMISSIONER OSCAR HERNANDEZ

National Resource Management Opens Swanton

cutting and grand opening event, and the Swanton Township Board of Trustees for their help with a zoning change. Pictured are (from left): Swanton Township Trustee Kyle McPherson, Scott Stansley, Rick Stansley, Chamber Executive Director Delray Busch, Swanton Village Administrator Shannon Shulters, Nathaniel Osborne, Tyler Tauscher (back), Alyssa Beall (front), Kristie Tokar, Jenny Yost, Ross Mellgren, Tyler Ruck, Allie Edmonds, Chip Tokar, Reagan Roberts, Paul Chasco, Matthew Smigelski, Charles Stansley, chamber board member and Soaring Software Solutions President Rick Lederman, chamber board member with F&M Bank Bill Bohney, A Power Wash Co. owner Todd Diller, and Swanton Mayor Neil Toeppe.

Gazebo Planned For East End Park; Search For New Wastewater Operator Underway

By: Anna Wozniak

THE VILLAGE REPORTER anna@thevillagereporter.com

The West Unity Village Council met on March 14, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. This was shortly after the Park Committee met, sharing that the West Unity Area Foundation has awarded them a $6,000 grant to place a gazebo at the East end park.

Present were members Dave Short, Shawn Blaisdell, Terri Lewbowski, Stephen Marvin, and Kevin Grey. Alongside them were West Unity Police Chief JR Jones, Administrator Joshua Fritsch, Fiscal Officer Sarah Higdon, and Mayor Don Leu.

After the prayer and the pledge, the bills for the month and minutes of both February meetings were approved as presented.

Next, council approved one resolution and one ordinance on their first readings after a suspension of the rules.

The first was Resolution 3-2024-4, which approved the new Next Gen county-wide 911 system. The second was Ordinance 2024-3, which adopted all codified ordinances as updated for the year.

Ordinance 2024-4 was then given its first reading, with councilor Grey wondering as to the legality of keeping resident’s information in the tax database.

This ordinance would approve a new system that would allow for the village to keep better track of short-term rental tenants that currently may be avoiding municipal taxes.

Ordinance 2024-5 was then passed on its first reading after a suspension of the rules, as it provides for the update of replacement pages to the codified ordinances so that they may be in compliance with state requirements.

Fiscal Officer Higdon then detailed Ordinance 2024-6, which approved the transition of village officers to salary instead of hourly pay rates.

Chief Jones then asked council to appropriate $1,100 for an Ohio Intox DMT Intoxometer to the OVI Enforcement and Education Fund generated by revenue accrued through fines.

It is expected that only $1,000 of the funds will be used, with the extra $100 to be re-appropriated at the end of the year.

Village Administrator Fritsch then began his report, sharing that Randy Mahlman’s last day working for the village was the 13th of March, and shared that he has been hard at work trying to find a wastewater operator to fill the vacancy.

There has been a struggle to find an applicant that is already licensed, but Fritsch shared that there is an ad drawn up to advertise for applicants in possession of a wastewater license.

Applicants do not need a license for the position but will need to be licensed after a year of working at the plant and have a bachelor’s degree in a related field.

He also asked what rate he should list the job for, with a range of $20-30 an hour established, with the range to be used with discretion with regards to an applicant’s qualifications.

Administrator Fritsch then shared that he has recently applied for a US Congressional Spending Bill grant, that would see an additional $7,000,000 contributed towards resurfacing the roads of West Unity. He then shared that a broken pipe has resulted in a water loss of 297,000 gallons since December of 2022, with the loss needing to be written off for the water and sewer department.

Quotes are being collected for the water and wastewater rate study, and Strait-Line Fencing is getting to work on installing the batting cages.

Issues marked by the OEPA with the water treatment plant are being looked into, with it being shared that a pump is being purchased to drain the water tower so it can be inspected.

It was announced that large trash pick-up will be May 9th and 10th for the north side of town, and May 16th and 17th for the south side.

Jones shared his report, which was approved as presented. The department addressed 25 miscellaneous calls,

19 agency assists, 29 investigations, 10 traffic warnings, 4 accidents, and 3 property found calls throughout February.

Higdon shared that costs for the village’s health insurance have gone up by 14.9%, with a $5,000 deductible. Due to this, they are compiling quotes from other companies, with the results expected by the end of the week.

Quotes for liability insurance for the village were then detailed, with it being shared that the current company has increased costs but is still an overall lower price than two other competitors.

Council gave Higdon permission to pursue the liability insurance contract by means of a motion that was unanimously approved.

Higdon then detailed a county-certified commercial agricultural use permit application that needs to be renewed every five years for two parcels owned by J. Wyse in the CAUV Program, with Higdon sharing that council can vote to approve the permit tonight or schedule a hearing beforehand.

Council then approved the permit renewal in a motion that

was approved unanimously.

Higdon also shared a RITA legal fees invoice before the mayor asked for a motion to put out an annual lease for village farmland, which was approved.

Fritch shared that Dee Custar has informed him that a building beside the gun shop is looking to purchase eight feet to make the driveway bigger, but that would make the other lot a non-conforming lot.

Council would need to look at approving a lot split for the property, and keep in mind that future construction on the potentially non-conforming lot would need to apply for a variance so that they could deviate from the requirements.

Councilor Marvin asked about a deed for the Oak Street station, which is being looked at, and if the parking lot use had been looked into.

Jones shared that many downtown apartments and the motel workers are using the lot, with it being shared that the issue seems to be seasonal.

A lot of parking particulars will be being addressed in the upcoming year, with solutions being looked into overcrowd-

ing, road blockages, and seasonal events.

The chief reminded everyone that a phone call to or stop by the office is needed for events to utilize public parking.

He also shared that the lot itself can’t be policed until signage specifying the lot’s restrictions are put up, with it being important to think the local citizens’ situations through beforehand.

It was then mentioned that landlords are required to provide two parking spaces per rental unit, with council voicing their support of enforcing this regulation to dissuade downtown residents from parking in the public lot.

A Safety Committee meeting was recommended, with one being scheduled for April 11th at 6:45 p.m. to discuss the parking issue after the Finance Committee meeting.

Council thanked everyone for their help and dedication, and listed some streetlights that need to be reported to Toledo Edison as out.

Council then voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:44 p.m., set to meet next on April 11, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.

PHOTO BY ANNA WOZNIAK / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

PRESIDING … Presiding over the West Unity Village Council’s March 14th meeting was West Unity

Mayor Don Leu. Here, he is pictured asking the West Unity Village Council for permission to continue to rent out village owned farmland.

PHOTO BY JESSE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

Vacant Seat Filled By Lynn Wieland

The Bryan Board of Education met on Monday, March 11 with members Ben Camarillo, Debra Opdycke, Dustin Schlachter, Caleb Turnbull present. The Board of Education appointed a new member, Lynn Wieland, to a vacant seat at the meeting.

The student spotlight was then on the 3rd grade Egg Drop before reports were given for the schools.

There will be an early release on April 8, 2024, at 1:15 p.m., the 2025-2026 school calendar was given its first reading, and a $2.5 million grant for career technical education equipment at the STEM and Innovation Center was discussed.

The monthly financials for February were approved as presented, as was a service agreement, amended appropriations, and a resolution to authorize solicitation for the board’s expansion project.

The superintendent’s recommendations were then approved as presented, which included the early graduation of Fath Booth and Logan Aube. All personnel recommendations were approved as presented, and it was shared that LPDC committee meeting will take place on April 10, which will be two days after the next board meeting, which is scheduled for April 8, 2024, at 6 p.m.

PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER MARCH STUDENT SPOTLIGHT … The 3rd graders in Mrs. Hughes’ and Mrs. Clemens’ class showcased their “egg drop” projects to the board of education. The students did wonderful job designing, constructing, and testing their creations. Some eggs even survived a drop off the high school gymnasium rooftop.

The

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WEST UNITY AREA NEWS

The West Unity Eagle was established in March 1878. By 1887, its name was changed to The Chief. In 1890, its name was changed to The West Unity Reporter. In 1976 The West Unity Reporter merged with The Stryker Advance to become The Advance Reporter. In 2010 The Advance Reporter merged with The Edon Commercial to become The Village Reporter.

130 YEARS AGO

March 1894

Married March 20, Mr. Llewellyn E. Wright of Prattville, Mich., and Mrs. Laura E. Fidler of West Unity.

Married near Waldron, on Easter, Mr. J.E. Masters and Miss Lizzie E. Gibbs.

Wm. Vaus of Leatherwood recently ran a splinter into his hand while loading lumber at the Stryker sawmill. Blood poisoning ensued and he died on Thursday evening.

Bert Smith, son of Isaac Smith is the new clerk at Denman and Kent’s.

120 YEARS AGO

March 1904

R.E. Boothman went to Bryan Monday evening and attended the funeral of his brother, M.M. Boothman, which was held yesterday.

Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Orton entertained her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Borton at dinner on Thursday, in honor of his 93rd birthday.

Daniel Cook, of near Pulaski after a prolonged illness, died on Monday in his 75th year.

There was a wedding on Bunker Hill Sunday evening. Mr. John Fisher and Miss Lillian Coss.

110 YEARS AGO

March 1914

Mrs. Elizabeth Masters, 89, of Pioneer, grandmother of Mrs. JI. Newcomb passed away March 13.

L.P. Charpiot, who has been gone for several weeks on a trip to Cuba, in company with Chas. Grisier of Wauseon, is now on the way home, as they were to sail from Santiago, Cuba.

100 YEARS AGO

March 1924

Mrs. S.I. Rose passed away on Tuesday morning at the home of her daughter, near St. Joe, Indiana.

Wayne Winans has sold his bakery business at Port Clinton and is spending a few days with his mother, Mrs. Lucy Stoner.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Ray Link, Pleasant Grove, March 19, a son Ralph.

90 YEARS AGO

March 1934

The senior class of the high school spent last Thursday in Toledo.

Peter Smith, 87, passed away Thursday night at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Loren Starr, southeast of town.

Wright Fisher passed away at his home, age 83.

80 YEARS AGO

March 1944

At a double ring ceremony, March 19, Miss Fern Kaiser became bride of Mr. Geroge Allison, while her sister Miss Margaret Kaiser was unity in marriage to Lt. Albert Gehres.

A son, Rollo Eldon, was born March 16 to Rev. and Mrs. Trubee.

Hugh McNees, 56, passed away on March 15 at his home here.

Mrs. Marie Caughey entertained at dinner Friday evening, Mrs. Ruth Van Lear of Bryan, Mrs. Enid Short of Fayette, and Geo. Geesey of Dayton, who were here for the O.E.S. inspection.

70 YEARS AGO

March 1954

Mrs. Tom Davis underwent an appendectomy Saturday morning in the Williams County General Hospital.

The American Legion on E. Jackson St. will be sold at auction on Saturday, March 20. The building must be removed within 30 days to make room for the new building.

The upper part of a house on West Church St., owned by Harry Beals was damaged by fire Wednesday afternoon. The house is occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Rolland Pierce and family.

60 YEARS AGO

March 1964

Mr. and Mrs. Loren Starr have presented to the West Unity Library a historical and biographical history of Williams County.

Looking Back At What We Read Years Ago

Carol Mapes, a graduate of Hilltop High School, a freshman at Adrian College was placed on the Dean’s List.

Dr. Raymond Burrowes was elected president of the Millcreek West Unity PTO.

The new $6.5 million brass rod mill for the Chase Brass & Copper Co. of Cleveland is scheduled for completion within the next year.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Mrs. Elaine Willibey, Route 3, Bryan, has been elected President of the Williams County Republican Women for this year.

The Red Cross bloodmobile collected 167 units of blood and had 181 volunteers when it visited Montpelier Tuesday.

40 YEARS AGO

March 1984

Open house will be held March 21 at the Allen’s Bakery on E Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. James Allen are the operators.

STRYKER AREA NEWS

The Stryker Advance was established in 1884. In 1976 The Stryker Advance merged with The West Unity Reporter to become The Advance Reporter. In 2010 The Advance Reporter merged with The Edon Commercial to become The Village Reporter.

120 YEARS AGO

March 1904

The House of Representatives has passed a measure in the interest of all people. The bill provides that no one known to be an imbecile, insane, epileptic, habitual drunkard, or under the influence of liquor or narcotic drugs at the time the application is made shall not be granted a license to marry.

Miss Belle Garber became the bride of Fred Allison at Toledo last Saturday.

The Senior class consists of Treva Mallory, Grace Betts, Agnes Rataiczak, Nora Renaud, Pearl Dunkle, Bert Beucler, and Charles Goll.

Will Huffman has the smallpox.

A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. E.P. Mignerey.

Maggie Hoskinson and Wayne Guthrie will teach in Brady Township this spring.

Mrs. Cecil Conklin died Sunday after a long illness of consumption.

L.J. Mignerny and family of Toledo are occupying the property known as the Smith House.

110 YEARS AGO

March 1914

Lewis Juillard died on Monday night.

Mrs. Elizabeth Cameron, widow of the late Dr. J.S. Cameron of Evansport, entertained the war widows of that community, fifteen in all, on March 10 at a three-course dinner.

Miss Estelle B. Thomas of Bryan became the bride of Ira W. Huffman on March 10. They will reside in Bryan.

Stryker has made an application for an institution under state aid.

100 YEARS AGO

March 1924

Local winners in the Stryker-Pioneer Literary contest held Friday were piano solo, Geneveive Eberle, Discussion 1st place Klemm Louys, Original Story, Helen Knight.

90 YEARS AGO

March 1934

Dr. C.W. Kimble, Defiance, has announced he will be a candidate for the Republican nomination for Congressman from the fifth Ohio district.

Carl Hall, assisted by Mr. Olds, Mr. Kuder and Mr. Hoskinson will act as leaders of the newly planned Boy Scout movement among the local boys.

Easter Sunday is April 1.

80 YEARS AGO

March 1944

A public auction was held at the Julliard store which terminated 36 years of business conducted by the Fred Julliard family. Mrs. Ortho Schall also held an auction of the gift shop which was located in the building.

Walter Stubbs is ill at the Wauseon Hospital.

A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Oberlin on March 19 named Alan Eugene.

Rev. Harold A Allen, pastor of the Baptist Church for the past four years, has resigned to accept a call of a church at Albuquerque, N.M.

A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ken-

neth Oberlin on March 19 named Alan Eugene.

60 YEARS AGO

March 1964

Remember when Swiss Cheese cost 79 cents a pound, Dinner Bell wieners 49 cents a pound, spareribs 39 cents a pound, and ice cream was 49 cents a half gallon.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1954

Wiederkehr’s Store proves advertising really pays off, the 33 suits they put up at the ridiculously low price of $20 each, 26 were sold at 4:30.

Marilyn Buehrer has made the Dean’s List of Heidelberg College for the academic semester of 1953-1954.

EDON AREA NEWS

The Edon Independent was established in 1895 ceasing publication in 1906. A few months later in 1906 The Edon Commercial was established. In 2010 The Edon Commercial was merged with The Advance Reporter to become The Village Reporter.

80 YEARS AGO

March 1944

Miss Marlee Buck began working Monday for the General Electric Company in Fort Wayne.

Rube Kurtz is again back on the Van Camp milk route after being with the highway department a number of years.

Harold Miller left Monday for Ft. Thomas, Ky. to enter the air service. He expects to be at Miami, Fla. for his first training.

Rober Huard, Dick Scott and Cecil Long go to Bryan Friday where they will get their assignment for Navy training.

70 YEARS AGO

March 1954

Mrs. Velma Keller, Jeanette, Danny and Ronnie attended a dinner Sunday in the Zale Miller home for Jerry, their son, his fourth birthday.

The senior class of the FlorenceEdon school will present their play “Here Comes Charlie,” tomorrow night. The cast for the production includes: Ruth Stonestreet, Roy Fry, Phyllis Hake, James Vande Voorde, Larry Gearhart, Bonnie Ingram, Jim Thiel, Esther Bunce, Darlene Fikel and Keith Hollstein.

Mr. and Mrs. Lester Krill entertained with a birthday dinner Sunday honoring their son James. Present were Mr. and Mrs. Earl Smith of Fort Wayne, Mr. and Mrs. G.H. Fetters, David Fetters and Mr. and Mrs. Larry Hake and son Gary. The following students from OSU, Columbus are home this week for Spring vacation. Jack Stevens, Tom Foster, Gene Headley, Barbara Knapp, Phyllis Allomong and Kathy Ingram.

60 YEARS AGO

March 1964

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Dewire and family have moved from Toledo to a farm north east of Edon.

Mr. and Mrs. Don Coleman of Swanton were Sunday dinner guests of their son and daughter-in law Mr. and Mrs. James Coleman and daughters.

Mrs. and Mrs. Duane Mirely and four children of Wolcotville, IN were recent dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Thomas and family.

Mr. and Mrs. Clair Nihart are vacationing for two weeks in Florida with his brother, George and wife, in Lakeland. Mrs. Leevis Dirr is taking care of the store in Mrs. Nihart’s absence.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Martha Michael was chosen as this year’s outstanding Senior music Student at Edon High School and received the coveted Lions Club Arion Award.

Susan E. Seed, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Seed, Toledo, and granddaughter of Mrs. Irma Imhof, Edon was the recipient of the highest music grant offered at Toledo University. Miss Seed will major in French Horn and Music Education.

Michelle Werman and Curtis Stantz won the number one and two spots respectively in the Edon Middle School Spelling Bee which was held Tuesday, March 12. Sixteen students competed in the contest.

The Edon Blue Bombers captured the Class A Sectional Championship in the upper bracket as they blitzed the Stryker Panthers 79-56. The Bombers moved on to become the District Champions held at Napoleon, defeating Liberty Center and Pettisville. Coach Burt Blue and his Bombers season ended at the Regional Tournament held at Bowling Green with a loss to Continental.

Edon Northwest High School students, Mark Hug and Mark Gearhart have been selected as Outstanding Teenagers of America for 1974, according to Chris Gotshall, principal.

40 YEARS AGO

March 1984

The Blakeslee 4-5-6 grade girls team capped an outstanding 18-1 season by winning the Toledo Area CYO basketball tournament Monday night.

30 YEARS AGO

March 1994

Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Gearhart of Edon are pleased to announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Sandi, to Sean Briner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Briner of Edon. Lynn Ann Allomong of West Unity and Timothy Jon Belding Sr., of West Unity announce their engagement and forthcoming marriage.

CONTINUED ON PAGE B14

- CONTINUED -

Looking Back At What We Read Years Ago

20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Boys basketball take Sectionals by four, beat Aces 51-47

The Edon Lions Club recently held a fish fry and donated the proceeds of $400 to the Edon High School Band trip to Washington D.C.

PTC Enterprise of Edon donates $1,000 to Blakeslee Park improvement project.

Dustin Morr, running for Ohio Northern indoor track team was named to All-Ohio Athletic Conference Team.

THE ADVANCE REPORTER

(EASTERN WILLIAMS

COUNTY & VILLAGE OF FAYETTE NEWS)

In 1976

The West Unity Reporter merged with The Stryker Advance to become The Advance Reporter. In 2003 The Advance Reporter expanded to cover Fayette, Ohio news. In 2010 The Advance Reporter merged with The Edon Commercial to become The Village Reporter.

40 YEARS AGO

March 1984

The U.S. Achievement Academy announced that John W. MacFarlane has been named a 1984 U.S. National Award winner in Band.

Credits needed for graduation were raised by the Millcreek-West Unity Board of Education to 19.

30 YEARS AGO

March 1994

Stryker and Hilltop seventh and eighth graders competed in the fourth annual Williams County Junior High Quiz Bowl.

Mark Hausch became West Unity’s newest full-time police officer.

The Lady Cadets Basketball team headed to state after winning big against Fort Recovery at Elida.

20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Gorham Fayette Fire Department Awarded the Dr. Frank Foss EMS Excellence Award.

Fayette Tiger Cub Scout Pack 171

Visits The Advance Reporter.

Pam Borton, a Fayette Graduate makes her career in women’s college basketball as Minnesota Golden Gophers Coach.

THE VILLAGE REPORTER (WILLIAMS COUNTY - FULTON COUNTY AREA NEWS & SPORTS)

In 2010 The Advance Reporter

merged with The Edon Commercial to become The Village Reporter. In 2013

The Wauseon Reporter merged with The Village Reporter. Over time since 2010, the newspaper expanded coverage to all the communities of Williams & Fulton Counties in Northwest Ohio to become today's format of The Village Reporter.

10 YEARS AGO

March 2014

The following local students have been named to Trine University’s dean’s list for the fall 2013 semester: Kyle Clark of Montpelier, a junior majoring in Informatics. Hollie Hernandez of Montpelier, a freshman majoring in Exercise Science. Game “Dead of Winter: A Crossroad’s Game” designed by Montpelier’s Jon Gilmour soon to be on store shelves.

- FULTON COUNTY HISTORIC REFLECTION1905 - Pet Milk

(Delta, Ohio)

FCCC Business Professionals Of America Students Headed To Nationals

Thousands of students from across the country will gather there to compete, showcase their business aptitudes and develop leadership skills.

The National Leadership Conference is the culmination of the BPA year filled with hard work and dedication put into competitions, Torch Awards, leadership

development, service and more. Activities will include general sessions with keynote speakers, business meetings, leadership workshops, contests, and the

election of national officers. Four County Career Center BPA advisors are Mary Jo Beilharz, Matt Geiger, Tim Ricketts; and Tina Short.

the

are

The national qualifiers will be a part of the 2024 Business Professionals of America Leadership Conference “Seize the Opportunity” from May 10-14, 2024 in Chicago.

Twenty students from Four County Career Center received All-State Top Five honors in their respective divisions at the

Business Professionals of America (BPA) State Leadership Conference in

Students who

All-State Top honors include (FRONT - LEFT TO RIGHT) Madison Youngquist (Archbold) Fundamental Word Processing; Kaitlin Wood (Archbold) Basic Office Systems & Procedures; Gwen Oxender (North Central) Advanced Word Processing. (CENTER - LEFT TO RIGHT) Andrew Wiseman (Napoleon) Mobile Application Programming; Kyle Hageman (Archbold) C# Programming & Software Engineering Team; Jackie Merritt (Wauseon) Network Design Team; Cody Hoffman (Fairview) Network Design Team; Shannon Spires (Hilltop) Network Design Tam; Ramon Mendez (Defiance) Network Design Team; Connor Westrick (Defiance) Network Design Team. (BACK - LEFT TO RIGHT) Ryan Street (Bryan) Advanced Accounting; Blake Grime (Archbold) Software Engineering Team; Andrew Mosier (Fairview) Software Engineering Team; Connor Glisson (Liberty Center) Python Programming; Joseph Wymer (Liberty Center) Linux Operating System Fundamentals; Cory Mavis (Fairview) Software Engineering Team; and Ethan Winger (Fairview) Server Administration Using Microsoft. Absent from

photo

Marcus Jones, Jr. (Tinora) SQL Database Fundamentals; Andrew Richardson (Tinora) Network Design Team; and Caden Stover (Napoleon) Network Design Team.

TWO MINUTE DRILL

- Rex Stump, Wauseon, OhioTHE HOLINESS OF GOD

As we prepare for Easter, I strongly encourage you not get too busy with other things, that you miss the meaning of this season. Don’t allow sports, politics, schedules, or daily life distract you from

the power of what Easter is all about.

In Leviticus 10, in the middle of a long passage explaining the various offerings and sacrifices required by God, we discover a tragic moment.

LET’S STOP SPLITTING!

- Mike Kelly, Retired Pastor, Bryan, OhioA QUANDARY PT. 3

So, the next question I’m sure you’re asking is what about sin? In the previous 2 parts of this series, I think I have made a reasonable case to be able to say that scripturally, “I am not going to hell because of my sins but because I refuse to have a relationship with God.”

John 3:17-18 reads: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

Condemned because they have not accepted the free gift Christ died for on the cross. If the spiritual penalty for our sins was paid for in full by Christ on the cross, then does it really make a difference if we sin or not?

Good Question. Not original but good, nonetheless. The Romans asked a similar question when introduced to God’s grace…his mercy and forgiveness for the

spiritual penalty of our sins.

Paul answered it in Romans 6:1-2:

”What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”

Once we have a true relationship with God, we will longer want to sin. True, we will continue to sin but the closer we grow to Christ, the less we will desire to sin and the more we will desire to flee sin.

It’s about the relationship. When we first get married, we care about our spouse, and we strive to make him/her happy.

But, if you’ve been married, you know the “honeymoon period” eventually ends and our selfish natures begin to appear. When early on our spouses’ annoying habits were sort of cute, later over time, they became irritants.

We started putting the lid back on the toothpaste after our spouse used it and felt good about serving him/her. But, over time, we begin to grumble: “Why

PASTOR'S PONDERINGS

- Pastor Steve Wilmot, Edgerton, OhioDO YOU KNOW WHAT’S AT STAKE?

If you discovered the cure for cancer, you wouldn’t keep it a secret. You’d share it with everyone you know.

Those of us who know Jesus have discovered the cure to loneliness, addiction, hopelessness, boredom, broken relationships, and even death.

What we have is much better than a cure for cancer. One day, cancer may be cured, but everyone will still die eventually. The cure we possess is one that brings life now and for eternity.

The cure is Jesus! So why do we keep it to ourselves? Why do so many of those without Jesus ignore or reject the cure — Jesus!

I believe it’s because we don’t know what’s at stake. We live in a world that has the misguided idea that God will send everyone to heaven. So why seek a cure no one needs?

You hear it all the time at funerals. The pastor states or implies that everyone goes to heaven after they die. Even the old codger who was mean to everyone and killed his mom. He died without forgiveness from God, but he’s in heaven.

You hear it from well-meaning people trying to offer comfort to the family of someone who’s died –— “Well at least he’s in a better place.”

There’s no pressing reason to tell anyone about Jesus if that’s true. It’s ok to live your life without Jesus — if it’s true that everyone goes to heaven when they

die.

Spoiler Alert: It’s not true. It’s not what Jesus taught. Did you know that Jesus talked about hell more than he talked about heaven? Read this story he told about hell.

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.”

“The time came when the beggar died, and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So, he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that

Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu improperly burned the wrong kind of fire in the tabernacle. Without going into a long explanation, they basically disobeyed the instructions of God. This led to their immediate death. Death?

Listen carefully. God takes worship seriously. Aaron’s son were good men, they had grown up witnessing the power of God. Moses was their uncle. They saw the holiness of God, and yet at a crucial time of worship, they disobeyed God.

Lesson? NEVER treat the holiness and justice of God lightly. We live in a time where we speak highly and often of the “love” of God. Which is good, but let’s not forget of His holiness and justice. One author said, “Don’t forget that the opportunity

can’t they at least put the lid back on! I mean, how hard is that?!”

Well, the same pattern occurs as we start our walk with Christ. At first, we read our Bible every day and pray and sing spiritual songs and feel on cloud nine realizing how much we were forgiven. But, over time, we return to our old ways.

Even St. Paul experienced it. “... For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” Rom 7:17-18. Sound familiar?

So, to say that we no longer sin after knowing Christ as our savior, would be foolishness. The reality is that we still commit sin. Probably to the day we die we will still need to repent. Sin is not about our spiritual relationship with Christ.

It is about our human relationship with him. Sin separates us from him (not spiritually, but relationally). For instance, if I offend my wife and hurt her, we become a little distant from one another.

When I realize what I did, I need to ask her forgiveness, to repent for what I did. Then we can be restored. With God, it is the same way. Sin is like a screen door between us.

We can still see each other clearly but there is a small barrier between us. When I repent of my sin, that small barrier is removed, and we are close again.

Now think what would happen if instead of 1 screen door between us, there were 50! We would still be in relationship,

they will not also come to this place of torment’” (Luke 16:19-28).

What does Jesus say about hell in this story?

1) It is an awful place.

Jesus described it several times as a place of agony and torment. Elsewhere he calls it as a place of eternal fire, and a “place of weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Maybe the worst part of hell is that those who end up there will remember all the times they had an opportunity to turn to Jesus — maybe even intended to…someday — but didn’t. Now it’s too late. The realization they didn’t have to be there may be the worst agony of all.

(2) There is no second chance

Every person’s fate — heaven or hell — is sealed the moment they die. We aren’t given the option of experiencing torment in hell, and then deciding we were wrong when we rejected Jesus and want to give our lives to him now. Now is the time to choose Jesus.

(3) Jesus spoke about hell because he doesn’t want anyone to go there.

One argument often voiced against hell is that “a loving God would not send anyone to hell.” Agreed. God doesn’t send anyone to hell. But people still go there.

Here’s how John Eldredge explains it: “Hell is not God’s intention for mankind. But remember — he gave us free will. He gave us a choice… In breaking the one command he gave us [in the Garden of

to know God personally is based on His gracious invitation to an always unworthy people.” Easter should be an incredibly humbling time in our life, a season of reflection, gratitude, and worship.

As we reflect on all that Jesus did for us from the moment of his betrayal to the last breath on the cross, we should be on our knees. His life, death, resurrection is priceless. Don’t take it for granted, don’t take it lightly.

In the next few weeks, immerse yourself in God’s Word, in prayer, and reflect on the sacrificial love of our Holy God!

Rex Stump is the Area Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and serves as a Pastor at True North Church in Wauseon, Ohio.

but the distance and the clarity of that relationship would become cloudy and blurry.

That’s what sin does. It puts a small barrier between us and God but if we fail to see the sin and repent of the sin, that barrier remains.

And after enough time, we get so we really can’t see God clearly any longer. He, of course, can see us perfectly, but not so much the other way around. Repentance daily assures us of a good strong relationship with God.

I think of that quote I see occasionally “One week without prayer, leaves one weak”. We cannot underestimate the power of sin to weaken our relationship with God.

We need to deal with it quickly, honestly, and ruthlessly so that it does not grow a permanent barrier between us and Him. Sin cannot be ignored.

No matter how little it may seem, it is offensive to our Lover and Father and God and Savior. We cannot tolerate it.

True, we will not experience the punishment for it in the afterlife, but we will experience the effects of it in this life, in the relationship between God and us. Let us ask God for the power to limit our sin and the need to seek forgiveness for it quickly.

Mike Kelly is the founding pastor of Bryan’s Grace Community Church (retired) and Board Chairman of Bryan’s Sanctuary Homeless Shelter and Williams County’s Compassion (free) Medical Clinic.

Eden], we set in motion a life of breaking his commands.

The final act of self-centeredness is seen in those who refuse to come to the wedding banquet of God (Matthew 22:23). They do not want God. They reject his offer of forgiveness and reconciliation through Jesus. What is God to do? The universe has only two options. If they insist, God will grant them what they have wanted — to be left to themselves.”

Hell is real. So is heaven. So is the reality of an empty, pointless life now. So is the offer of an abundant life now. Thaat’s what is at stake: abundance or emptiness, heaven, or hell. We who have chosen Jesus and seen him turn our lives around for the better dare not be silent and let our family, friends, and neighbors miss out on heaven. You who have no interest in Jesus dare not fail to turn your life over to him. Why? Because not everyone goes to heaven. Only those who come to Jesus do.

Steve Wilmot is a former Edgerton, Ohio area pastor who now seeks “to still bear fruit in old age” through writing. He is the author of seven books designed to assist believers to make steady progress on their spiritual journey.

Pettisville Missionary Bible Quiz Team Takes First In Final Meet Of Season

FINAL MEET OF SEASON … Luke 13:38

ESV, “And behold some are last who will be first.” In the first five season meets, Pettisville Missionary’s Bible Quiz team, Awe, consistently placed as one of the top four scoring teams, but never first. At the sixth and last meet held March 3, Awe placed first with the season’s highest one day average of 154 points! Front row: In their four wins, Zander Stamm scored 140 points; Cooper Roth, 140; Elijah Bloomer, 80; Bekley Stamm, 140; and Walker Armstrong, 40. Second row: Averaging 133 in four wins and a loss were Central’s Serpents and Scorpions with Bo King, 150; Eve Crossgrove, 150; Aaron Miller, 135; and Preston Nofziger, 150. For the second week in a row, Pettisville Missionary’s Reckless Living made the top four teams, this time going 4-1 and averaging 123 points. Third row: Mollie Roth, 100; Brianna Norr, 150; Nautica Stamm, 135; Drake Peterson, 55; and Liam Hageman, 135. Back row: Most Excellent from King’s Cross averaged 120 and went 3-1 for the day with Ben Mosier, 30; Max Grunden, 90; Elijah Grunden, 140; Eamon Bird, 35; and Andrew Yenser, 140.

Pulaski United Methodist Makes Donation To New Horizon In Wauseon

PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

DELIVERING DONATION … Pulaski United Methodist collected supplies and games during the month of February for New Horizon Academy (NHA) in Wauseon. NHA is part of Sara’s Garden which is a school for special needs children. Shown helping to unload the delivery are Joshiah, Auron,

Top Four Teams From Bible Quiz Season Announced

PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

BIBLE QUIZ SEASON WINNERS … Awe, a Pettisville Missionary team, was this season’s Bible Quiz league champion. Weekly quiz meets recognize highest scores for the day, but the season’s top teams are based on their win/ loss record. After two complete round robins of the 14 area teams, these four rose to the top. Front row: Finishing 23-3, Awe teammates are Walker Armstrong, Zander Stamm, Cooper Roth, Elijah Bloomer, and Bekley Stamm. Second row: One of our youngest teams, Unashamed from Eastland Baptist, took second with a 21-4-1 record; quizzers included Colton Sheline, and three Neilson brothers: Mathias, Malaki, and Cael. Third Row: Right behind them at 20-5-1 was Serpents and Scorpions from Central Mennonite with Aaron Miller, Preston Nofziger, Eve Crossgrove, and Bo King. Back row: In fourth place at 19-7-0 was another Eastland Baptist team, Unquenchable, which included three sisters; teammates are Faith and Grace Sheldon, Madison Wilhelm, and Hope Sheldon.

(More Hometown News - MILLCREEK-WEST UNITY BOARD OF EDUCATION

Board Approves Steven Riley As New Superintendent

By: Jacob Kessler THE VILLAGE REPORTER jacob@thevillagereporter.com

The Millcreek-West Unity Board of Education held their meeting on Monday, March 11th. The meeting began at 6:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Superintendent Wyse then spoke and presented the board with the Business Advisory Council’s quarterly meeting minutes and annual report, along with a joint statement.

Mr. Wyse also spoke to the board about the importance of using their school email addresses for school business, for security purposes.

Wyse also handed out a pro-

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B9

posed change to the classified policy statement regarding new drivers.

Principal reports were given next before visitor Sofia Eich spoke to the board about working on diversity, equity, and inclusion at Millcreek-West Unity Schools.

Board members then moved to approve the following items as part of a consent agenda.

-Minutes, financial statements, and investments from the February 2024 Board of Education meeting.

-A service agreement with the N.W. Ohio Educational Service Center for $355,607.94 for FY25. $280,607.94 of which is approximately 75% or within $75,000 of

Locally Based Film To Bring ...

are for everyone, and this program is just the beginning of what Amanda Hug has in store.

She

While equine therapy is nothing new, Hug is using a unique approach, combining holistic health with psychological practice and natural biology.

The documentary follows the journey of a skeptical veteran as he finds healing through horses and himself, and Josh Nagel said that he expects that there “won’t be a dry eye in the place” after watching it.

The point of the documentary is to not only get the word out about the HOOVES farm, but to also ascertain funding for the big plans that Hug has in store for the world of psychology.

HOOVES is right in Swanton, but Hug shared that most veterans travel in, and hopes to see more local veterans find healing

HOOVES has a Facebook page and are working hard to share the “powerful transformations happening at HOOVES.”

the total estimated costs, shall be a foundation deduction of over 24 payments, with the remainder to be billed directly at the end of the year.

-A contract with Zoom Video Communications for phone service, retro to 2/13/24 (trial period through 6/30/24); then 48 months from 7/1/24 through 6/30/28.

-Approved payment for student travel expenses, up to $1,200 each to attend the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles.

-Approved Participation in the OHI Charter Workers Compensation Group Rating Program for the 2025 policy year.

-Approved medical leave for

Bill Stipe for approximately 3 months.

-Approved contract amendment for Catherine Royal, adding her existing EMT duties to her paraprofessional classified contract.

A list of revenue increases, appropriation modifications, and personnel recommendations were approved next.

The board also moved to accept the resignation of Steven Riley as the High School Principal, effective July 31st. This was done in order to approve a 3-year contract for Riley, for the position of Superintendent, effective August 1st, 2024, through July 31st, 2027. The meeting was then adjourned at 6:18 p.m.

Commissioners Approve Several Items During Brief Sessions

was for a pavement marking program and saw two bids received. The Pledge of Allegiance was then observed, along with a prayer. Commissioners then moved to approve the minutes from March 12th, the current agenda, and the following agenda items.

- Resolution 2024-217 Increase & Transfer

Appropriations for Various Departments.

- Resolution 2024-218 Approve Legal and Authorize Ad for CDBG Application Hearing.

- Resolution 2024-220 Approve Purchase Orders and Travel Requests.

With no other items to attend to, the meeting was adjourned.

By: Joe Blystone

THE VILLAGE REPORTER

publisher@thevillagereporter.com

METAMORA - So you wanna be a high school basketball coach? After you just beat a district power by two points, you wanna listen to some parent bark about why little Johnny didn’t get to play when you know as a coach he can’t go left or guard anyone even with the Fifth Army on his side?

You wanna play with the hand that’s dealt at a public school rather than coach at a private school that will recruit five new starters for you every year and still be successful? THEN you still wanna do it year after year for 31 years?

Evergreen’s Jerry Keifer wanted to coach basketball, and did just that, taking over a program that had a record of 173 wins and 354 losses in the 26 years preceding his appointment.

That record again ahead of Keifer was 173-354.

Keifer went 11-10 in his first season, the Vikings first winning season in 14 years. Four years later the Vikings not only won their first OHSAA sectional title, but they also went one better and won the district as well on their way to a berth in the Division III regionals before eventually falling to eventual state runner-up Patrick Henry.

For Keifer, the wins kept piling up

and when he finished the 2023-24 season, that total was 427 compared to just 278 losses, a far cry from the doldrums pre-Keifer.

When the Vikings were knocked out of the Division III tournament this season, Keifer hung up his whistle and put down his clipboard for the last time, announcing his retirement from the coaching ranks.

CONTINUED ON PAGE C2

Evergreen's Jerry Keifer ...

Besides the 427 wins and 61% winning percentage, Keifer’s teams won 14 sectional titles, three championships in the NWOAL, four district titles including a trip to the Elite 8 in 2020 before COVID ended the season ahead of a regional final title game.

Keifer’s first team was led by high scoring Chad Herrick and started the season with an 8-2 record. A series of injuries, including one to Herrick who was averaging over 26 ppg., hindered Evergreen the rest of the way but the bar had been reset.

A short time later, teams led by 1,000-point scorers Brooks Miller and Adam Freels won that first grouping of afore mentioned titles.

Evergreen started 4-7 that year and were down 21 at the half at Emmanuel Christian who were led by Lionel Armstead, who later was a fouryear starter at West Virginia.

Evergreen roared back to beat Emmanuel as Miller scored a tip-in at the buzzer and won 10 of their last 13 to reach the Regionals.

“The thing about that was Adam broke his nose pretty badly in the last scrimmage that year and we played the first about 10 games without him or our record may have been even better.”

“He was the only player that played any time the year before and was our leading scorer at the time” Keifer remembered. “I remember everyone was buying sectional championship tshirts because we had never won one before.”

“Then we won the district, and everyone bought another set of t-shirts. Our fans were fantastic. They packed the Waite Fieldhouse and Bowling Green an hour before the games, and you could feel the change in the culture.”

“I remember I had a parent tell me after we lost a close game against, I believe Bryan, ‘well you really scared them, you were up five at the half’, and I remember saying ‘well we aren’t here to scare people we are here to win.”

“We got that first one and people started to believe, and our scaring days were over, and our winning days were just beginning.”

Keifer’s Vikings followed that year up with a 20-2 record the next year that included another sectional title and an NWOAL championship behind Freels and Miller.

The following year Freels had graduated but Miller was still there and led Evergreen to a second district title and Sweet 16 game in the regionals.

“Those years, 1998-2000 winning a lot, and then coming back in 20012003, we had OK teams but not great teams.”

“But we won a lot of games because they didn’t know that they were supposed to lose to Wauseon or Bryan who was really good at that time, or Archbold,” Keifer said.

“Bryan really jumps out to me because they were pretty dominant, and we would walk into a locker room after a game we won and say, ‘how the heck did we pull that off?’”

“The kids at no point thought they could get beat by any of the good teams that we were supposed to lose to at that time.”

“They believed because we were Evergreen, and we were going to step on the floor and beat people. It became a culture thing with us, we were going to not just scare good teams with a close game, we counted on beating good teams.”

“Our young kids watch all that success, and they have no idea they are supposed to get beat by some teams. That may be the thing that personally I’m proud of because we established a winning culture that is still going today. I’m walking away and there is still a winning culture for Evergreen basketball.”

Fayette’s Todd Mitchell has competed against Keifer on the court more than any other current coach and echoed those statements.

“Jerry has done a great job of creating a positive culture at Evergreen. His teams are always well prepared

and play the game the right way.”

“Also, his players represent Evergreen well and that is a direct reflection of their coach. I wish Jerry nothing but the best in his retirement.”

There have been approximately 16,000 high school basketball coaches in the history of Ohio.

The average longevity of their tenure is 5.2 years and much of that is before social media where parents, almost all of whom have a combined total of varsity coaching wins that numbers zero, get to criticize every move a coach no matter what school they are at makes.

“People are going to be upset regardless of what you do,” Keifer said. “You always try to do the right thing for the kids. I just made sure the kids knew I had their backs and they had mine.”

“We were getting kids coming out that really didn’t care if they started or even played a lot, they just wanted to be part of the winning.”

“That is what I feel the best about is developing a winning program that has for the most part kept winning.”

Those former players still have his back. When Evergreen had a surprise pre-game ceremony to honor Keifer’s career ahead of the Vikings win over Bryan some 60-70 ex-players showed on 24-hour notice.

Many of those have moved on to have very successful careers in their field. Evergreen Athletic Director Dylan Henricks played and started on Keifer teams that won sectional titles in 2011 and 2013.

Current Delta coach Matt Brighton, who has turned the Panthers program around with consecutive winning seasons the last two years, started for three years during that span.

Another one of those was Miller, who as head coach of Trine University, won the NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year honors a couple seasons back. This year, Miller has led his Trine Thunder to the D-III Final Four.

One of Miller’s players is former Viking standout Evan Lumbrezer, a starting sophomore point guard on the 25-1 team that was knocked out of the tournament by COVID in 2020.

Lumbrezer was recently named the recipient of the NCAA’s Elite 90 Award for having the highest GPA of any player of the four teams left in Division III.

One of Keifer’s proudest moments he said was when his team in 2011 received a plaque for having the third highest grade point average out of the nearly 800 schools that play basketball in the state of Ohio.

“That was a great thing back then,” Keifer explained. “Besides being good on the floor, we were more importantly even better in the classroom.”

The Vikings won another district title in 2006 led by Chris Pfund and Andrew Pinkelman. Chad Mossing and Brock Bates were the key components of a league title team in 2009 but Keifer’s best team was in 20192020.

After starting the season 1-1, Evergreen rang up 24 straight wins to sweep the NWOAL and not only reach the regionals, but smack JohnstownMonroe 64-52 to reach the Elite 8 game against perennial state-power Ottawa-Glandorf. Nate Brighton and Mason Loeffler were both 1,000-point scorers on that team.

When asked about the Vikings chances in that final game to reach the Final Four, Keifer said one of his best one-liners, “You only have to beat them once.”

That game was never played, as the day before the game the Vikings were pulled off the floor during practice and told the season was on hold and then eventually cancelled due to the COVID outbreak.

Keifer said that may have been his biggest disappointment. “Not playing the Ottawa-Glandorf game, I really would’ve, our kids would’ve and our fans too, would’ve liked to see what would’ve happened.”

“The way our fans were that year,

I really wanted to see what that atmosphere would’ve been like because they were just louder than loud at the Johnstown-Monroe game.”

“That was a team that was really good, and everyone knew their role. I feel bad for the kids that they didn’t get a chance when the season was stopped.”

With all the wins and championships, Keifer said there was one game that may rival all others. The last game of the regular season this year, Keifer, Swanton coach Bruce Smith and Evergreen special education teacher Jen Hoffman cooked up a special night so that Viking student manager Dale Wolfrum, a young man on the autism spectrum, could score a basket at the beginning of the game against the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs Charlie Wood tipped the ball to Keifer’s son Eli, who passed the ball to Dale. After a crossover dribble at the foul line, Dale tossed up a shot off the glass that dropped through the net to send a full side of Viking fans and a good gathering of Bulldog fans into a frenzy.

That shot not only made a local TV news affiliate, but also reached the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dale’s favorite team.

The Cavs and Dale’s favorite player, Max Strus, set up a day where Dale would attend a Cavs game, be the ball boy in pre-game, meet the Cavs in the locker room and have a great seat at courtside.

“I was thinking about that whole thing last night,” Keifer said. “The whole thing turned out better than I could’ve imagined. Then for Lissa Guyton at TV 13 to set something up with the Cavs is just incredible.”

“You saw the clips and he is just the happiest kid I’ve ever seen. He got an autographed jersey, and an autographed hat. Besides winning district titles and league titles? Well, that moment and what happened after is right there with it.”

Swanton coach Bruce Smith has won over 500 games in his career and expressed that Keifer is about doing the right thing.

“Seven years ago, I thought I was done coaching basketball. When Jerry called and asked me to help him at Evergreen, I jumped at the opportunity to work with him.”

“Little did I know that it would be him that would help me. He helped renew my passion for coaching young men and for two years I believe we made a great team.”

“Whether things were going great or horribly wrong, Jerry was the same guy-very calm and even tempered and it allowed his teams to play with poise and confidence.”

“I owe him a debt of gratitude for allowing me to be part of his program. He has created a lasting legacy of success at Evergreen.”

“The night with Dale wasn’t basketball related,” says Keifer. “It was doing the right thing related. My parents were good people, and my dad was a good man and he always told me, ‘do the right thing’.

“I didn’t always do the right thing but there are cases I did and I’m so glad my dad instilled that in me. That night turned out great and something he will remember for the rest of his life.”

As Keifer explained, he didn’t ALWAYS do the right thing, just like a coach doesn’t win every single game. It just doesn’t happen as a coach, and it just doesn’t happen as a human being because everyone except the man upstairs has made a mistake.

However out of those previously mentioned 16,000 coaches in Ohio basketball, only 137 have won 400 games at one school, Keifer being one of that elite group that numbers less than 1% of the total.

In Jerry Keifer’s case, the success stories, the lives he affected in a positive manner, outweigh the negatives by a ton, and have for 31 years. Still wanna be a high school basketball coach and do it for 31 years? Go for it young man and good luck!

Hilltop Hands Out Winter Sports Postseason Awards

FOOTBALL CHEER BBC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE … Emily Serrano, Julia Rodriguez, Julia Dickinson.

HILLTOP GIRLS BASKETBALL … Kennedy Bailey - Defensive Player MVP, Molly Dickinson - Defensive Player MVP; Kenley Routt - Cadet Award; Eleana VanArsdalen - Scholar-Athlete BBC; Brynn Rodriguez - Honorable Mention BBC; Olivia Rossman - Scholar-Athlete BBC; Luna Guijarro Alier – Most Improved. Missing from picture: Libbie Baker - Scholar-Athlete BBC, Offensive MVP, BBC Player of the Year.

BASKETBALL CHEER SPECIAL AWARDS … Julia Rodriguez-Captain’s Award, Ada Karadeniz-Most Improved, Missing: Brianna Feathers-Spirit Award.

HILLTOP BOYS BASKETBALL … Raace Haynes - BBC Honorable Mention, MVP Award; Anthony Eckenrode - Cadet Award; Drew Bailey - BBC 2nd Team, Offensive MVP, Cameron Schlosser - BBC Scholar-Athlete; Devin Dempsey - BBC Scholar-Athlete; Brycen Grubbs-Most Improved; Brock Kesler - BBC Scholar-Athlete; Carson Crossgrove - Defensive MVP.

FOOTBALL CHEER SPECIAL AWARDS … Emily Serrano-Captain’s Award, Loren Rodriguez-Most Improved, Julia Dickinson-Spirit Award.

PHOTOS PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER BASKETBALL CHEER BBC SCHOLAR-ATHLETES … Emily Serrano, Julia Rodriguez, Brooke Moreland, Kenzie Weber, Julia Dickinson, Marissa Bennett.

Riley Dunbar Of Evergreen To Play Football At Siena Heights

signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Siena Heights University (NAIA) in Adrian, MI this fall.

Siena Heights was the clear choice for Dunbar right from the time of his first visit. “When I went on my first visit, they made me feel at home”, Dunbar explained.

“It’s a great environment, has great classes, and most importantly you get the feeling it’s the right fit”, added Dunbar, who will be majoring in Criminal Justice.

“My recruiting happened late”, said Dunbar when detailing his recruiting experience. “My size developed early, so many knew I was going to be a big kid and coaches picked up on that. Offers started coming in during my senior year.”

Dunbar excelled in several sports at Evergreen as he made varsity all four years at Evergreen in soccer, football, basketball, and track.

“I’m extremely grateful for everyone that has helped me at Evergreen. From teachers to coaches to my parents (Jason Dunbar and Ashley Keaton), I want to say thank you. I’m very excited to start working at Siena Heights”, he closed.

The

The

By: Nate Calvin THE VILLAGE REPORTER sports@thevillagereporter.com

METAMORA – Evergreen senior Raegan Radel recently committed to continue her soccer career and further her education at King University (Division II) in Bristol, Tennessee.

“King University offers a fantastic nursing major and is a beautiful Christian school. I loved that at King I will not only get to focus on my major, but I will also get to play at a collegiate level, and in addition grow in my faith”, said Radel when talking about her selecting King University.

“The recruiting process can be grueling

and with my fracture to my right ankle my junior year I faced many challenges and had some setbacks in the recruiting process”, she added.

“After many phone calls and emails, I finally made my decision to commit to King and I am super excited to begin my next journey!

This past season Radel earned second team All-Ohio in Division III along with first team All-District and first team AllNWOAL. Radel also set the school record for assists in a career and in a single season this past fall.

“I feel very blessed with this opportunity, and I am excited to start the next stage of my life!”

Archbold Bluestreaks

Fall Sports Preview

Junior High Winter Sports Teams

Caston

PHOTOS PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

ARCHBOLD 8TH GRADE BOYS BASKETBALL … (Front) Trevor Osterland, Harrison Wyse, Brexton Grime, Tripp Langenderfer, Jace Bernath, manager – Archer Bentley. (Back) Maddox Pinter, Anderson Bentley, Collin Short, Wyatt Gericke, Tate Peterson, Jesse Schumacher.

ARCHBOLD JH BOYS WRESTLING … Names in no particular order - Kaed Merrilat, Alex Baden, Donnie Summers, Jayden Booth, Jesse Meyer, Brendon Bosco, Zayd Guelde, Garrett Beck, Gus Legato, Cameron Leskow, Kayden Wellman, Jonas Nichols, Ethan Bowman, Layne Miller, Ben Hawkins, Connor McLafferty, Ty Bosco, Kadyn Pollock, Hunter Brennen.

ARCHBOLD 7TH GRADE BOYS BASKETBALL … (Front) Manager – Jadon Verhoff, Derek Wyse, Logan Emmons, Drew Taylor, Maks Stuckey, Ridge Ryan, manager –

Grime. (Back) Levi Ward, Gentry Valentine, Jasper Fruth, Clayton Nofziger, Javery Valentine, Eli Krueger, Elijah Verhoff, Carson Armstrong.

ARCHBOLD 8TH GIRLS BASKETBALL … (Front) Manager – Anna Meyer, Emma Meyer, Hadley Hudson, Rupiika Dua, Kaelyn Kinsman, manager – Claire Bowers. (Back) Aubree Hurst, Jade Frey, Maci Martz, Katelyn Liechty, Klaire Kern.

ARCHBOLD JH CHEERLEADING … In no particular order - Zoi Carlin, Roma Martin, Kelis Pedraza, Eliana Nafziger, Vivianne Pifer, Kirstyn Schroeder, Aubree Vandock. Advisor: MacKenna Whitacre.

ARCHBOLD 7TH GRADE GIRLS BASKETBALL … (Front) Manager – Anna Meyer, Ginger Ruffer, Demi Short, Brylynn Atkinson, Jovie Hudson, manager – Claire Bowers. (Back) Imani Zimmerman, Elizabeth Draggo, Liza Rufenacht, Atta Jagger, Logan Ruffer, Lillian Ruffer, Tatum Wanemacher.

Bryan Golden Bears

Fall Sports Preview

Junior High Winter Sports Teams

BRYAN 7TH GRADE BOYS BASKETBALL … (Front) Leiv Keesbury, Taylor Pelz, Cooper Clarke, Ethan Longoria, Tyler Tipton, Erik Dalrymple. (Back) Harrison Six, Cooper Vollmer, Evan Longoria, Jake Arnold, Luke Spitnale, John Deitemeyer, Coach Tietje.

BRYAN JH BOYS WRESTLING … (Front) Nathan Root, Gary Bonner, Adam Elzey, Cael Neilson, Max Rios. (Middle) Conrad Sumner, Drake Hall, Dakota Herman, Parker Serano, Terner Vitek, John Haury, Lee Sizemore. (Back) Parker Muehlfeld, Izaih Britt, Anthony Kinzer, Dawson Marino, Connor Monroe, Jerry Hayes, Caysen Rodeheaver, Kadin Wolfe, Alex Lopez, Mason Gineman, Sabein Brown, Griffin Fowler.

BRYAN 7TH GRADE GIRLS BASKETBALL … (Front) Allie Elkins, Jazie Cordy, AJ Grant. (Back)

Coach Brittany Held, Makenna Myers, Kamryn Mills, Kendall Veres, Karli McDade, Mya Moore, Coach Brittany Drugan.

BRYAN JH GIRLS WRESTLING … Brayleigh Herman, Kiara Marino, Sawyer Kennedy, Payton Geiner, Lucy Grime, Felicity Thiel.

BRYAN 8TH GRADE GIRLS BASKETBALL … (Front) Leah Gilbert, Adalyn Hake, Breanna Winzeler, Kaylee Dempsey, Addy Gracia. (Back) Coach Brittany Held, Ela Elkins, Averyann Fisher, Emma Slagle, Braya Hepker, Breanna Richmond, Chloe Wallace, Coach Brittany Drugan.

BRYAN 8TH GRADE BOYS BASKETBALL … (Front) Jeremiah Taylor, Alex Diaz, Manager - Griffin Parker, Hunter Watson, Rhett McGill, Donavon Heldberg. (Back) Holden Wheeler, Easton Kerr, Josue Martinez, Quinn Green, Bryce Welling, Coach Parker.

PHOTOS BY GOLDEN BEAR PHOTOGRAPHY / THE VILLAGE REPORTER BRYAN JH CHEERLEADING … (Front) Alliyanna Goins, Alexa Goins, Aaliyah Goins. (Back) Bianca Rodriguez, Lilli Shininger.

Wauseon Indians

Fall Sports Preview

Junior High Winter Sports Teams

WAUSEON JH WRESTLING … (Front) Brady McGuire, James Leahy, Denton Fulton, Evalynn Gonzales, Braedyn Stasa, Carys Jacobs, Christian Lopez, Isaak Hays, Nicolas Hernandez. (Middle) Parker Moore, Eliano Ramirez, Daniel Camacho, Brayden Dominique, Owen Rufenacht, Kendall Pontious, Jett Smith, Zenas, Zeifker, Sullivan Schuster, Addison Hensley, Logan Custard, James Mahnke. (Back) Coach Pitzen, Dylan Funk, Brynlee Poorman, Parker Wilson, Maddox Schneider, Dominic Valvano, Austin Mistor, Carter Ellinwood, Jaxton Smith, Austin Kessler, Khloe Thatcher, Roclin Gillen, Coach Ritter.

PHOTOS BY B&D PHOTOGRAPHY / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

WAUSEON 8TH GRADE BOYS BASKETBALL … (Front) Manager - Ivan Martinez, Micah Strader, TJ Borsos, Gavin Fisher, Alyias Molina, Kyle Snow, Cayden Ruffer, Fisher Lindau, Manager - Levi Martinez (Back) Angel Martinez, Dylan Burkholder, Allen Bock, Camden Vasvery, Isaac Heller, Izaak Conrad, Braylon Parsons, Coach Mike Webster.

WAUSEON 8TH GRADE GIRLS BASKETBALL … (Front) Manager - Madison Schuette, Mia Leininger, Jillian Martin, Zaeli Badenhop, Lilly McJilton, Manager Grayson Rupp (Back) Manager - Kally Ehrsam, Carly Rupp, Azariah DeLaCruz-Thomas, Mackenna Waisner-Medina, Coach Erin Mazurowski Missing - Coach Barb Figgins.

WAUSEON 8TH GRADE CHEERLEADING … (Front) Breah Teal, Emily Hillman, Marlie Gomez (2nd Row) Katrina Wittenmyer, Brenna Fry (3rd Row) Breanna Oconnor, Bethani Tibbs (Back) Garret Bandeen.

WAUSEON 7TH GRADE GIRLS BASKETBALL … (Front) Manager - Madison Schuette, Teagan Yeary, Katie Erhsam, Lila Schindler, Valeria Lopez, Ariana Jacobs, Grayson Rupp. (Back) Manager – Kally Erhsam, Lauren Hanak, Chloe Fisher, Olivia Puehler, Harper Inderrieden, Emma Henry, Coach Erin Mazurowski. Missing – Coach Barb Figgins.

Goodman, Morgan Raymo.

WAUSEON 7TH GRADE BOYS BASKETBALL … (Front) Dorian Burress, Lennox Mullins, Maxton Howard, Josiah Dixon, Kowen Carroll, Max Mouch, Tucker Hall, Zavin Snyder. (Back) Coach Trevor Rodriguez, Lane Wallischeck, Braden Simon, Sam Vazquez, Cash Sigg, AJ Leininger, James Altstaetter, Grayson Shirkey, Manager - Santi Vazquez.

Legal Notices Legal Notices

Legal Notices

PROJECT #4-2024

2024 ASPHALT PAVING PROGRAM

“Bid Postings”.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 153.54, each bidder shall be required to file with his bid one of the following options:

1. A bond in accordance with division (B) of Section 153.54 of the Revised Code, providing for the Bid Guaranty and the Contract Bond in the full amount of the bid, or,

2. A Certified Check, Cashier's Check, or Letter of Credit pursuant to Chapter 1305 of

All proposals must be submitted bound in their entirety, and on the forms furnished in the contract documents.

Only ODOT prequalified contractors are eligible to submit bids for this project. Prequalification status must be in force at the time of bid, at the time of award, and through the life of the construction contract.

Bidders must comply with the federal prevailing wage rates as Davis Bacon wage rates are required.

The Board of County Commissioners of Fulton County reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

Jeff Rupp, Joe Short, Jon Rupp

FULTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Jessica Schuette, Clerk

Katherine

any, of Katherine Jo Law whose last place of residence/business is 307 West Elm Street, Wauseon, OH 43567 but whose present place of residence/business is unknown will take notice that on December 15, 2023, The Huntington National Bank filed its Complaint in Case No. 23CV000241 in the Court of Common Pleas Fulton County, Ohio alleging that the Defendant(s) Katherine Jo Law, Unknown Spouse, if any, of Katherine Jo Law have or claim to have an interest in the real estate described below:

Permanent Parcel Number: 06-012564-00.000; Property Address: 307 West Elm Street, Wauseon, OH 43567. The legal description may be obtained from the Fulton County Auditor at 152 South Fulton Street, Suite 165, Wauseon, Ohio 43567,419337-9200.

The Petitioner further alleges that by reason of default of the Defendant(s) in the payment of a promissory note, according to its tenor, the conditions of a concurrent mortgage deed given to secure the payment of said note and conveying the premises described, have been broken, and the same has become absolute.

The Petitioner prays that the Defendant(s) named above be required to answer and set up their interest in said real estate or be forever barred from asserting the same, for foreclosure of said mortgage, the marshalling of any liens, and the sale of said real estate, and the proceeds of said sale applied to the payment of Petitioner's Claim in the proper order of its priority, and for such other and further relief as is just and equitable.

THE DEFENDANT(S) NAMED ABOVE ARE REQUIRED TO ANSWER ON OR BEFORE THE 24 DAY OF APRIL 2024.

BY: REIMER LAW CO.

Douglas A. Haessig, Attorney at Law Attorney for Plaintiff-Petitioner P.O. Box 39696 Solon, Ohio 44139 (440)600-5500

PLAT OF NIXON SUBDIVISION, ACCEPTING THE DONATION OF RIGHT-OF-WAY AND EASEMENTS FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONSTRUCTION OF STREETS AND UTILITIES WITHIN THE VILLAGE OF PIONEER, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. This Ordinance approves the Plat for the Nixon Subdivision and accepts the right-of-way and public utility easements indicated thereon and declares an emergency. All provisions of this Ordinance shall go into full force and effect immediately.

Ordinance No. 08-2024: AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR TO

ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF RIT-

TMAN, OHIO FOR THE PURCHASE OF A VACUUM TRUCK, AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE AGREEMENT AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. This Ordinance authorizes and directs the Village Administrator to enter into a contract with the City of Rittman for the purchase of a 2012 International 7500 with a Vactor 2100 series vac unit in an amount not to exceed $85,000.00, to execute any documents necessary to effectuate the contract and declares an emergency. All provisions of this Ordinance shall go into full force and effect immediately.

Ordinance No. 09-2024: AN ORDINANCE AC-

CEPTING THE BID PROPOSAL OF CUSTOM TRUCK

ONE SOURCE FOR THE PURCHASE OF A DIGGER DERRICK TRUCK FOR PIONEER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES, AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH CUSTOM TRUCK ONE SOURCE, AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN ALL

DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE AGREEMENT AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. This Ordinance accepts the bid of Custom Truck One Source for the purchase of a Digger Derrick Truck, at a total cost not to exceed $364,462.00, authorizes and directs the Village Administrator to enter into an agreement with Custom Truck One Source for the purchase of the Digger Derrick Truck, to execute any documents necessary to effectuate the contract and declares an emergency. All provisions of this Ordinance shall go into full force and effect immediately.

Resolution No. 104-2024: A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE FINAL PLAN FOR THE COUNTYWIDE 9-1-1 SYSTEM IN WILLIAMS COUNTY, OHIO. The purpose of this Resolution is to approve the final plan for the countywide 9-1-1 system in Williams County, Ohio. All provisions of this Resolution go into full force and effect at the earliest time permitted by law.

Resolution No. 105-2024: A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE A PETITION FOR ANNEXATION, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR AND VILLAGE SOLICITOR TO PERFORM ALL NECESSARY ACTIONS TO EFFECTUATE THE ANNEXATION OF REAL PROPERTY TO THE VILLAGE AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. The purpose of this Resolution is to consent to the Annexation of land owned by the Village into the Village of Pioneer, authorize and direct the Village Administrator to execute the Annexation Petition, further direct the Village Administrator and Village Solicitor to take any and all actions necessary to effectuate the annexation and to declare an emergency. All provisions of this Resolution go into full force and effect immediately.

The complete text of the above legislation can be obtained or viewed at the office of the Village Fiscal Officer at 409 South State Street, Pioneer, Ohio 43554. This summary was prepared or reviewed and approved by Thomas A. Thompson, Village Solicitor for the Village of Pioneer, Ohio.

The Board of Williams County Commissioners will receive sealed bids in their office located in the East Annex, 1425 E. High Street, Bryan, Ohio until 10:00 A. M. Local Time on Thursday, April 4, 2024, for 2024 Asphalt Paving Program, for Williams County, Ohio. Complete sets of bidding documents, including plans and specifications for the project will be available for examination, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a. m. to 4:30 p. m. at the above-named office. Copies may be obtained by request from the Williams County Engineer, 12953 County Road G, Bryan, Ohio 43506, 419-636-2454 Ext. 2105. A nonrefundable fee of $50.00 will be charged per set. An additional fee of $15.00 will be charged for Bidding Documents that are to be shipped. All fees must be pre-paid prior to shipping. Checks should be made payable to: Williams County Engineer. Bidding Documents, Plans, and Specifications may be viewed or downloaded at no cost from the Williams County Engineer’s web site http://www.wmscoengineer.com/bidprojects.asp .

Bids must be submitted on the forms found in the Bidding Document; must contain the names of every person or company interested therein. Each bidder must submit evidence of its experiences on projects of similar size and complexity. The Owner intends and requires that this project achieve completion no later than October 30, 2024.

Bidders for this project are required to be prequalified with the Ohio Department of Transportation. Pre-qualification must be in force at the time of bidding, at the time of award, and through the life of the construction contract.

Each bidder shall be required to file with his proposal a Bid Guaranty in accordance with Section 153.54 of the Ohio Revised Code. The guaranty shall be a bond for one hundred percent (100%) of the bid amount. A certified check or cashier’s check for ten percent (10%) of the bid can be submitted in lieu of a bond. The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a satisfactory Performance Bond for one hundred percent (100%) of the bid amount.

Bidders must comply with the prevailing wages rates on Public Improvements for Williams County, Ohio as determined by the Ohio Department of Commerce, Wage and Hour Division, (614) 644-2239

All contractors and subcontractors involved with the project will, to the extent practicable use Ohio products, materials, services, and labor in the implementation of their project. Additionally, contractor compliance with the equal employment opportunity requirements of Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 123, the Governor’s Executive Order of 1972, and Governor’s Executive Order 84-9 shall be required.

Bid notice may be viewed on the Williams County Web Site at www.co.williams.oh.us under the heading COMMISSIONERS, LEGAL NOTICES.

SPECIAL ATTENTION MUST BE GIVEN to all the requirements contained in this bid packet, particularly to ORC 4115 prevailing wages, various insurance requirements, and the requirement for a payment and performance bond for 100% of the contract price.

Any bid may be withdrawn prior to the scheduled closing time for the receipt of bids, but no bidder shall withdraw his bid within 30 days after the actual opening thereof. The County reserves the right to reject any or all bids, waive irregularities in any bid, and to accept any bid which is deemed most favorable to the County.

WILLIAMS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

By – Anne Retcher,

VILLAGE OF SWANTONORDINANCE #2024-01

AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE CULTIVATION OF MARIJUANA; PROCESSING OF MARIJUANA; MARIJUANA WHOLESALERS; MARIJUANA RETAILERS AND MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES IN THE VILLAGE OF SWANTON, OHIO

Mayor: Neil Toeppe

Att: Holden Benfield, Fiscal Officer

The Full text of this ordinance may be viewed at the Village Hall, 219 Chestnut Street, Swanton, OhioMonday through Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm

VILLAGE OF SWANTONORDINANCE #2024-02

AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE PERMANENT APPROPRIATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR CURRENT EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2024; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY

Mayor: Neil Toeppe

Att: Holden Benfield, Fiscal Officer

The Full text of this ordinance may be viewed at the Village Hall, 219 Chestnut Street, Swanton, OhioMonday through Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm

ONLINE

Taxes:

Terms:

conclusion of online auction, balance due at closing. Subject to Seller’s confirmation of the final bid.

Inspection: Contact Bart Westfall 419-553-0323 or your agent.

2% Buyers agency fee paid for successful preregistered buyer. Shirley M. McCartney, Et al

Jill Richards of Richards & Walker, Ltd. Bryan, Ohio attorney for the sellers. REGISTRATION & BIDDING SITE: BID.TURNKEYINC.NET

Auctioneers/Realtors:

Personal Property:

liter 4cylinder 5 speed 120K miles; 89 Terry model 26G travel RV Trailer; 1980 International nurse truck with 1600gal poly tank; ’06 Ford F250 4x4 diesel; ’10 Ford F150 Lariat 4x4; ’01 Cadillac DTS; 2019 Polaris Sportsman 570 four wheeler; Polaris Sportsman 500 4wheeler; 01Yamaha gas golf cart; 03Club Car golf cart; 99 GMC Savana van with wheel chair lift; Gravely XT52 Zero turn; Kubota & John Deere Mowers; Win Power pto generator; Vintage oil transfer tanks with pumps; Vintage steel wheels; Tractor wheel weights; 10’ Allis Chalmers wheel disc; 22’ Glenco field cultivator; 25’ John Deere 960 field cultivator; Kinze seed auger; IH 5 bottom plow; 3 Point hitch hay rake; Ground drive manure spreader; Round training pen & farm gates; Charger & fence supplies; wagon running gears; Honda Riding mowers; Wagons full of tools & treasure; Much more coming in! Terms: Cash or a good check, credit & debit cards accepted with a 4% convenience fee applied. For Best Advertising results, Call Now to add your items! See details @ www.aabrownauctions.com

We are your local full service auction company; call us for all of your auction needs. SCHEDULE YOUR SPRING AUCTION NOW!! Call Bert Brown @ 419-212-0851or Shane Sumner @ 419-212-3448

Wyatt Zulch 419-819-8602 or Aaron Hill 419-553-7531

provide a bank letter or proof of funds prior to bidding. Register and bid at freyandsons.hibid.com. High bidder will be contacted by Frey and Sons to arrange for a $5,000 non-refundable down payment within 24hrs. Balance due at closing on or before 45 days with no buyer contingencies. Inspections must be done prior to the day of sale.

and glassware, home décor, ornate hanging oil lamps (including cranberry shade), vintage pictures, misc. household items…

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